Had a great experience here. We were looking for a place for lunch where we could take our dog inside in the heat thus ended up here. We really appreciated the accommodation with a baby and a big dog, the cider was good though selection was not huge (5), food was cursory but tasty- we enjoyed the panini, ambiance was inviting, service was very pleasant. Really appreciate the hospitality. read more

Mt Defiance Cidery & Distillery - Indoor - Distilleries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

Cute place to hangout with great selection of ciders. There's also a spirits tasting upstairs as well. We went there in December and got a chance to try their spiked cider with pommeau and it was delicious! Perfect for a cold crispy day. read more

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The cider here is really good--fresh, flavorful, and definitely worth the visit. One thing to note is that the cider drinking area and the distillery bar have completely separate seating, so if you're with a group that wants different drinks, you may end up sitting apart. I didn't get a chance to try the spirits this time, but based on the quality of the cider, I'd come back to explore more. read more

I love their food and the service was good. They have a friendly and welcoming ambiance. read more

What a cute little gem in a cute little town. Their parking is very small and the town was super busy so parking could be hard at times. The place is very small with just a few tables around. The girl that was the bartender was very nice and had a great personality. We were just traveling thru so we didn't stay long and just tried a flight of three liquor for $14. The ones we tasted were very good. I wanted a cocktail to end our time so I went for the Virginia Velvet Bourbon Cream and man was this DELICIOUS!!!! If I ever went back to the area i would stop back and try more. read more

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My wife and I visited the distillery and enjoyed two three-pour flights. Each of our choices was delicious, and the server made the experience a fun and informative one. We bought a bottle of the Straight Bourbon Whiskey to take home, and it was smooth and delicious. We highly recommend a visit to Mt. Defiance. read more

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I love this small ciders and distillery in middle burg, va. They have quite a few ciders and I think their spirits are underrated. Their tasting room offers both tasting flights and full cocktails. I got the farmhouse cider today and it was delicious with a generous pour. I've also gotten the old fashioned which was amazing as well. The Anejo spirits are also tasty and we usually bring at least one bottle home. They are dog friendly as well which is a plus! read more

Mt Defiance Cidery & Distillery - Farmhouse cider - Distilleries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

The cutest storefront distillery in the cutest town! Small and intimate sitting area, very friendly and patient staff. No food, but good recommendations given. Cocktails are well crafted and delicious! read more

Mt Defiance Cidery & Distillery - Cocktail flight! - Distilleries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

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If you're ever in the area, I definitely recommend stopping by Mt. Defiance. It's a small local operation doing something really well--and the staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what they make. Even if you're usually more into wine or beer, like me, this place is worth checking out. read more

We originally was going to stop here earlier but came back towards the end of the day. We went to the barn but it was closed for a private event. We came here instead and happy we did because it's a distillery as well. We didn't try any cider and stuck with the distill liquors. I had a sample of bourbon, Rum and whiskey which they were all good. I then had a Rum Old Fashioned which was the bomb. They tasted very good, and loved the setup that they had on site. Small distillery but great products. I believe he said they been there for 7 years. read more

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Great location and service was very good. The storefront is charming and the variety of liquors is surprising. Unfortunately, after sharing several flights of their liquors, I can't recommend the agave based liquors, nor the apple brandy, nor the rum, nor the absinthe, nor the dryer ciders. Everything had a fairly uniform taste of grain neutral alcohol with the merest hint of flavor. The ale yeast Apple cider was the best of the lot, but didn't compare favorably with Angry Orchard or other mass produced ciders. For novelty alone, it's worth watching the copper pot distillation process. I'm sure the Strawberry Apple Cider will appeal to drinkers of sweeter ciders. I wish the people running this business well, and better luck in creating original recipes that don't taste like flavored grain alcohol. read more

