After many trips to the DMV, we decided to do a little exploring during our latest visit. After a half an hour Lyft ride, we found our way to the Murlarkey Distillery in Manassas. Once on the compound, it was difficult to miss; large glass doors and walls with the humongous crest on the front of the building. We decided to do a walk in tasting and were lucky enough to have Jonathon be our guide to all the outstanding spirits made at the distillery. Jonathon was extremely knowledgeable about the distillery's history, products, and merch. Jonathon's passion for the distillery was continually on display, and he kept the spirits light with his unique brand of humor. Be mindful that the tasting room was packed, so I also recommend making a reservation to ensure you can enjoy the experience. The options for the tasting were the clear or amber flight options. The clear choices being some of the steeped fruit and tea liquors, served with mixers for their signature cocktails. These drinks were what the distillery was most known for. The ambers were their more recent whiskey offerings, consisting of differing ageing and steeping techniques, to create their very different spirit flavors and textures. Jonathon was able to give us the history of each spirit, as well as provide mixing options, if they were a little strong for the palette. The ambers were all unique and each provided a little something for you to think over and you tasted your way through the Murlarkey display. We really enjoyed the tasting, the whiskey, the ambience, and especially Jonathon, who made the experience totally worthwhile. We grabbed a couple bottles, some of their great Bootlegger Boys merch, and made our way to their cocktail bar, Proof to taste some more of their signature cocktails. If you're in the area and looking for a fun way to spend a couple hours, look no further than the Murlarkey Distillery. Hope to see you soon. read more

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Oh we had a time here. The staff is super duper friendly, and very welcoming and warm. The setting is so cute. They have merchandise everywhere and bottles lined up. They really took pride and time putting the place together. The drinks OMG soooo good. My boyfriend had an amazing time doing his tasting. And so did I lol. I tasted a few of their cocktails. No complaints here, lol. I didn't take the pics. I was just excited and curious about the whole place. I met a lady there who is a regular and was so nice (Shana). Jonathon who conducted the tasting for my boyfriend was amazing. He is very knowledgeable and down to earth. We had a time for sure. I would highly recommend this place for anyone. You don't have to love bourbon but if you do goooo here. But if you don't still visit, and thank me later!!! read more

Wonderful experience here. Everyone was so kind and knowledgeable. We did the cocktail class, and they start you off with the base spirit before slowly adding ingredients so you can really see what goes into different cocktails and how the flavors evolve. The class felt fun and intimate, and the cocktails were excellent. Would 100% recommend. read more

MurLarkey Distilled Spirits - Tasting - Distilleries Near Me - Manassas, Virginia

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I was last here almost 9 years ago. Oh boy, how different it is! I came expecting a relatively small scale operation. So you can imagine my surprise when I saw a huge building with their branding. The interior is spacious, with multiple tables for tastings, each with its own bartender. There are far more options to taste than you can try in one sitting, but your server will help you narrow it down to 4. I liked to loved everything I had. They even had some weird options that I was tempted to try but I went for a more traditional flight (although I definitely want to return for the coffee whisky). The only option I wasn't in love with was the smokehouse, but that's just a personal preference. After my tasting I learned they were doing some kind of slushys as well, so I got one of those. I thought it was a very fun, informative experience. I'll also have to try the "Proof" kitchen as well. read more

MurLarkey Distilled Spirits - Distilleries Near Me - Manassas, Virginia

It's been several years since we've been to Murlarkey, the last time being when they were in their original location on Wellington Road. We recently stopped in to this new location at the 2 Silos complex after having an amazing brunch at Proof. The folks here are very friendly and helpful. They do some really good things with their distillery, it's definitely worth coming in to see them! They don't do the special cocktail evenings like they used to at their last location anymore, but Proof (attached to this building) serves cocktails featuring their spirits. read more

The food and ambience were great! Our server was lovely but clearly a bit inexperienced.

