Hidden distillery with delicious cocktails! After getting lunch, a small group of us grabbed drinks at Cotton & Reed. Although the music blaring (you can hear it from 2 blocks away) and the space is pretty tight with only bar type seating, I really enjoyed the cocktails. My husband got the sampler and the dark rum reminded me of mulled wine with spicy peppery finish. The Redbeard cocktail was refreshing with white rum and Campari balanced out by ginger and a blood orange peel garnish to add a nice citrus flavor. The Cocomotion slushy was my favorite! It was a bit tangy and tastes like key lime pie in the form of pina colada. Almost as good as Key West! It was dangerously delicious as I couldn't taste the white or the gold rum. My only complaint is the lack of seating for small groups and excessively loud music. Having a conversation is challenging. Nice place to grab a drink with some friends, but not the best for lingering around. As it's tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Union Market, it's definitely worth checking out! I can't count on many fingers and toes I've been to Union Market and missed the distillery when it was right under my nose. When I'm in the area, after hitting up Union Market for lunch, I'm looking forward to heading over to Cotton & Reed for a delicious cocktail! read more

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The slushes were so good - Dream Machine and Punk Panther were our faves! Why choose when you can have both in a Riot Swrrrl?

Nice outdoor seating. Super friendly staff. Mind-numbingly boring, watered down drinks that cost way more than drinks should. Spend $30. Get zero buzz. Have a dull dudd of a taste-experience. This is what happened to me, my wife and our friend one evening recently. Avoid at all costs, because it is COSTLY. read more

wonderful place love it every time I go! favorite drink is the punk panther service 10 out of 10 read more

Thank you, Cotton & Reed for turning our slightly bootleg, dampened plans for the night around within moments of even stepping through your doors! A few of my friends had plans to go to an event at Union Market one Saturday, and unfortunately when they arrived there were only a few folks lingering. I was still en route, so they asked me if I knew of anywhere nearby to hang out for awhile, and I immediately instructed them to walk over to Cotton & Reed. As soon we walked in, we could feel nothing but good vibes, laced with rock & roll and a whole lot of rum. Outside of the energy being high, we loved the bartenders so much! They were such a big part of why we had such an amazing time. They were quick to check-in, willing to make suggestions, hilarious, hospitable and a ton of fun! We could have easily spent a few more hours here, but then again - it was probably good that we left when we did. (The drinks are strong, well-made and tend to flow.) So even if you're not a big rum drinker, give this place a chance. You're sure to find something that you like about it! read more

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I had a good time lounging and sipping at Cotton & Reed. It was a chill vibe & you're allowed to bring your own food. The patio area is very spacious and you're able to social distance. I had the 2 slushie drinks which were very good. read more

Cotton & Reed - Slushies - Distilleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Great ambience with a lot of excellent spirits. Service was quick and friendly. We especially liked the aged rums!

A couple of friends and I came for the distillery tour and tasting. The tour was super informative and the owner did a fantastic job of describing the process and the notes of each rum. The bartenders were also super friendly and the cocktails were delicious read more

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This is a delightful bar next to Union Market. Love the treasure trove-type of decor (puffer fish taxidermy, black and turquoise, other tropical touches in this industrial setting). My friend came here on a Thursday night; I had the summer Passport drink booklet that I wanted to use. It's buy one cocktail, get the other free. It was a great opportunity to try a new place like this. Arrived in the evening, so wasn't able to go on a tour of the place. Will be back to check it out. 80s and 90s music were blasting from the rafters. such a great vibe. I love their innovative list of cocktails. Well-balanced and unique. We tried the frozen pina colada (sublimely sweet) and the smooth Henhouse Sazerac. it came with hennessy vsop, rum and absinthe. A bit pricey at $16 but still a lovely drink. We were caught off guard, though, when the bartender doubted that us two lady patrons would want hennessey (really?!) or any of the "stronger" drinks. Stereotype, much? but nevertheless, we still had a great time and chatted with other random friendly folks at the bar. They also served a cup of goldfish upon request for some light munchies. read more