A little squishy inside but amazing cocktails and ciders! I had a flight of ciders and settled on the seasonal cider sangria (recommended by the staff). It was AMAZING! Hard cider, fresh fruit, and sangria mix, the drink was not watered down with soda, or by an abundance of ice. Husband had an Absinthe and a Sazerac. He said both were great and worth the drive to Middleburg. Inside is a tight squeeze, but there are a few tables outside with umbrellas. We were able to sit outside with our littles and play a card game while enjoying our drinks. We plan to return and have recommended it to several friends already. read more

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Kesha is a must see on the weekends! All their cocktails and liquors are phenomenal. Don't forget to have a cider! read more

Mt Defiance Cidery & Distillery - KEKE-Tini & Rosemary Grapefruit Paloma - Distilleries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

This is such a cute place! The whiskey drinks are particularly nice, and the whiskey bourbon creme (like a chocolate white Russian, or a boozy chocolate shake) was a delightful summer treat. I had the shandy, which was refreshing. They've converted a lot of their outdoor space--including some of their parking--into outdoor and distanced seating. This is a great place to come for a drink or to stock up on your home bar and cocktail making essentials. read more

Mt Defiance Cidery & Distillery - Shandy - Distilleries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

It's a decent hike from DC out to this, but completely and totally worth the drive! The views alone if you take the back roads are beautiful and meandering. We decided to split the day between the Mt. Defiance Distillery & Cidery and the Mt. Defiance Cidery Barn down the street. (While you can get cider and spirits at the Distillery, the Barn is only licensed for cider.) We tried the bourbon flight and one of the cocktail fights. All were super tasty. They had bourbon, rum, tequila, plus a bunch of cool things like cassis, absinthe, and apple brandy. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable, to boot. Highly recommend! read more

Mt Defiance Cidery & Distillery - Cider flight. - Distilleries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

Mt Defiance is a cute distillery on the outskirts of middleburg. They have a huge barn-like building, which is open during covid. They even allow dogs in the building! I sat outside with friends and appreciated the ample seating! Views weren't the best, since it's right off of the road. The cider wasn't my favorite. But I really enjoyed the hot cider with the liqueur (I'm sorry I forgot what it was called). I would definitely go back to try their other liqueurs and for more hot cider! I also was hoping that they'd have the 3 pepper cider on tap when I went in Feb, but they didn't. Maybe next time I'll get to try it! Also, beware that they don't sell any food besides cheese and crackers. I recommend bringing your own meal! read more

This is the original location for Mt Defiance. Not a huge space, but they definitely made the old auto shop into a place worth visiting for a local quality drink. They know their drinks and how to provide you with the knowledge of the drinks themselves. Worth a visit before dinner or even while you are shopping the downtown stores. read more

Update: Mt Defiance distillery has changed from being both a Cidery & Distillery to just being a Distillery as the new Cider Barn is up the road. The space is quite cozy and only a dozen people can sit at the bar, there's much room to stand around and a couple of high tables. I wish there was more seating, I've been in and out in 45 minutes the 3 times I've come here. If it was more spacious, then I would have stayed longer. I enjoyed sampling both mini cocktail flights and larger cocktails. I recommend ordering a variety and sharing with a friend, it can be a hit/miss. I liked the Modern flight more than the Roots of Rum. I preferred the full cocktails over the mini flight (they are quite potent!). The cocktails are a bit more balanced and mildly sweet in comparison. Although both cocktails were good and refreshing, I prefer the Cuba Libre (white rum, amber rum, kola syrup, lime, and seltzer) reminded me of a mojito, over the "Henry" cocktail (rum, coke, amaretto). Fun flights and refreshing cocktails! Good place to come with friend/significant other, but for a larger group I recommend going up the road to the Cider Barn (which is more like a winery vibe). read more