We visited MurLarkey's new location which is on the same property as 2 Silos, The Black Sheep and Farm Brew Live. We sampled their Spirits within their ABC store on their property. Afterwards we were able to order from a handful of cocktails that were pre-made within their facility. They are not fully set up but they should be fully set up in the next month. The service from the tasting and from the cocktails were awesome! We enjoyed great conversations with both the owner and head distiller. Nextdoor they have a "shop" where you can buy bottles and merchandise. read more

Beautiful restaurant; couch seating not conducive to eating. First, we're vegetarian so our choices are limited. Next, keep in mind it's fairly pricey. Excellent: tomato soup, fries, Brussel sprouts. My husband liked the biscuits and the veggie burger; I liked neither. I tried a brunch menu item with eggs and chips; wouldn't order again. We'll go back because it's fun and he loves the bourbon. read more

Wonderful food, service, and ambiance. Looking forward to going back to try more menu offerings

I think this is the best place to get drinks in Manassas. So so many unique cocktails--I was blown away. The service is so incredible; they even let us sample a couple of vodka's they make. Went here as newlyweds and a nearby customer bought us a gift voucher for next time which was so sweet of her, so we are definitely returning here. We picked some cocktails from seasonal menu and I loved mine as it was a dill pickle drink. It even came with cheese shooter on the side. Such a fun experience! read more

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BLUF: Holy cow was this an unexpected surprise!!!! Better than any winery or brewery experience I've had to date. Products are excellent at this small crafter. They will be moving to much larger digs at 2 Silos in Manassas, so experience them now at their current location for a best-ever baseline. Driving into the roomy parking lot of this industrial area, you'd never guess that Murlarkey's nondescript building houses such goodness. Outstanding hospitality, education, and product. Pleasant cocktail bar. Clean. Fun, contrasting production area. Their small-crafted spirits are absolutely delish & I'm not much of a drinker, especially of spirits. Not only will their carefully & thoughtfully created spirits pleasantly satisfy your palate, they'll give you quite a buzz for the buck! The head distiller knows what he's doing & does it an artfully intentional approach. The distillery tour, mixology & tasting session is outstanding, and their cocktail hours seem to fill up quickly. Is it worth the drive?!? YES. Definitely visit them before they move into their larger space in Manassas at 2 Silos so that you can experience their wonderfully warm hospitality in this delightful intimate space. I'm leaving the rest as a surprise because, well, surprises are divine. Top NoVA experience in my book! They have won me over. I'll be purchasing their products. read more

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flavor guard advance came for the vodka stayed for the cocktails. The classes are on point. read more

MurLarkey Distilled Spirits - Flavor flags! - Distilleries Near Me - Manassas, Virginia

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This place is amazing! 1. Drinks - 4.5 stars The drinks were strong, interesting combinations. Some were amazing and some not so much, but it is very much depends on one's taste, so cannot blame this place. 2. Service: 5 stars Explains how they choose to make the drinks to the recommendations on cocktails based on your interests. Very knowledgeable and professional. 3. Ambience: Not too many tables and intimate, romantic setting. rather dark and reddish inside. 4. Parking: They have their own parking lot and easy to find a spot. As the rating says, 5 stars read more

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What a great experience that called off a day with friends ...I emailed to inquire about stopping by without reservations because we were on wine/pub tour and really didn't know when we would get there. I really didn't expect to hear back, but not only did the owner Jim reply but he called me!! after explaining how the reservations worked he said to come by and he would take care of us!! We got there a little before closing and were met by a wonderful staff member Donna..they treated us like family.. Jim came by and chatted with us past closing like we knew him forever! What an awesome experience ..and the drinks were exceptional..going back soon!! read more

MurLarkey Distilled Spirits - Distilleries Near Me - Manassas, Virginia

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Another outstanding experience at Murlarkey with some great friends. Jim and Papi always make you feel welcomed. The staff is top notch. Papi is an artist. read more

MurLarkey Distilled Spirits - Distilleries Near Me - Manassas, Virginia

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We did the tasting experience. It was, hands down, the best tasting my wife and I have ever done. They provided five spirits to taste, along with five or six ingredients per spirit. They walked us through adding each ingredient to the base spirit, building up the cocktails. It was the best spirit tasting. read more