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Stopped in at cotton and Reed (an all rum bar) on a Tuesday night around 9. We were immediately greeted by the bartender and sat at the front before moving to the seating in the back room. It was not busy at all and the service was great. All the rum is made in house. We had the cocomotion's which were amazing. Such a sweet and delicious drink. We did a few rounds of shots and let the bartender surprise us. After a few rounds of drinks and shots we spent less than $15 a piece. I'm not even a rum drinker but maybe I am now?? Will definitely be back! read more

bartender with dreads and sunglasses was incredibly rude passive aggressive and dismissive. all over water. will think twice before I spend money here. read more

I have a big soft pot for pina coladas. I know they aren't super cool or hip but they make me so happy when they're done right. This spot has an incredibleeeee pandan pina colada. I love pandan so much, and their pina colada is so so good. It's also a perfect COVID hangout spot since there's a lot of outdoor seating. I also love their flights of rum. read more

I visited on a Saturday evening with some friends and really enjoyed myself. The place is very cool inside and has indoor/outdoor seating. This place must be awesome in the warmer weather. Anyway, I tried the rum flight and all were good. Friends tried cocktails and all were happy with their selections. Will be back next time I am in DC. read more

I've been coming here for the past few months because it's in my neighborhood and the drinks are always good especially the green frozen drink. However today when I stopped by the bartender was so rude the second my friends and I walked in. We are in our mid 20s so I felt like she thought we were young and just decided that she was above us. We left before even getting a drink because of how uncomfortable her attitude was with us we came as they had just opened and the place was empty so it's not like they were super busy with other customers. Sucks because I really like this place but her customer service completely ruined the experience. read more

This was my first time at Cotton and Reed and I was pleased. The drinks I got were the Deltone (frozen drink) and the Rumba Palumba (sp?). The Deltone was mango and passion fruit flavored and it was delicious! The bartenders were both friendly so good customer service is always a plus for me. Fyi, they don't serve food but apparently you can bring outside good in. read more

Cotton & Reed - The Deltone frozen drink - Distilleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Yummy rum drinks, great service, and a lovely ambiance!! Randomly decided to check this place out after having lunch next door at Union Market and so glad I did! The best part about it is they make their rum in-house. If you time your trip right you can catch one of their distillery tours that are held in the back of the bar. I got to taste all of their rums and learn about the history of rum. I enjoyed it so much I purchased a bottle of their white rum, which was smooth and perfect for summer cocktails. read more

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We went for their Saturday tasting + tour and I have nothing but great things to say! We arrived and sat in the cute bar area before being escorted in the back for the tasting. The tour guide was so informative and gave amazing details about each of the rugs. At the end of the tasting we received a ticket for a cocktail & coupon toward a bottle of their rum. The drinks were absolutely delicious and I will be sure to visit the distillery again when I go to Union Market. Be sure to eat prior to the tasting, there are quite a few rounds in the tasting. read more

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If Union Market area couldn't go up more "cool points." Cotton and Reed fills the distillery gap Union Market never knew it was missing. It's on 5th Street to the left of the actual market. Follow the large lit up "Distillery" sign on a weekend until midnight (Yes, they stay open until midnight even on Sunday). It's a beautiful space with a classy, yet approachable (and very Instagrammable) bar off to one side and wall seating on the other edge of the area. In the back, you'll find the actual distillery and someone letting you try their rum and spiced rum. The spiced rum is dry, but the perfect blend of spices. Highly recommend it! My Monday night dinner buddy and I each grabbed a drink. I ordered their sweetest drink off the menu and my buddy ordered the drink that included mustard soda in it. Neither of us were wowed by our drinks, but they were still quality and appreciated the uniqueness of the drinks. We'd definitely be back. Cotton and Reed is a welcome friend to Union Market! read more