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We had friends visiting for the weekend. They really wanted to visit a Northern Virginia distillery. I read good reviews about Mt. Defiance so off to Middleburg. The place has their own private parking lot so you don't have to worry about the limited parking in the small town. Once you enter there's a distillery on one side and a cidery on the other side. There are many options for tasting. I went with the absinthe flight that includes one tasting of absinthe and then a selection of two other spirits. The variety is huge. I selected an almond liquor and a cassis to go with my absinthe. Truth be told I am not an absinthe person. They pour the absinthe and then do a slow drip of water with a sugar cube giving it a little bit of flavor. It was just too strong for me. We also went over to the cidery side of the business and did some cider tasting. I really enjoyed that. We also found out that they have a cider barn just a mile up the road.There are also food trucks there at the barn. The staff was super super friendly, very informative and let us taste different selections. I'd highly recommend a visit to this cute place. read more

We stopped into both Mt Defiance locations in Middleburg recently in one day... This one is a distillery and the other is their Cider Barn and features their cider. Both were very nice. This particular location offered some really nice cocktails and several unique liquors and alcohols. The lady working when we visited was very friendly and helpful. The drinks she made were mixed perfectly and tasted great! The place is nicely done, even though it's very small. We'll definitely be stopping in again sometime! read more

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This place is really cool! I came by for a tasting and drink last week and Sam was great. This is the only distillery in VA that produces Absinthe. I thought the Gin was really good with not too much Juniper Berry. The Absinthe here is also solid. The drink menu isn't big, which I like. I highly recommend coming by for a tasting and/or cocktail. read more

Mt. Defiance has some tasty stuff. Unique flavors that you'd not expect. They catch you a little bit off guard and make you think about what you're tasting initially then gradually as they finish. Smoooooth booooze and some packing a punch. It was a wonderful experience for our group the day we went. The staff was so incredibly pleasant, helpful, patient, and clearly loved what they do and the products they put out. Tastings are a little pricey (it's Middleburg after all), but for an occasional trip out to this distillery, it's worth exploring. Bottom Line: It's a small indoor tasting room in downtown Middleburg right on the main drag, and it could get busy and kinda tight with lots of patrons. The parking lot, too. However, if you start early, you'll have ample space and leave as the crowd grows. Or, if you're enjoying lots of their boozies, then you'll care not about the crowd and the small parking lot. HA HA! The cocktails and flights are most definitely worth trying. Good varieties and a fair price. They may even toss in a bonus taste for you if they have time! The bottles are pricey pricey and a bit smaller than you'd expect. I'd still rather buy my spirits at Costco where available, but if you want to walk away with something not typically found and expect to drop some cash, then Mt. Defiance should be on your list to visit. read more

Ambiance is nice. A big modern barn so large and spacious they rent out for weddings. The bartender was very, very, knowledgeable about the cider industry in Virginia. He was informative about Mt. Defiance products... but that only goes so far. The cider, itself ranges from harsh and bitter to harsh with apple pie spices to harsh with mint flavor ( not kidding ). I thought it was mediocre at best. Not very apple-like if you see my meaning. I, glad we visited, but they are going to have to try something new if we are going back again. read more

Mt Defiance is definitely a stop that needs to be taken! They have various cocktail flight options, ciders you're able to try and AND they have absinthe! We definitely recommend going on Saturday to have Keisha serve you. Definitely worth the stop! read more

Mt Defiance Cidery & Distillery - Cocktail flight - Distilleries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

Beautiful Cidery with charm and Civil War history. We enjoyed the hot cider outdoors next to the fire pit. Clean establishment and a food truck nearby for snacks. Not much to do for kids besides run in the grass, but kid friendly. read more

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My wife and I went here on a day date after doing some zip lining since we wanted to spend some time in the area and have Korean BBQ in northern Virginia for dinner. When we arrived there was a very large party taking up both rooms. We happened to see the party bus driver and asked him how much longer the party was going to be. He said about 10 minutes so we decided to walk around the cute downtown to wait them out. About 20 minutes later they started to clear out and we were able to grab a seat at a stool. My wife ordered the All Agave flight. She enjoyed the Rosemary Grapefruit Paloma so much she order that as a single. I ordered the Corpse Reviver No 1.5 & Cider Flight with Sweet Vermouth. Their ciders are on the dry side so be prepared. We both enjoyed all of our drinks and we even had a discussion with the owner bartender about the story behind absinthe being illegal in the USA for awhile. This came up as the Corpse Reviver No 1.5 drink had a drop of absinthe in it. The experience was awesome and the drinks were good so we would definitely come back if we are in the area again. read more