Amazing service and incredible drinks! We had a fantastic time with the cocktail experience (2 drinks, ability to try other whiskeys as requested). We would definitely go back. Some of the drinks even go with food pairings!! read more

MurLarkey Distilled Spirits - Distilleries Near Me - Manassas, Virginia

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Very cool spot with a unique experience. Murlarkey is a distillery with a tasting room and a cocktail lounge. The lounge area is reservation only which I didn't know heading in. Gives it a real speak easy vibe. I was visiting early and they had an opening at the bar, lucky me. The mixologists were very friendly, definitely felt taken care of. The drink menu is exceptional, really nice options ranging from traditional to eclectic. You are limited to 2 drinks per person per visit because of va liquor laws. They have a larger facility under construction that will include a kitchen, hoping the vibe stays the same. read more

I love the atmosphere in this place. Be sure to make a reservation because you can't just walk in generally. The staff gave excellent recommendations on what drinks to try. Great spot for a happy hour. read more

MurLarkey Distilled Spirits - Espresso cocktail - Distilleries Near Me - Manassas, Virginia

Great cocktails, mostly friendly people. It's reservations only so you can't just walk in and have a few drinks. 2 drink limit with your ticket purchase. They're opening a new spot on 2 Silos which I'm hoping will be more accessible. Everyone's gotta go here once but it's definitely not a weekly hangout spot unfortunately. read more

Omg I feel bad even writing this because I don't want to expose this gem. Murlarkey's totally slaps. Their model is great, everyone there is so kind and generous. And the drinks are to die for. If they had food it would be lights out but then it would probably ruin the whole vibe they have going. read more

Accidentally found this place back in the fall when on a winery tour in northern Virginia. What a find! First of all, the staff here is awesome. Just lovely people who adore their jobs serving people fantastic beverages and talking about their process of making spirits. Love love love! I have the worst memory ever, but the two dudes working in the tasting room are awesome! So approachable, nice and happy to answer any and all questions you may have about the distillery or their products/cocktails. Ok... so, if you are not a fan of "flavored whiskey," I get it. I was once like you... now, I'm a believer! Their smokehouse whiskey is my favorite. Rendered fat... bacon whiskey... yeah, it's amazing. You NEED to try it. My second favorite is a tie between their cinnamon whiskey (move aside Fireball, you just got served) and their banana whiskey (yeah, you heard that right, banana). Seriously, guys. You need to try this now. No, I mean it... why haven't you tried it yet?! My boyfriend and I went there on St. Patrick's Day and had a blast. Great specialty cocktails for the occasion and a bagpiper to boot! read more

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After a delicious tasting around Christmas (see my prior review!), I came back a few weeks ago and had another great experience! We tried the Infused Whiskey flight and really enjoyed the banana, cocoa, and coffee whiskey and ended up buying a few bottles. We mixed in coffee whiskey and stout and made some delicious White Russians cocktails at home. There's a lot of different drinks you can make from the flavored whisky. As mentioned in the prior review, there's a nice list of cocktails on the tables that you can order from, but I highly recommend going to the bar and ordering from the weekend specials written on the chalkboard. These cocktails are seasonal and unique. I really enjoyed the mango martini (which was a spin-off of the Spicy Margarita and not listed on the menu, just ask for it!). I was impressed by the bartender's ability to concoct artisanal cocktails. One thing that really caught my eye were these cute barrels with people's names on them. I found out there's a new barrel program in which you can age your own whiskey in a charred oak barrel at MurLarkey. I've seen similar barrel programs at other distilleries which is more of DIY, I like how the one at MurLarkey is personalized with your name and full-service. Very cool! Whether you are a whiskey enthusiast or enjoy a craft cocktail like me, I highly recommend making a visit MurLarkey. read more

MurLarkey Distilled Spirits - New Barrel VIP Membership Program! - Distilleries Near Me - Manassas, Virginia

We had a great afternoon here. Everyone was friendly. Multiple people stopped by to make sure we were having a great time. A broad cocktail menu. We cannot wait to return read more

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Great cocktails. Very friendly staff. Turned out to be a very fun visit. Just be sure to bring along a designated driver.

