Philadelphia Distilling

Overview of the Distillery

Philadelphia Distilling is located in Philadelphia and opened in 2005 as the first craft distillery in Pennsylvania since Prohibition. The distillery is both a production site and a visitor destination: you can see hand-hammered copper pot stills and wooden fermentation vessels at work, taste Bluecoat gin and other spirits in the tasting room, and buy them to take home at the Bluecoat Bottle Shop. The company presents its work as a melding of craftsmanship and science under the motto 'Be Revolutionary.'

History

Founded in 2005 with a desire to create spirits for the American palate, Philadelphia Distilling has established itself as a pioneer in the state. The company occupied a former Ajax Metal Company warehouse and spent a year transforming the 13,000 square feet into a production and visitor facility with production, tasting room, bar, and shop. After a decade of work in an originally warehouse-converted laboratory, a new facility opened where the processes are visible to guests. Press coverage from various trade publications later sparked interest in both the production method and the products, and the company has expanded its offering to include both a retail shop and events in the building.

Raw Materials and Production

The distillery's production combines traditional tools and modern flavor science. The raw materials are described as authentically sourced grains and botanicals; for Bluecoat gin you start with a high-proof neutral grain spirit, which is macerated with organic botanicals, brought to steam, and condensed back to liquid. The facility uses hand-hammered copper pot stills from the Forsyth family and wooden fermentation vessels from Hall-Woodford, and the work is batch by batch. On the production side, a 1500 L still is mentioned in connection with the process, a spirit safe, and a receiving tank as part of the flow, as well as blending down to a 94 proof spirit prior to bottling. The distillery team highlights ongoing botanical experimentation as a central part of the working method.

Maturation and Barrel Types

Maturation at the company is documented primarily through the use of barrel-finishing on select products, for example Bluecoat Barrel Finished Gin. There are no details about barrel types, previous contents, or length of aging, but barrel-finishing is used as a way to experiment with wood character in selected spirits.

Whiskeys

The range includes a botanically heavy gin universe under the Bluecoat name, as well as a number of other spirits: Vieux Carré Absinthe Supérieure, Vigo Amaro, The Bay Seasoned Vodka, and Penn 1681 Rye Vodka. The Bluecoat family includes American Dry Gin, Elderflower Gin, and Barrel-Finished Gin. In addition, other brands are sold in the Bluecoat Bottle Shop, including whiskey names. The products are created with a focus on bold, distinctive flavor profiles and an American taste aesthetic.

The Whiskey Styles and Flavor Profiles

The prevailing style leans toward botanical complexity and pronounced aromatic directions. Coriander is described specifically with citrus, woody, and grainy aromas; Black Mission fig is described as creamy and jammy; spicebush is noted as shifting from lemony to tropical to floral, and orris root is highlighted as both floral and earthy. Taken together, these descriptions point to a profile that combines citrus and floral tones with fruity and woody elements.

Visit the Distillery

The distillery has a tasting room, a cocktail bar, and a shop, and offers guided tours and tastings. Visits can be booked through the distillery's channels, and the house is also used for private events. Opening hours for the cocktail bar and lounge are typically Thursday–Friday 16:00–23:00 and Saturday–Sunday 13:00–23:00; the retail store is open Thursday–Sunday 12:00–23:00. The shop offers same-day pickup, local delivery within selected Philadelphia ZIP codes, and shipping of spirits within Pennsylvania.

The stated opening hours are Cocktail Bar & Lounge: Thu–Fri 16:00–23:00, Sat–Sun 13:00–23:00. Retail Store: Thu–Sun 12:00–23:00. Pickup hours (store): Tue–Fri 10:00–17:00, Thu–Fri 10:00–21:00, Sat 11:00–21:00, Sun 11:00–20:00. See times and book a visit.

Philosophy and Craftsmanship

The company's stated approach combines craftsmanship, art, and science; the motto 'Be Revolutionary' signals an ambition for innovation. There is a focus on ingredients with high agricultural integrity, batch-by-batch production, and the use of heritage equipment (hand-hammered copper pot stills and wooden fermentation vessels) as integrated elements in product quality.