Hidden Ships Distillery is truly a hidden gem in Surf City! I grew up in this area and now live in…read moreVirginia Beach, and I make it a point to tell everyone I know about Hidden Ships. I was never a big fan of any liquor, so I wasn't expecting to be impressed--but their gin and bourbon completely changed my mind. Both are incredibly smooth, flavorful, and unlike anything I'd had before. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and you can tell the owner and staff are passionate about what they do. Whether you're a spirits enthusiast or someone who normally skips liquor like I do, Hidden Ships is absolutely worth the visit. If you're anywhere near Surf City, do yourself a favor and stop by Hidden Ships Distillery. It's one of my favorite places to recommend, and everyone I've sent there has loved it. I can't wait to come back on my next trip home!

Love this place! Super cool atmosphere, vibes, and amazing drinks! Especially the espresso martini!read more

This bar had live entertainment and good service when we went here. We didn't spend a long time…read morehere yet we will definitely come back. The bathrooms was clean. We stayed here until our Lyft came to pick us up.

Featuring live music on a Sunday afternoon during football, Wilmington Distillery was a nice spot…read moreto enjoy some drinks made with local spirits. It clearly stated that you are supposed to order from the bar, so first sat down to look at the menu. The one bartender working was kind enough to stop by the table to let us know she was ready to help us. They allow simple complementary tastings so got a thimbleful of their whiskey and limoncello. Ordered a Von Moscow Mule ($10) and a Regulator Whiskey ($12). Good pour. My team wasn't playing, so wasn't really interested in what was on the TV (unlike most others in the bar). Instead, enjoyed the live music while sipping on our cocktails, and left once done. It was a good stay.

Twelve 33 Distiller is a gem, a delight, a treat and worth visiting. My wife and I did the VIP…read moretour and it was amazing - very well led by SAM who spoke well on how they make their spirits as he showed us around, helping us pick spirits for our sampling and leading us through the equipment then to the "secret" Speakeasy. We loved our time at Twelve 33, enjoying our visit with SAM and KEVIN, the food, the spirits and the general feeling of joy persistent throughout the facility. Highly recommend you work in time to visit! TOUR $29 per person gets you a very personalized tour with an employee - in our case, that employee was SAM TICE who we learned is the Assistant Distiller and Operations Manager so he definitely knows his stuff! On the tour, you start by picking your spirits that will be on your tasting flight. Yeah, it seems weird to pick them up front but then while you're on the tour in the back, their staff is pouring all your spirits so they are ready for you when you're done - very efficient! And don't worry, your guide will assist you in selecting spirits and there's a very descriptive menu to help you out as well. SPIRITS The spirits I tried were excellent and my wife enjoyed hers as well, starting with their Intemperance Vodka that both of us got and fell in love with. And that's saying something! We are both Belvedere fans as our number one vodka of choice, and it's a Rye vodka so normally we're not in on the corn/wheat types but this vodka was smooth, delightful and fun enough that we purchased 2 bottles on our way out. Beyond that, our tastes went different directions as I loaded up on whiskeys and my wife went the tequila and cream liquor route. My favorite was the Triple Oaked whisky which I also procured a bottle of as we exited SPEAKEASY Such a fun surprise - at the end of the tour, you open their speakeasy by uttering the password, and step back into time with early 1900's decor and music, plus your tasting flight waiting with water and pretzels for you to enjoy. They give you time to taste and also select a cocktail (included in the tour) from their menu which they bring to you to imbibe in this fun room! FOOD We only tried one item from their Small Bites menu - a flatbread - but it was awesome. Very interesting flatbread as it was smaller than I think we expected but the ingredients were perfectly balanced and appropriately sized - we had the BBQ Chicken pizza with BBQ sauce, roasted chicken, purple onion and 3 cheese blend. It was cute and the perfect amount of food for a snack before we moved on to dinner closer to our hotel. STAFF Besides SAM who gave us the tour, we met KEVIN OSBORN, the founder/owner/head distiller who swung by to say hello and chat for a moment. He was very nice and it was great of him to drop by. We had servers and other staff that were equally friendly and welcoming - a warm, enthusiastic group of people that all seem to truly love working at Twelve 33 Distillery, and it made our visit even better

Went back again after a great experience with the tour and the cocktails in the speakeasy room…read more This time we had the charcuterie board and the spinach artichoke dip too and both were absolutely fantastic. Once again the cocktails were delicious and the staff so friendly. Highly impressed!

The atmosphere is terrific both inside and outside. The bourbon was very very good. It was a most…read moreenjoyable visit with the great company of some amazing coworkers. I'll certainly be back.

Service 10 of 5 stars - Kim is awesome, she keeps it moving and was fun to talk too…read more Menu 5 of 5 stars - many options and if you don't find something you like that is on you... Beer, spirits, mixed drinks with a flair I LOVED our trip to Bogue Sound Distillery. The space is a vibe. So fun and I can't wait to come back and do a tour, sounds like they happen most Saturdays at 1, but call first. Diverse menu, reasonable prices, excellent service! Will definitely be back!

The Lowdown: Beautiful waterfront views, attentive service, delicious food, fair prices, and a laid…read moreback atmosphere that made for a great girls' night out. The three of us were on a girls' trip to Oak Island, so we took the golf cart over to Lone Rider. Parking was easy, even with a short wait for an outdoor table. But there were plenty of picnic tables and bar seating where we could relax in the meantime. Once we were seated outside, the view overlooking the sound was absolutely worth it. Peaceful, relaxing, exactly what we were hoping for. Our server was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. We all ended up ordering the Smash Burger, and yes, despite the lettuce headlines, we kept the lettuce on and lived to tell the tale. My friends chose tots, and I went with the fries. Everything came out hot and fresh, and the Smash Burger on Texas toast was a great twist. Prices felt fair for the area, especially given the location and overall vibe. No live music the night we visited, but they host bands and events on other nights, which sounds like a fun reason to return.

Have come here 3 years in a row and very much enjoyed it every time. I'm not a huge fan of most of…read moretheir beers, but their hefeweizen is really good and they have mixed drinks. Their patio is dog friendly which is great for my family. We all also enjoy their variety of food. Will come back next time I'm in town

We stopped by here to get a drink for my daughter and son-in-law. When you walk in to the left is a…read moreplace to buy merch. There is a dining area to relax and have a drink. To the right is the bar where you can order your drinks and leave or sit at the tables. They ordered their drinks to leave and walk around Barefoot Landing. Service was quick and friendly, and they enjoyed their drinks.

Eh, it was ok. The bourbon lacked flavor and toast. I wasn't happy with their moonshine either but…read moreit wasn't horrible. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the offerings.