MurLarkey a hidden gem in Bristow If you ever been to a concert at jiffy lube live or taken a trip to Cabelas, you probably have past by this place and wondered what it is all about . This family run business is an awesome place amd has a cool story behind it and some fun folks running it. This place is where the locals and concert goers who are in the know come here to shoot the shit or hang out after a long day at the office or pregame before a concert. The atmosphere is simple and inviting and the people who run the place are welcoming and love to tell you their story. Stop by and take a tour of the distillery and sip on some whiskey, gin, vodka or any of their other home made libations and sit back and enjoy the company . They have several award winning liqours and several awesome infused whiskey and vodka .. Dont come here looking for fireball ball shots lol they might kick you in your arse lol They do have a cinnamon whiskey but its way better than fireball They have nice whiskeys where you want to sip it neat or turn it until a mule or other cocktails Their whiskey ice tea is a sleeper drink that will get you since its so good Their smoked whisky is one you sip with a good cigar ..... So if you are in the area and want to try out one of the 45 distilleries in VA this one place you must try. read more

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Always an awesome experience. Hats off to Poppy and Kevin drinks are always delicious. Anna banana definitely was fun and entertaining great time as always! read more

After my visit to KO Distilling, the next stop was at MurLarkey! It was a little after 1:15 pm on a rainy Sunday. I waited at the bar for George - who would be my tour guide. George took me in the back and walked me through their distillation process. It's very different than any of the other Virginia distilleries I have had the pleasure of visiting - in terms of how they are crafting their products. Of course the base process is similar, but what happens after that is very different. You'll need to come in and take the tour to see what I mean! Afterward. I sat at the bar and George walked me through a very unique tasting. We started off with the vodka. I tasted it, then he added a drop of distilled water from a cool little dropper bottle, then had me taste it again. Then he added a single ice cube, and had me taste the vodka again. Then he carved out a little wedge from a lemon (peel and fruit) and added it to the glass, and had me taste the vodka yet again. It was fun and interesting to note the progression of aromas and flavors as we went through this process. We then repeated similar tasting experiments with each of the other spirits - some times varying what was added. They have three "White Whiskeys" - the first being a straight white, and then two flavored Whiskeys - a Lemon and a Cinnamon Whiskey. They make their vodka from potatoes - which is different from most distilleries, which are making grain-based vodkas. I bought a bottle of both their Vodka and their Gin. George was a lot of fun and a wealth of information when it comes to tasting spirits. I can't wait to gather my friends together and bring them in to experience this! read more

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I attended the speakeasy Saturday. Given COBID restrictions, I think they did a great job to make you feel safe. And the cocktails were excellent. There were so many to choose from. You also got to sample the other whiskeys. As a result, I bought their cocoa whiskey for a dessert. read more

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My family and I absolutely loved our visit! The four of us shared two whiskey flights and then had a few drinks and snacks afterward. Their spirits were phenomenal and it was quickly apparent how they've won so many awards. I had the Irish Lemonade (white whiskey, lemonade and muddled basil) which was so refreshing and perfectly balanced. I also recommend the Pepino which had their gin and cucumber juice. We also enjoyed the gouda cheese, roasted red pepper hummus with pretzels and the aged cheddar. The staff was warm and very friendly. We immediately felt like old friends and appreciated how attentive yet relaxed they were. Highly recommend a visit if you're in the area! read more

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10/10 HANDS DOWN. We happened to accidentally stumble across MurLarkey Distillery and were so blown away by everything this place has to offer. The customer service is insanely on point. The owners (3 cousins and other family members) care about every detail from the extensive well thought out cocktail list, to the vast variety of distilled spirits. PS the try the Blackberry Sage smash and the Hazelnut Truffle(pictured). You will not be disappointed. They are knowledgeable yet humble in everything the do. Highly recommend. Will be back. I look forward to coming back with more friends and family in tow. read more

MurLarkey Distilled Spirits - Distilleries Near Me - Manassas, Virginia

Fantastic venue for our company holiday party. One of the owners Jim was so great to work with, made everything so easy to plan. Everything went flawlessly, the staff is wonderful and the drinks are amazing and creative and ever changing. If you are looking to have a holiday party or any other event I highly recommend Murlarkey! read more