Mt Defiance Cidery & Distillery - Menu Photo - Distilleries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

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This cidery/distillery just opened on August 1st and they're already gaining popularity. They're open Tuesday-Sunday 12-6 and offer FREE cider tastings. They also sell cider by the growler, quart, and half gallon jugs. We sampled four ciders - an extra dry, two farmhouse styles, and a ginger. The finer was my personal favorite, but they also raved about the General's Reserve. It wasn't available to sample, but it's aged in an oak barrel and sounded very good. They said they were planning to release a new flavored cider each month and the distillery will soon be ready to roll out other options. We're looking forward to going back again! read more

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Great venue vibe but the cider was not good. All lacked body and flavor. However the hot cider made with brandy was delicious. Don't waste money on the cider flight just go for the hot! read more

The ambience at their barn location is AMAZING. I can just imagine someone having the most magical wedding here!!! The covid safety was great, we only set inside Bc it was soooo much space and no one else except the bartender was inside. The staff is so friendly and helpful, great insights on the drinks. They also had a pizza truck outside with the sweetest guys working and they served such delicious pizza! Highly recommend this place. Great place to relax with your friends and feel/be safe! read more

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Just fantastic. This place is new and they're a must-see if you're passing through Middleburg. They offer free samples and have several varieties on tap. The seating area just inside the entrance is so cool! I love the decor and all the cool gadgets. Not lots of seating though so just keep this in mind. They offer tours and you can purchase different sized bottles of what's on tap. Super friendly owner & staff. Reasonable prices too. read more

Mt Defiance Cidery & Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

We had such a great time! And we learned a lot about the distilling process and the quality of spirits. I thought it was going to be like a bar, and there is a bar, but it's so intimate and both times we went, we met other people because the atmosphere is so congenial and communal. Love the steampunk design touches and the fact that they saved an old gas station. Am wearing my Mt. Defiance hat with pride. And if you go, the museum next door is a great addition to the tour! Enjoy. read more

Mt Defiance Cidery & Distillery - Best blizzard we ever survived! - Distilleries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

As every cidery & distillery is unique, this little gem is sparkling with wonders, literally. My family drives about an hour just to come here, it's a beautiful drive and it is worth it. Even though I do not drink, this review is made up from individuals who enjoy the craftsmanship and taste of Macallan 18. The drinks they have is worth the $. It is definitely genuine and will not disappoint anybody's taste buds. I actually got the first batch of one of the drinks, can't remember got too many. The place is clean and very vintage homey type tucked away near the end of the street or next to the museum. Long story short, visit. BTW: they also just opened a new spot outside of the town. You can't miss it, it's a huge nice wood looking building with little vineyards out front. read more

I JUST had to come here to say... you HAVE to try the Bourbon Whiskey cream. It is...freakin amazing. A little on the sweet side but dammit it's good!!! This is a super cute spot with nice homemade drinks, a little creativity, and some fun! Our server was so nice and funky! I loved her! I didn't get a chance to try the hot buttered rum but had intended on doing so the next day. Unfortunately, when I stopped by on my way back home, they were closed. I was so sad!! They also have absinthe which, I didn't try but it was super cool to see folks there trying it. Definitely a must try if you're nearby or even visiting Salamander! read more

Mt Defiance Cidery & Distillery - Bourbon Whiskey Cream.... hot damn! - Distilleries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

