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    Chesapeake Bay Distillery

    4.7 (80 reviews)
    InexpensiveDistilleries
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    Winifred W.

    This place was very interesting. Informative, good friendly knowledgeable service, just a Good Time at the Beach. The Vodka is smooth and mild that's excellent by itself or in a cocktail. Made Onsite !! You can get a flight of four cocktails or a 8 or 10 oz glass for only $8.00 This is a FUN place at the beach to visit.

    Entrance
    Farrah B.

    We noticed this place driving to dinner and decided to stop by before we went back to our side of Virginia Beach and I'm glad we did. We walked in and there were tastings already in session. And the lone woman working behind the bar was so friendly and hospitable. We couldn't wait to sit down when some others cleared out! When we snagged seats, she gave us the tasting menu, and even poured us a drink to try out while we made our selections. We ended up going with a bunch of the seasonal specials as they wouldn't be there later in the year. Everything tasted amazing and my mom ordered an full size purple rain. The vodka & tequila is so smooth (we bought a bottle of vodka to take home). I was pleasantly surprised to see Dr. Stoners is also distilled here. Next time I go home to Richmond, I might have to take a extra 2hr drive down to come try more seasonal selections. Thanks for adding some fun to my visit to VA Beach!

    Cocktail flight at the bar
    Krista R.

    I really enjoyed the cocktail flight and especially the spicy tequila. I look forward to making some spicy margaritas at home. It was a fun place to visit while we vacationed at Virginia Beach. I recommend it!

    Flight.
    Damon B.

    Impact: 5/5. Stellar across the board. Highlights: Amaretto Ridge & Passion Punch. Two different flavor profiles, yet superbly delightful. I even liked "Build Your Own Bloody," despite this being my least favorite cocktail. Beverages: Cocktail & Spirits flight. See above for my subjective highlights. Basically, everything Sara poured for us was great. Service: Impeccable. Both visits, about a year apart, were noteworthy because of the service. Sara, set the scene for a wonderful return this past Sunday. Fun, unique, and lively are the best descriptors for the afternoon that Sarah curated. I actually reconsidered delaying my return trip back to LA. Ambiance: Chill/industrial/coast vibe. The bar area was crowded, but pleasant during our first visit. The bar area was initially empty for our second visit, then filled up a bit with locals. Good vibes all around and pet friendly.

    Flight of 4.
    Knightlyshadow1234 1.

    My wife and I found a fun little distillery a few blocks from ocean front. Completely worth a short walk!! $8 flights or cocktails. All spirits crafted here. A nice view of the distillery with seating for 30-40. Friendly bartender who was personable and quickly poured the drinks. The smokey ghost pepper tequila was great - I can see why it won a 2023 craft sprit award! Best part - ABC carries the bottle too so you can enjoy your own creations by starting with a really good base

    Flights on deck!
    Mary R.

    Why did it take us this long to go here? Oh yeah. That's right. I have 3 kids under 3 lol!!! Small indoor area. But bug on the taste! They offer a flight if 4....either cocktails or straight up. They are an ABC store as well. They will sell you bottles! Staff was awesome and knowledgeable! They gave their own parking area as well. Customer bathroom available. No changing tables for those parents bringing kids in like me haha. Hand sanitizer available at every table and bar area. Merch available as well like hats...shirts.. tanks...etc.

    Menu 4.23
    Sally C.

    This is a great place to start your night for $8. There is no food so it's not going to be a long visit. They have changed how they do things. But you can order 4 different shot size drinks or just 1 drink. I like to order the 4 so I can try different things. Its not a big place. Probably not great for large parties. A small bar with about 8 seats. Complete view of where they make the alcohol. Cool vibe. Support local. Good service. Clean. I was by myself and totally comfortable. Worth checking out and visiting. Don't forget to buy a bottle to go.

    Menu
    Alison T.

    I have always loved coming here but was honestly disappointed on my most recent trip. Chesapeake Bay Distillery has a great atmosphere and makes very smooth spirits. In the past, I love coming for tastings because they do beats and cocktails as part of their flights. They lose a star since on this visit I found out they have significantly reduced the size of the tasting glass for the cocktails. Previously it was a shot glass amount for a neat and a cute mini cocktail for a mixed beverage. Now everything comes in the shot glass. They have changed the presentation and I found the old flight boards and glasses much better. They limit what cocktails are available for the flights as well. Still a nice experience and great liquor. I may stick to neats in the future though.

    Two cocktail flights
    Therese H.

    We stopped by on a Sunday afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed the distillery. The bartender was fantastic and handled a busy bar with ease and friendliness. The drinks were delicious and the Bloody Mary is one of the best I've ever had! I highly recommend trying a flight of cocktails before ordering a drink so you can try a little of everything. The ghost pepper tequila was surprisingly yummy! Thank you for a wonderful afternoon.

    Lisa O.

    Love the Distillery. This place is a must. So add it to your to do list. Cool vibe when you walk in. With all the local art. Friendly staff. And did someone says drinks? Yes!! My husband and I like the flights. Good price and fun selection. My husband and I make it interesting , he chooses 2 and I choose 2. Neither of us knows what the other person is picking until we drink it. It is great!!! There is always a good variety to choose from. FRESH is #1. For example if it is strawberry season. They will make a Pungo Mule. Love love love this one. And if you love it as much as I do you can also get the recipe and their wonderful vodka. The Blue Ridge Vodka to make this at home all strawberry season. Summer time in a drink is a Lemondrop. Another one of my faves. Made with their Lemon liqueur. They have the best sense of humor too. With all this pandemic they made 4 new drinks called * Quarantine *Canceled Plans *Dr. Dr. and *Penicillin So pay attention. Their products are great. It's LOCAL, small business. And a visit is always fun. #YelpBigNightIn!

