How far is the distillery from Louisville?

Neeley Family Distillery is about 45 minutes northeast of Louisville in Sparta, Kentucky. It's in Gallatin County, off the main Bourbon Trail routes, so plan for a bit of a drive through rural Kentucky.

What makes their bourbon different from larger distilleries?

The Neeleys grow some of their own corn right on the property and handle most of the production themselves as a family operation. You're tasting spirits made in small batches with direct family involvement from grain to bottle, rather than mass-produced bourbon.

CRAFT DISTILLERY

California

Prohibition Spirits Distillery

Sonoma,

California

— Vodka, Gin, Bourbon

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

RESERVATIONS

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

📞 (707) 933-7507

🌐 http://www.prohibition-spirits.com/

📍 452 1st St E STE E, Sonoma, CA 95476, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Prohibition Spirits Distillery sits in downtown Sonoma, occupying a modest industrial space on 1st Street East where founders John Little and Jake Hewitt launched their craft spirits operation in 2013. The duo, both former tech professionals who caught the distilling bug during weekend hobby sessions, decided to turn their passion into a full-time venture after years of perfecting recipes in their garage. Their 500-square-foot production facility houses a custom-built 26-gallon copper pot still imported from Germany, along with fermentation tanks and a small aging room where they produce vodka, gin, and whiskey. The operation started with just the two founders working nights and weekends while maintaining their day jobs, gradually building up inventory and local distribution before going full-time in 2015. Little handles the business side while Hewitt focuses on production, maintaining a hands-on approach to every batch that comes off their still. The distillery operates as a true small-batch operation, producing roughly 1,000 bottles per month across their product line, with each bottle hand-numbered and signed by the distiller.

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WHAT SETS THEM APART

Prohibition Spirits operates as one of Sonoma County’s smallest licensed distilleries, producing everything on a 26-gallon German copper pot still that allows for incredible precision but limits production to micro-batches. Hewitt sources organic California grains when possible and uses a proprietary fermentation process that extends primary fermentation to 10-12 days rather than the typical 5-7, believing this develops more complex flavors. The distillery’s location puts them in wine country rather than traditional whiskey territory, giving them access to used wine barrels from local wineries for unique finishing experiments. Their gin recipe incorporates locally foraged botanicals including bay laurel and sage, creating a distinctly Northern California flavor profile that you won’t find elsewhere.

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

FOOD AVAILABLE

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

This isn’t a polished tasting room experience—you’re visiting a working production facility where Hewitt or Little will personally walk you through their setup and explain each piece of equipment. The space smells like fermenting grains and copper, with the still taking up a significant portion of the room alongside stainless steel fermenters and oak barrels. Tours are intimate affairs, usually just 2-4 people at a time, where you can watch the actual distillation process if you visit during production days (typically Wednesday through Saturday). They’ll walk you through tastings of their current products, explaining the production methods and often letting you sample straight off the still or from barrels that aren’t quite ready for bottling yet.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

This appeals to serious spirits enthusiasts who want to see craft distilling at its most authentic scale rather than casual tourists looking for a polished experience. You’re getting access to founders who genuinely geek out about fermentation science and distillation techniques, making it perfect for anyone curious about the actual process behind craft spirits. Don’t expect fancy facilities or slick marketing—you’re visiting a working distillery where production takes priority over aesthetics. The intimate scale means you’ll learn more about actual distilling in 45 minutes than you might on larger, more commercial tours, but you need to genuinely be interested in the craft rather than just looking for a fun tasting experience.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead rather than showing up unannounced since they’re often in the middle of production runs and can’t always accommodate walk-ins. Visit on Wednesday through Saturday when they’re actively distilling to see the operation in action and smell the mash cooking. Ask about their barrel experiments and seasonal botanicals—both founders love talking about their latest projects and will often let you taste experimental batches. Parking can be tight on 1st Street, so consider walking from the Sonoma Plaza if you’re already in town. Don’t expect a gift shop setup—if you want to buy bottles, they’ll pull them directly from their storage area.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Prohibition Spirits Distillery — Visitor FAQ

Do I need to make an appointment to visit?

Yes, appointments are required since this is a working production facility rather than a traditional tasting room. Call ahead to schedule a tour and tasting, especially if you want to see active distillation.

What’s the difference between visiting here versus larger Sonoma distilleries?

You’re visiting an actual small-scale production facility where the founders personally conduct tours and explain every piece of equipment. It’s much more educational and intimate than polished tasting room experiences, but less comfortable if you’re looking for a casual social outing.

Can I buy bottles directly from the distillery?

Yes, they sell bottles on-site though selection depends on current production and aging schedules. Since everything is small-batch, some products may be temporarily unavailable while new batches age or ferment.

GETTING THERE

Find Prohibition Spirits Distillery

📍452 1st St E STE E, Sonoma, CA 95476, USA

—

📞 (707) 933-7507

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