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Awesome hidden bar- great cocktails! We heard about this place from the server at City Winery. We were coming to Union market to get food and he told us this place has a slush machine. We were sold as soon as he said that! This place is located amount all the other stores that seems closed on the weekend. However they have a speaker blasting music outside, so just follow the music :) You definitely get your money worth it with the Rum tasting ($10). Basically you get to taste 5 different rums in a shot size. The limited edition- expresso was my favorite. Then we all already different cocktails. The presentation of each drink is great. if you are looking for a chill spot on a sunday afternoon, this is the place! Please note that they dont serve food, but you can always walk over to union market for foodie heaven! read more

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My brother and sister in law had previously been to Cotton & Reed and they loved it. While in DC they took me to Cotton & Reed and I have to say, I loved it too. My niece also came along and while she is almost able to drink, she isn't quite there but there were options for her too. I could honestly hang out here all day. The environment is welcoming, the bartender was friendly, I loved the vibe, and the drinks were delicious. The menu really has something for everyone and I could sense the care that the bartender was pouring into our glasses as he carefully crafted our drinks. My sister in law and I ordered the catch fraise "slushie" which consisted of aged spice rum, strawberry negroni, strawberry and limon. If you have never been or even if you have, this is a great place to hang out, have some delicious drinks, and chill. read more

Cotton & Reed - Catch Fraise Slushie, strawroni, strawberry, lining - Distilleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

RIP OFF + INCOMPETENCE! My girlfriend and I joined our two friends for drinks outside last Thursday, after they accepted our order and charged us a ridiculous $40 for two drinks, one of their waitress came to us after we had 2 sips of our drinks and asked us for our IDs, although I had mine on my and my girlfriend had a copy of her passport on her phone, the waitress insisted that we leave immediately because they don't accept ID copies in DC, we asked her why haven't they asked us for our IDs before they accepted our orders and charged us (We are both from out of town and in our late 30s early 40s) but she had no answer for us other than "she doesn't want to lose her job!" We thought of calling the manager, but we were sure that he/she is probably as incompetent as their staff! read more

This place and the drinks are what I wish all bars in DC were...cozy, well decorated ambience with top notch cocktails. The environment not too crowded to feel like you are elbowing for room, but also a lively buzz that feels fun on a Friday night. It's tucked away by Union Market. All the cocktails were delicious that I tried, but my favorite was the Rumba Palumba. A thoughtful mix of white rum, mezcal, grapefruit and lemon. I can't wait to try more of the menu. Some good late night food options close-by (O-Ku, Union District Oyster Bar and Lounge) if you want a bite after the distillery. read more

Cotton & Reed - Distilleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Rum is not usually my go-to drink, but Cotton & Reed has converted me to a rum drinker! This spot is down the street from Union Market and La Consecha, and if you're in the area grabbing a bite at one of these food halls, you might as well top off that meal with one of their many rum cocktails. It won't disappoint. Also, shoutout to all of the bartenders who are always so welcoming whenever we stop in. read more

Cotton & Reed - Distilleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Cotton & Reed was the final stop on an Ivy City distillery tour on a Saturday night. The trendy rum distillery is located right next to Union Market and has strong rum based cocktail menu. The bar is a bit loud but the back area, barrel room, is a bit quieter and more intimate. After enjoying our first cocktail in the back to avoid the noise and to allow the bar to slow down, my buddy and I came back out to the bar and had a great conversation with the bartender. It was a great way to enjoy the bar. On one hand, it's great Cotton & Reed wears both the hats of cocktail bar and high volume club/bar, but I do generally enjoy a less night club-like (see disco ball as evidence) feel vibe. I will probably return during the day to enjoy a tour and tasting as well as a more relaxing daytime cocktail experience. read more