    Cranberry margarita
    Courtney J.

    Drink was unique, cranberry margarita with cranberry cocktail and pepper infused tequila. Leaves a little bit of a burn but it balances out. 10/10 recommend It was a small space but everyone made the best of it, bar tender was nice and recommended some good options l.

    Roast at the River showcasing Chesapeake Bay Distillery Vodka
    J David H.

    An overdue review of Chris Richeson and his crew doing awesome things in the world of distilling rum & vodka. They are now celebrating a 14th year. The three products they distill are Chicks Beach Rum, Blue Ridge Vodka and Ghost Pepper infused vodka. I had all three and they were exceptional, albeit the Ghost Pepper left a low burn in my gut for the evening. They do have distribution. Awesome tasting with Bri pouring a shot of their Blue Ridge Vodka which was mighty tasty straight up. Bri not only pours, but educates customers on the product & makes great recommendations. My fave cocktail was the strawberry colada. Go check them out in the Vibe Creative District. I've now been back a few times and had their great products at events over the years. I can highly recommend.

    Lauren B.

    The alcohol was very tasty and smooth. Wasn't harsh at all, didn't burn your throat. They do not give tours so you will not be able to see how they make the alcohol. Distilleries in Virginia are limited to serving 3 ounces of liquor on premise which is equivalent to two cocktails or one cocktail and three shots. They do sell bottles to go and other items like bottle openers, shot glasses, mugs, etc.

    Dranks

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    4 months ago

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    Chris R.

    Thanks Tiffany. We love the low-key feel and the drinks as well.

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    Chris R.

    Thanks for taking the time to give us a review!

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    Chris R.

    So glad you have enjoyed your visits! See you again soon!

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    Chris R.

    Glad you had a great time! Stop in again soon!

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    Chris R.

    Thanks for the review and your patronage. Stop in again soon!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Chesapeake Bay Distillery

    Hello? For the flight is the glass size a shot glass size?

    You're allowed four tastings that add up to the equivalent of a "drink". You can do four of the same, four different straight samples, or samples Of their specialty cocktails.… 

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    Waterman Spirits

    Waterman Spirits

    4.9
    (46 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    I went to the Tinis and Weenies night, which they hold every Wednesday, so this is what I'm rating…read moremy experience on! I saw the event advertised on social media and knew I had to check it out. It's gourmet specialty hot dogs paired with a wide selection of martinis, from classics like lemon drops and cosmos to more unique options like the pickletinis and caprese tinis. I went with a couple of friends around 5:45 and it was packed, but luckily people were leaving as we arrived so we were able to grab a spot. It was a little too chilly to sit outside, but they do have additional seating and I'd definitely sit out there when it's warmer. The food was great. I got the kimchi hot dog and loved it. The brioche bun really stood out, and the chili truffle oil fries were amazing. Everything comes out on a cute little tray, which was a nice touch. For my drink, I tried the pickletini. It was good, but definitely strong, especially if you're new to martinis. One friend got the caprese-tini, which was surprisingly good and came with a caprese skewer, so you get a little snack with it. My other friend got a dirty martini, which she enjoyed, and even as someone who isn't big on olives, I thought it was pretty good. Overall, we all had a great time and will definitely be back to try more of the menu!

    Needed a quick beverage and stumbled upon this gem of a distillery. Very nice atmosphere, friendly…read moreand knowledgeable staff and unique and tasty beverages.

    Photos
    Atmosphere
    Atmosphere
    The second drink we made, the strawberry Aloha. So fruity!
    The second drink we made, the strawberry Aloha. So fruity!
    Caprese.....delicious

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    Caprese.....delicious
    8 Shires Coloniale Distillery

    8 Shires Coloniale Distillery

    4.3
    (40 reviews)
    47.7 mi
    $$

    Went out here to get a full tour of the Distilleries in the area. This place stands out quite a bit…read moreon its own. They focus on doing their spirits the way they were done back in the day. Quite indicative of the area. With those traditional ways comes some of the plusses and minuses of that era. But that's the fun part imo. First off, you'd be silly to not come here as they gave us our first taste for free. When it comes to unique, this definitely takes the cake. It's hard to explain but the only way to understand the uniqueness of their spirits is to straight up go there and try them. Because they're so unique, many of the 'og' style spirits I had were so far off from the norm. But that's ok. One of them wasn't for me but that's fine. I was just appreciative of being able to try it. Overall, this place is a big win. If you're in the area and are a spirits fan, stop on by! Food Taste: 5 Overall Service: 5 Value of food to cost: 5 Facility: 5 Ambiance: Walking in you almost feel like you're transported back in time. Although I have no doubt that's the intent of decor and ambiance. Repeat customer: yes Dog Friendly: no

    No food served here, just amazing colonial style cocktails and spirits. Felt as if I had stepped…read moreback in time. If you are looking for something unique and historical, this is it!!! Take a trip back in time to the colonial days and discover how modern cocktail recipes came to be. From flaming drinks to simple mojitos, each drink has a historic story of invention and who consumed them. The service is friendly and they are happy to explain everything on the menu. Their genuine passion shines through and the pours are rather generous on the flights. So drivers be aware that you won't be able to finish them! Whiskey & Rum are the primary spirits served, though there was a gin on the menu as well as a few others. The atmosphere is equally period appropriate. Will not disappoint you if this is your vibe!

    Photos
    Old stills
    Old stills
    8 Shires Coloniale Distillery
    8 Shires Coloniale Distillery

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    Chesapeake Bay Distillery - distilleries - Updated August 2026

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