In keeping with Pittsburgh’s spirit of innovation and grit, our city is home to a plethora of distilleries, facilities where talented craftspeople harness chemistry and nature to create spirits like gin, whiskey, or vodka. Pennsylvania’s liquor laws prioritize locally made spirits, which has allowed for all kinds of libations to come out of local distilleries—limoncello, whiskey, rum, and even absinthe made right here in Pittsburgh. These are the Pittsburgh distilleries with the most distinct character and most creative spirits (both literally and figuratively).
Pittsburgh Distilleries to Buy Your Next Bottle of Booze From
Wigle Whiskey
2401 Smallman St
Though Wigle has its main branch in the heart of the Strip District, you can also find it at Ross Park Mall or right by PNC Park if you need a pick-me-up after a Pirates’ game. They don’t only serve whiskey, but they draw from western Pennsylvania’s rich history of whiskey production, with many different bourbons and ryes to choose from. Wigle has classic American bourbons, but also a wide selection of specialty whiskeys. They use a number of different casks including a honey cask, port cask, or a sherry cask. You can also get ginger whiskey, cherry whiskey, or cinnamon whiskey for the adventurous palate. Just ask any of Wigle’s friendly bartenders for a recommendation!
Lawrenceville Distilling
742 Allegheny River Blvd
Lawrenceville Distilling is one of Pittsburgh’s best hidden gems. For all the bohemians and bon vivants out there, Joe DeGroot is Pittsburgh’s only professional absinthe maker. Though Lawrenceville is still in the name, he’s now expanding to Verona to have more space for his creations, which include 1129 Ridge Avenue Absinthe, Parking Chair Vodka, and Jaggerbush Gin. If you’ve never had absinthe before, DeGroot’s distillery is a great place to start. You’ll be able to sample the flavors in a Louche or a Sazerac, which was how DeGroot first had it in New Orleans and fell in love with it.
Kingfly Spirits
2613 Smallman St
Kingfly Spirits is another excellent example of a distillery with top-notch bar service as well as distilling facilities. Their small-batch spirits are some of the highest-quality in the city, but their bar makes for a great spot to hang out while you’re waiting for a table at DiAnoia’s or Bar Marco. Kingfly’s Limoncello is particularly delicious, a zesty rarity among domestic limoncellos. Their space in the Strip is also beautifully curated, with rentals available for weddings and other celebrations.
Maggie’s Farm
3212a Smallman St / 1387 McLaughlin Run Rd
There aren’t a lot of places you can find craft falernum anywhere, let alone in Pittsburgh. Maggie’s Farm is a craft distillery with a Caribbean flair, serving multiple kinds of rum plus more esoteric spirits like the aforementioned giger-and-lemon-infused falernum. Everything is bottled with curation and care, and their craft cocktails are some of the best rum drinks in the Burgh. Their Strip District warehouse bar is a fun late night hangout, and their South Hills distillery now has event rentals and cocktail classes.
Love, Katie
816 Main Street
Though people of all stripes enjoy the byproducts of distilling, in many ways it’s a boys’ club. Love, Katie in Sharpsburg is a woman-owned distillery founded as a love letter to owner Katie Sirianni’s girlfriend. Love, Katie boasts the title of the state of Pennsylvania’s only LGBT-owned distillery. For now, Sirianni only makes gin and vodka, but she’d love to make her own tequila or whiskey with aging and more equipment.
Lucky Sign Spirits
50 Oak Road
What makes Lucky Sign Spirits special is that it’s mastered the rules of distilling and also knows how to break them. You have your bourbon, rye, dry gin, and vodka, but then much more esoteric spirits, too. There are few other places you can get homemade Raki—an anise-flavored Turkish spirit—or aquavit, a high-ABV Scandinavian liqueur similar to gin. Their Honest Hillbilly clear whiskey pays homage to the history of whiskey in Appalachia, reclaiming homemade clear “moonshine” and showing it has its own unique character. The Lucky Sign limoncello is also another great domestic limoncello with a unique flavor profile.
Big Springs Distillery
59 S 2ndStreet (2nd floor)
This craft distillery makes use of large warehouse space on the far end of South Side Flats to create their many kinds of infused vodka. Big Springs gets its name from the fact that it sourced its water for distillation from Bellefonte’s Big Springs, where their main distillation facility is. The water at that spring is hailed as some of the best tasting water in Pennsylvania, which translates to deliciously smooth vodka. Plus, for aspiring home bartenders they offer group cocktail classes.
McLaughlin Distillery
3799 Blackburn Rd
If you’re looking to support a veteran-owned business and have a great whiskey, McLaughlin Distillery is the place for you. Daily tours of their brewing facility make it easily accessible to the public. There’s also a tap room and bar. Serving the Sewickley area, McLaughlin has some funky specialty spirits like a creamy butter pecan cello or vanilla cream liqueur. They also offer personalized engraving that can turn any barrel-aged whiskey bottle into a gift for someone special special.
Iron City Distilling
150 Ferry St (Building 2)
Iron City Distilling dedicate their craft to reviving historic American whiskey traditions by producing spirits using heirloom grains sourced from local Pennsylvania farmers and traditional methods. The distillery focuses on making bold, character‑rich whiskeys, rye, single malt, bourbon, as well as other spirits that reflect the region’s heritage and terroir. Visitors can explore events, tours, and tastings that celebrate the history of whiskey in Western Pennsylvania.
Inspired by Spirits Distilling Co.
753 E Warrington Ave
Have you ever wanted to step back into a historic speakeasy? Inspired by Spirits is a distinctive distillery centered historic apothecaries and Prohibition‑era lore. The company evolved from Dr. Tumblety’s Time‑Inspired Specialty Shop into a multi‑faceted experience that includes its own distilling operations, a retail shop, as well as themed lounges like The Storyville Lounge and Conjure Bar & Stage. At the heart of the brand are unique, small‑batch spirits made on custom copper stills and sold both by the bottle or in a cocktail.
Stateside Vodka
Originally founded in Philadelphia by brothers Matt and Bryan Quigley, this brand is known for its 7‑times distilled vodka made from 100% U.S. corn that’s gluten‑free and kosher‑certified. They use this vodka in bottling as well as in vodka sodas, vodka teas, and vodka lemonades that you can order off of their website.
Story by Emma Riva
Photo Courtesy of Maggie’s Farm
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