Dan V.

We love LPS. They have done such an amazing job building over the last 8 years from the initial location to the beautiful new meetinghouse, distillery, and rickhouse. The bourbons are so good, the people are so friendly, the increasing food options are great, and we always love the special releases they produce. There is no need to go on hunts for unicorn bottles and support huge corporations when there is a family-owned business like Liberty Pole with real quality products.

Spirited R.

Where do I begin? My first review of Liberty Pole Spirits was back in 2018. Little did I know that six years later, I would be completely captivated by what this family of four was creating at their distillery. Thanks to the Hough family, I'm now a whiskey enthusiast--a journey I started at age 34 when I had my first glass of wine. But it wasn't until 2018 that I discovered whiskey, and nothing I had tried before could compare. It opened up an entirely new world for me, and I'm deeply grateful to the Houghs for that. Over the years, I've collected many photos and visited their new location frequently since it opened. I was also a regular at their original spot. We waited for the initial excitement around the new place to settle before visiting last year. We took a tour when they were offering just a single option, which was a great value at $25 per person at the time. It included a glass, a tasting, and a tour of the largest and only Rickhouse in Pennsylvania, capable of holding up to 3,600 barrels. To put that in perspective, they use 59-gallon barrels, and although they may have some smaller ones in storage, that's potentially 212,400 gallons of whiskey--over 9 million bottles, if it didn't lose volume during aging. But that's part of the magic of whiskey. Jeff, our tour guide, was absolutely fantastic. I found out we're from the same area, which made the experience even more personal. He shared the rich history of the Whiskey Rebellion and its connection to Liberty Pole Spirits, something I hadn't known back in 2018. The tour was incredible, and the opportunity to sample their different whiskeys afterward was a real treat. The tour offerings have evolved since then. We recently took the 90-minute tour, still priced at $25, which is available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. As described on their website, this tour is "a fun-filled mix of history, whiskey production techniques, and a walk-through of their amazing 5-story barrel warehouse. The tour finishes with a flight of their award-winning grain-to-glass whiskeys, and you get to keep the Glencairn glass (an $18 value)." There's also the Barrel House Immersion Tour, which lasts 90 minutes and costs $95. This experience includes a brief walk through the production facility before entering the only 5-story wooden barrel house in Pennsylvania, where you can smell the aging whiskey. You'll learn about barrel characteristics and influence, how they're made, and the maturation process. You'll sample whiskey from three barrels, select your favorite, and fill a bottle to take home. The tour concludes with you labeling and sealing your bottle on the bottling line, all while enjoying samples of their other handcrafted whiskeys. This tour is only offered from May to October, and it's definitely on my list for the future. What can I say about the Hough family? They are truly a class act. From Jim and Ellen, who started it all, to their sons, Rob and Kevin, the family's commitment and passion are woven into every aspect of their business. As a family-owned operation, they have created something incredibly special here. In my biased opinion, they produce the best whiskey in Western Pennsylvania, if not beyond. They're simply the nicest family you'll ever meet, and their dedication has paid off in spades. It reminds me of the phrase, "If you build it, they will come." And come they have. I've attended several single-bottle sales at Liberty Pole Spirits, and judging by my photos, there are always hundreds of people lining up to snag a bottle or two. They've built an incredible following, and I'm proud to be part of it. The distillery has expanded significantly, offering not just their own whiskey but also selections from the PA Rye Trail. I even started my own PA Rye Trail journey here and then continued across the state, visiting other locations. They've got a top-notch chef on hand, serving up some of the best meals you'll find anywhere. You really can't go wrong here--Liberty Pole Spirits is the real deal, and they have it all. I always recommend this place to friends and colleagues. As a college professor, I often bring in special guests to speak to my students, and one of the gifts I always give them is a bottle of something special from Liberty Pole Spirits. Without fail, every person says, "Damn, this is really good." In my own way, I'm spreading the love and sharing the story of what I consider the best whiskey spot in our area. Cheers! I know this was a long review, but it's been a long time coming. I could probably write a novel about how much I love this place, especially since my short review from 2018 didn't do it justice. Here's to Liberty Pole Spirits--cheers!