We always love traveling to Middleburg from Old Town, Alexandria for great hospitality and fun activities. Glad to add this spot to our go-to stops. We did an absinthe tasting, which was fun to watch. It includes absinthe with an authentic sugar drop process. It was tasty. I also ordered the applejack sour, which was so good that I decided to get a bottle of the apple brandy to make my own apple cider this winter. A small crowd gathered into the store, but the two ladies working the counter provided excellent and personalized customer service to each of the patrons. Friendly, affordable, and an awesome local business to support. We'll be back! read more

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So closing up the day on Sunday looking for something new to do. Driving from the Plains into Middleburg we decided to try a Cidery. We arrived and the road is NOT Corvette friendly going to the Cidery. It is Jeep friendly though. Upon arrival their was a loaded tot truck, pretty tasty. Walked in and we tried the flight of 4 ciders. One was a pepper cider which wasn't bad. I'm not a big fan of Ciders. The outside of the building is very nice. Inside is exceptionally clean and kind of plain reminds me of a cafeteria. The pourers were friendly and Cider was just ok, again I'm not a cider fan. Definitely something to new to do in Middleburg. Cider tasting was prob about avg, $8 for 4 ciders and $10 and up for the Vermouth tasting. read more

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Service was not very good. Very slow and decided to stop doing flights maybe Bc they were tired of making them. Not too sure. Cider was not very good. Maybe I came in with too high of expectations. read more

Mt Defiance Cidery & Distillery - Cider flight and south side. South side was pretty good and refreshing. - Distilleries Near Me - Middleburg, Virginia

This is a really unique space in downtown Middleburg. It was very cool to see a cidery/distillery right in the middle of a town where it had food traffic (I feel like these things are usually in the middle of nowhere). I went in with my husband and baby and they weren't busy at all. They were baby friendly and had no problem with us bringing a stroller right inside (probably also rare for a distillery!) The man working there was very kind and accommodating and he knew a lot about cider. We each got a flight of 3 cider varieties (the ones on tap) for $8. It's a little steep considering that you get about one pint of cider total. The cider was really good and not what you might be picturing--none of that sweet, fakey, Mike's Hard version of cider. It was crisp and refreshing. My favorite was one that had been made in a bourbon barrel. I'd never tried that flavor with cider before. To make the tasting a little more worth it, it'd be nice if you could try some of the cider from the bottles as well. Other things to know--it looks like their absinthe game is strong. They have those insane absinthe-drinking instruments out on the counter (you know the ones.) They also serve delicious-looking chocolates made by a shop in Leesburg and do rum pairings with the chocolates. Finally, for the same drinks and a more lively atmosphere, they have a big tasting barn when you first come into town, so that might also be fun to check out. read more

Great looking tasting room with roaring fire inside with ample outdoor seating (Picnic tables, rocking chairs, on an expansive porch facing the woods). Covid-safety precautions were impressive and staff was lovely, providing samples of cider to help with the selection process. Only reason for 4 stars is I didn't care for the ciders - not bold enough for my adventure-seeking palate. read more

Would be a 5-stars but I am holding out until they put 5-pepper on the permanent menu. Otherwise great ciders with a good array of choices. Very friendly staff. read more

I don't really drink juice, so cider, until recently, hasn't ever really interested me. Then I stumbled into Mt Defiance Cidery & Distillery and was completely blown away with the General's Reserve. It's aged in a Jim Beam barrel and is full of that smokey deliciousness you would expect it to be. OMG it's good. The other two ciders were good, but this is hands down my favorite. The tasting room is small, but cute and cozy AND I love the old timey feel they have achieved. Look up when you walk in and you will see a pulley system fan that gives a nod to simpler years. The back wall even has a really cool light fixture that looks like it came straight out of the prohibition era. I also love that the tastings are free, how many breweries or wineries in the area can say the same? It's awesome! Plus the staff is enthusiastic and helpful. You can tell they like being there. I love that! I'm eager to go back and try the distillery side. They said it should only be a couple more weeks until they are open to the public. Very cool place. Middleburg is lucky to have them! read more