Great place. We went on a Friday after work with some friends who had been there before. This was a first for my wife and I. One of the owners took his time and guided us through bourbon, gin, and rum drinks that he prefers. It's a small place, but I think that's one of the reason the place has charm. We ended up dropping 150 on the way out getting three bottles of their best stuff. Top quality stuff here folks. They don't cut corners. Fun little place to visit if you have time. Highly recommend this place. read more

One of the most interesting whiskey distilleries I have been to. They are not shy in experimentation and have the most interesting and tasty flavor infused whiskies . All staff is friendly and most very knowledgeable of their products. read more

Death By Hot Chocolate!!! Love, love, love!!! Dinner in a glass!!! Don't blink - you will miss it AND YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT!! Loving our Linda and ambiance perfection. read more

I showed up to this establishment to do a tasting. Unfortunately, I was refused at the door because I did not have a reservation. Which I completely understand, however, the servicer's attitude behind the bar was not great. I showed up to support a local business in Manassas, and I was rejected at the door. I will definitely be taking my money elsewhere. I would not recommend. read more

Who doesn't love a good drink? I came here with my boyfriend as my plus one for a Yelp event and I wasn't sure what to expect. This was my first event in VA and I was pleasantly surprised. The bar area had ample seating at the bar, as well as a few booths and table tops to mix and mingle with friends. I've been to many distilleries because I am fascinated with process and love to see the passion in the smaller family owned and operated companies. You can tell they put everything in and want to make it happen and work. If you do, ask them to give you the tour and experience it for yourself. After, get a few drinks at the bar, or buy a few bottles and support a local business! My favorite was the whiskey iced tea I had. It was a Long Island that was smooth, and I only tasted the tea. I loved that it wasn't so sweet!! After a few of those, I know I would not be able to drive! The staff was very helpful and answered all our questions. I would love to come back on my own and experience it again. read more

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Had a great experience here. Janet was very attentive and explained how everything worked. Tried all this MurLarkey and had a blast doing it. You will see from the pictures what I chose. Like with anything I had my favorites and I had some I probably wouldn't indulge in again, however they have all selections to encompass all the different pallets out there. Don't ask for round ball ice cubes and all that MurLarkey or 1 ice cube with a drop of water. This is not the place. By far my favorite is the smokehouse aged whiskey which tastes like bbq, meat and love in a bottle. Would go great with a dry aged steak or burger or a flute of beef bone marrow followed up by a marrow flute slide. Come here you will be happy you did. read more

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A pleasant little surprise tucked away in an industrial park in Bristow, VA. Pretty close to the Jiffy Lube pavilion. I was Anne O'Hara's plus one to a YELP event, which was, frankly, the best of Yelp event I've been to yet (so kudos to Gretchen Fox and the fellers running this place for a great evening). Murlarkey's is a family owned distillery that opened in 2014. They produce small batch whiskeys, gin and vodka. They tend to specialize in flavored whiskeys produced with natural ingredients. I've always found that a little dubious (some of the "flavored" whiskeys out there from the big boys use a lot of chemicals and sugar to impart flavor, these guys don't). I have to say, I was floored by how good it is-- and I'm not much of a drinker normally. I recommend "Clemoncy", which is a Lemon peel infusion corn whiskey. Wowsa, folks. Try a Moscow mule made with these ingredients. Astonishing. I bought a bottle. The event itself was catered by a local eatery and specialized in Mediterranean fare, mostly hummus, babagenoush, pita bread and veggies. There were two shifts of guided tours led by one of the owners. The staff is small, family led and very humorous and knowledgeable. This was a big selling point for me. They were friendly, unpretentious and very informative in an amusing way. I enjoyed my visit, and I'm going to enjoy making another Moscow Mule with my brand new bottle of Clemoncy. read more

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The drinks are incredible and the staff are amazing (especially Ben). They create a friendly and fun environment and help find drinks that fit the person. I highly recommend a stop!! read more