Dave P.

Enjoyable visit to this small distillery in Washington, PA. A small front area for purchases of cocktails and merch, but a nice dining room for the start of tours. We took the $20 tour and found it money well spent. You first get the cocktail of your choosing. I got an old fashioned- delicious! We next congregated in the dining area and we're joined by staff member Jeff. He gave a nice overview of how the company started and about the Whiskey Rebellion. Very good speaker and answered all questions. Next we moved to the distillery area and he explained the full process. A move to the basement to see their barrels and more details on aging. Lastly, we went back to the dining area and sampled five whiskeys. Overall a very fun tour with delicious beverages. Their bourbon cream was my favorite. Recommended for adults. Cheers!

Alan L.

A small distillery that makes wonderful products. We learned about Liberty Pole Spirits while eating at The Rib Room in Pittsburgh. A Liberty Pole product is featured in a cocktail there. Our visit to the distillery was like a visit with friends. We spoke with both owners for about an hour, tasting (and purchasing) multiple products, seeing their operations and discussing their expansion plans. We will definitely enjoy our purchases and visit again when our travels return us to the area.

What an incredible experience! A whiskey distillery in the heart of SW PA!!! This family owned operation, with it's still and rickhouse just behind the warm tavern interior was like finding gold in the hills! Liquid gold! For our tour of the place, we were greeted by Kevin, one of the two sons, along with his parents Ellen and Jim, for a tour and tasting, getting an inspired lesson on the distilling process, along with the barreling and taste-testing of their incredibly smooth and delicious rye whiskey, and wheated and peat bourbon. Their knowledge of the history and culture of whiskey was incredible. The taste testing was an absolute treat! Chef Chris provided the food to balance the whiskey, and we sat for an hour enjoying these great whiskeys and food, along with more talk of how this amazing place came to be. If you are even mildly interested in whiskeys and have a love of Pennsylvania history, a tour of this distillery is a must. I'm sorry I live so far away, or I would be coming back next week, and the week after. Truly, this was an absolutely magical night out with family and friends.

David M.

Seriously one of my favorite parts of my visit to Pittsburgh/ Washington area. The knowledge and history shared by Ellen was out of this world. I left with a much stronger appreciation for whiskey and the distillation process. Hearing Ellen's history of the whiskey revolution dating back to the late 1700's with specific names was incredible and definitely a bonus I was not expecting. The tasting we were provided was outstanding the way she would have us pair them provided a way to distinguish the flavors in an incredible way. I definitely can't wait to visit again. ~Magic

Elana C.

I love Liberty Pole Spirits. They have a friendly staff in a welcoming environment. The drink specials are always creative and delicious. Take the tour! This is ala great location for private parties and events.

Brittany L.

My husband, two friends and I attended a tour and tasting on Saturday night. We had a wonderful time, learned about the distilling process and enjoyed our drinks. The tour is $20/person on their website and includes a mixed drink of your choice plus a flight of 5 spirits at the end. Our guide was Rob who was passionate about the distillery, showed us around and answered all our million of questions. Throw in some history with the Whiskey Rebellion, upside down Hamilton picture above the bar and a replica of a liberty pole right inside the door and I had an amazing night.

Mike G.

Knowledgeable and friendly staff. Learned about the history of the whiskey rebellion along the process of making each spirit. I can't recommend just one drink since all of them are great. I especially like the Columbus Citron. It is sweet but still has a kick. My favorite spirit is the peated bourbon. The smokey taste is not for everyone which is fine because they offer 4 other spirits which all have distinct and great flavor. The ambiance inside takes you back to the time of the whiskey rebellion and adds to the experience. If you are coming to Pittsburgh this is a must for bourbon and whiskey lovers.