Good Libations- Whiskey in Williamsburg

*Disclaimer: This content is not paid or sponsored in any way. It is written as an informational guide for readers to explore and experience the winery mentioned in the post.

Full of history and tradition, Williamsburg, VA holds many treasures. Eight Shires Distillery is one worth uncovering to learn about some of that history while tasting something that would make the settlers rapt with appreciation.  Though they are steeped in tradition, this distillery does not mind breaking from it where appropriate in order to have some of the best spirits.  Tradition and innovation come together in this laboratory of grain and yeast to create some of the most mouthwatering drinks you might ever find. 

Created in the venerable colonial way, Eight Shires’ products are an homage to the past that still hold firm in today’s modern world.  The distillery itself is named for the eight counties, or shires, from the original Virginia colony.  Their collection of spirits is named after each of these shires.  They are fantastic and can be used in many different ways.  The process used to make them helps to ferment robust flavors and notes. 

Being a small, craft distillery has its perks and they are definitely available here.  Such as the personalized attention and the exquisite drinks made from any one of their many spirits.  Stop in to get a taste of history and some good libations.

The Wine:  

I won’t fill your reading time by going through my take on each and every one of their spirits, along with the cocktails.  However, I do want to be sure that you have good information so that you may be inspired to try some.  So to make it a little more simple, here are the names of those spirits and their style:

• Warrosquyoake Shire– Straight Bourbon Whiskey

• Charles River Shire– Single Malt Whiskey

• Charles City Shire– Smyth’s Original Whiskey (white/unaged)

• Henrico Shire– Olde Tavern Rum (gold aged rum)

• Accomac Shire– Spice Tavern Rum *My favorite*

• Warwick River Shire– Silver Rum

• James City Shire– Genever Inspired Gin

• Jamestown 1608– Single Malt Whiskey (reproduction of first whiskey brought to America)

As for the cocktails, there are some delicious creations.  There is a brief mention of a couple in the “Experience” section below.  For a more in depth description of both the spirits and the cocktails, feel free to check here: https://www.8shires.com/menu.html

The Experience:

When you step into the small building and round the corner to head to the tasting room, there is no shortage of historical pieces to look at.  There are some things that you might know what they are and others you have no clue about.  It’s ok because one of the staff members will be happy to tell you if you will ask about it. 

The patience and kindness of the servers was definitely key to a good experience at Eight Shires Distillery.  We were greeted at the door and asked about our visit; first time or no, locals or not, etc.  This left our expectations open thus giving our guide the right road for us to go on.  After that,  we were led to the tasting room which was a darkened, wood-walled small space.  Medium lighting coated corners of the room with overhead lighting above the bar.  This made the historic feeling more apparent because you could imagine that in colonial times there would have been candlelight only.  A wood-topped whiskey barrel functions as a bar table which adds to the ambiance.   Once seated at the bar, our server was more than willing to answer questions as well as to ask about what we would like to know and learn.

There weren’t many people inside at the time of our visit, one couple was at a table when we arrived and a couple other people visited while we were there.  It was nice to have such a quiet and connected experience.  We were able to taste a few of the spirits and peruse the menu which had cocktails of all sorts.  I ordered a simple Warrosquoake Shire (bourbon) with a tincture, while my friend had the 8 Shires Coffee; coffee, molasses and a choice of spirit.  Both were absolutely scrumptious.  One of the other patrons ordered the Paul Revere’s Lantern that is served with a flaming sugar cube, a visually exhilarating drink.  

This was a great stop to take in a bit of colonial history while having some of the finest libations I can honestly say that I have ever had.  I did opt to purchase a bottle of the Accomac Shire to take home, no regrets there!

Tastings:

Tastings are three .5 oz. pours for twelve dollars.  You will receive a complimentary ‘splash’ of any of the spirits with a tour. But be sure to call ahead to verify that tours are happening the day you plan to visit. 

My Takeaway:

My visit to Williamsburg, Virginia was educational and actually very relaxing.  So I didn’t really know what to expect when visiting this distillery.  A bar scene came to mind but I left the door open for possibility. 

🍷As you may have figured out by now, I am a wine guy 😉.  However, when I was researching wineries and ran across Eight Shires Distillery, I was intrigued.  My initial thought was, “Oh, this would be interesting and different.  It’s not wine, but nothing is wrong with trying things out.”.  I have been to a few distilleries and I like to learn about those as well.   Well, that thought was changed by my visit.  The new thought, “If all distilleries put this much effort and care into their craft, then I may be a wine AND whiskey guy!”.

Eight Shires delighted me with their charm and the history and tradition they carry.  It was an added bonus that the days of olde have shaped the process in which their product is made.  That work of the hands shows through and the hospitality rounds it out like a good glass of whiskey. 

I believe that hard work grants good rewards and Eight Shires Distillery further cements this ideal.  Their respect of history coupled with their daring innovation, this distillery could be around for the next four hundred years.

For more info, go to: https://www.8shires.com