Cotton & Reed - Tiki Tuesday Menu - Distilleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had to stop into Yelp and give C&R 5 stars for the outstanding service durring the pandemic. Well decorated outside and indoor (with the sliding wall open) spaces with lots of distance between chairs, online reservations and very competent mixologist would have alone warraned 4 stars, but this extra star was for the AMAZING service. I mistakenly requested a wait list position on the reservation app instead of a regular reservation. The hostess (gorgeous black women with very long dreds I didn't get her name) went above and beyond to accommodate a space for us outside!!!!! Above....and..... beyond!!! But wait, there's more. Our server, Daniel, was just great, funny, knowledgeable and attentive. We definitely ordered more and stayed longer than we planned. They were blasting old school hip hop into the cool fall air -- as the strung lights casted crystal shadow across our cocktails and Jared almonds. What a night. Cheers C&R!!!! read more

Cotton & Reed - Negroni with C&R dark rum. - Distilleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I freaking LOVE the cocomotion frozen drink. So freaking tasty. So good. Highly recommend. But nothing else. But THE WORST PART about this place is the staff. The bartenders are straight up jerks. The big woman is just not nice, not polite , makes you feel like shit. I love the frozen drink but I hate asking for it. I honestly wish another bar sold this drink. read more

Been wanting to come here so decided to bring my fam bam after Sunday Brunch (we didn't have unlimited mimosas so we wanted a drink). The bar area is on the smaller side and surprisingly, around 2pm on a random Sunday, it was quite crowded. All the chairs were taken. There was only one bartender but still managed to get our drinks in a timely fashion. True to form, my parentals got nothing, so it was left to my sister and I. I love their motto "No beer, No wine, Just Rum". Oh so wonderful! I had the Redbear cocktail which was phenomenal. So that's most definitely going to be my go to. Loved the taste of the ginger, reminded me of a mule (obviously because of the ginger). My sis got the Rumba Palumba (just fun to say it). Also tasty but wouldn't say it's my #1. Will for sure be back. Too bad I'll be moving farther away. It is interestingly remote with empty stores next door, but I think that's what makes it so appealing. This area will be blowing up soon. read more

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The rums here are just fantastic, as are the thoughtful, constantly changing, selection of cocktails available here. It's a cool warehouse space too, though it can get obnoxiously loud during weekend nights both before and after dinner (as it's a great place to grab a drink while you're waiting for your table at St. Anselm or somewhere else nearby to open up). I've done a rum flight and the navy strength limited edition rum is potent but quite something, as it's aged in a barrel that had previously aged bourbon (I think?) and beer. Go before it's out! The all spice dram here is also solid and a staple of my home bar, and I'm a huge fan of the coffee rum which is delicious on its own and adds a real unique flavor to a negroni. I also love the beautiful designs carved into the bar -- a nice little touch. You can buy bottles of rum here, visit the distillery (although there are limited hours for tours), or just stop by for a tasting or cocktails or both. It's such a gem, truly. read more

I've been to Cotton and Reed twice and both times it has impressed. We went there last Saturday when there was a torrential downpour in DC and we sure were glad that C&R was where we had to be stuck until the rain died down. The bartenders entertained us with conversation while we were sipping on Liquid Nostalgia which was a combination of white rum + blood orange soda (both made in-house). I tried the Rickey Balboa too, which was pretty good, but I think if I come back I would definitely stick to the Liquid Nostalgia or try something else. The atmosphere was extremely pleasant as they had the windows open which allowed a nice cool breeze (and part of the rain in the form of mist) to waft through the bar, along with some nice music. For a random Saturday afternoon, it definitely was fairly crowded, but not difficult to get service by any means. As for the rum itself, I am a huge fan and have actually bought bottles of C&R white rum on multiple occasions. I've treated friends from out of town to mixed drinks using that rum and they have complimented its smoothness. Definitely will be back. read more

Cotton & Reed - Liquid nostalgia! - Distilleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My friend raves about this place so I was excited to try it, but I was not impressed. Here is the break down: Positives: The atmosphere was nice, servers were attentive, and everything was socially distanced outside appropriately on the patio. Negatives: The music was rather aggressive and loud, but the big issue for me was that the two drinks I had were probably the worst I have had in a very long time in DC. I ordered the Rumba Palumba which was supposed to have white rum, mezcal, grapefruit, and lemon. I am now thinking that they gave me the incorrect drink because I was served something that resembled Fanta or Tang mixed with rum. It was so sweet and honestly disgusting. The next drink I tried was the Tulum Raider which had rum, tequila, and rosemary-lemongrass tonic. This drink was also overly sweet and tasted like tequila mixed with store bought lemonade. 0/10 recommend. I would probably stop by here again to try a rum tasting or if a friend insisted and then I would only order a mixed drink like rum and coke. read more

Great hip little bar. Service is excellent. No beer no wine just rum. Very cool place to hang out.

I stopped in here last weekend with a friend on a Saturday afternoon. The music drew us in and did not disappoint. We sat inside at the bar which was spacious. I had the Rumba Palumba which light and refreshing. I'd definitely return. read more

This hidden gem is Pretty often. Perfect place to stop after a day at union market. Service was great and vibe is awesome. One note - if you don't like rum, it's not your place! I'm not sure if there is food.... but pretty much everything is rum drinks. I will say however, I'm not been a huge rum fan and these were delish. read more

Cotton & Reed - Distilleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I visited Cotton & Reed on Saturday around 6pm. We were a party of 2 and didn't have a reservation but were able to be seated immediately. I was impressed by their COVID precautions. Upon entry we were asked to complete an online form for contact tracing purposes and every table was provided with a fresh bottle of hand sanitizer (that they make themselves)! There is no indoor seating and they set up a really spacious outdoor patio. There were heat lamps throughout so it was pretty comfortable even though it was FREEZING outside. We ordered the Redbeard and the Liquid Nostalgia. Both were really tasty (and that's a lot coming from me because I'm usually not a huge fan of rum)! We were also required to order a food item with our purchase so we got some olives along with our drinks. Definitely a solid spot to visit! Great drinks and felt safe the entire time I was there! Will visit again :) read more

Fun rum bar! Adorable atmosphere with many drink options. Not a rum fan and their drinks have something for everyone!

Great drinks.. friendly bartenders. Good selection of drinks to choose from. Recommend it.

Award winning rum distillery with a great ambience for a party of two. No food, just drinks.

Cotton & Reed serves interesting and balanced cocktails in an industrial-chic space (isn't everything these days?). I'd recommend the Rose of Jericho (spiced rum, allspice dram, house cola, dandelion, turmeric, and limon de jerez), as it was delicious, thanks especially to the turmeric. (And of course nearly anything with allspice dram tastes fantastic.) I'd note that when we arrived at 6:30 PM, it wasn't too crowded, but it was still pretty loud (91 decibels). I'd assume it would get worse as more people arrive. read more

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I reserved this place for my wife's BD. It was my first time there, and it was recommended by a friend. I really enjoyed the ambiance and service. Their cocktails were pretty good. I tested almost all their famous rum-based cocktails and really liked them. read more

I love Cotton & Reed. We've been coming here since they opened, but this is the first time we've been in a while (for obvious reasons). They opened their storage room to allow for socially distanced seating, with giant heat lamps hanging from the ceiling to keep you warm. We had excellent service: friendly, attentive, and quick. The cocktails are always amazing, and we all had a round of their go-to classic remake of the pina colada. This was my first time trying anything outside the pina colada (they're that good!), but I also tried the redbeard(?), which was really lovely as well. They don't serve a ton of food (really just peanuts, literally), but it's across the street from union market, and they all you to bring in outside food. Since union market isn't doing indoor seating except at bidwell, grab a bite and bring it over to enjoy with some cocktails! read more