History

Philadelphia Distilling, the first craft distillery in Pennsylvania since Prohibition, was founded in 2005 to create compelling spirits aimed at the American palate.

Production / Manufacturing

After a decade of solitary work in our original warehouse, which became a laboratory, we have made our process visible in our distillery, where you can see the spirits being made and taste the revolutionary results. We use hand-hammered copper stills from the fifth generation Forsyth as well as wooden fermentation vessels from Hall-Woodford; these are key points in our difference and affect the spirits' integrity. We continue our batch-by-batch process and create spirits with big, bold flavor. The distillery process for Bluecoat Gin is also illustrated in our material: ONE – Neutral grain spirit macerated with organic botanicals; TWO – The spirit is heated to steam and condensed back into a liquid; THREE – it moves through the spirit safe to receiving tanks; FOUR – blended down to a 94 proof spirit; FIVE – sent to the bottling line; SIX – transformed into Revolutionary cocktails. Our history is closely tied to the use of historic and artisanal methods, which yield bold and distinct flavor experiences.

Products / Whiskey Series

Bluecoat American Dry Gin – handcrafted in Philadelphia with a proprietary blend of organic botanicals, highlighted by American citrus fruits and a rounded juniper note, along with angelica and coriander. Aroma: sweet, fresh aromatic notes followed by a soft juniper finish. Taste: juniper dominates, with depth and balance, finishing slowly. Bluecoat Barrel-Finished Gin – a gin finished in new, charred American oak barrels for 8 months to round and soften notes without losing juniper and pepper notes. Bluecoat Elderflower Gin – built upon the Bluecoat base with organic valerian and added elderflower for a floral note. Penn 1681 Rye Vodka – a rye-forward vodka that honors Pennsylvania's history with particularly malted rye character; adds a rich, chocolatey character to the vodka. The Bay Vodka – quadruple distilled, infusion-based vodka with Chesapeake Bay flavor; notes of celery, black pepper, cloves and spices with salt. Vieux Carré Absinthe Supérieure – 100% natural herbs, intense anise and wormwood flavor, deep green color and naturally cloudy particles; produced through double maceration and traditional herbs. Vigo Amaro – a dark, sweet American digestivo with plum, nutmeg, roses, cinnamon, cinchona bark and kola nut, balanced with muscovado sugar and molasses for an earthy sweetness.

Visiting / Experiences

The Tasting Room is open Thursday to Sunday with a cocktail bar experience and seasonal menus. Tours and tastings are offered Friday to Sunday (private events can be booked). Additionally cocktail classes and private events are held in our space, including on our fourth floor with a view of the Ben Franklin Bridge. We also have a Bluecoat Bottleshop in King of Prussia Mall with the full lineup. Tastings and experiences: Tasting Room hours: Thursday 4:00 PM–10:00 PM, Friday 4:00 PM–11:00 PM, Saturday 1:00 PM–11:00 PM, Sunday 1:00 PM–9:00 PM, Retail & Pick-up: Tuesday–Sunday 11:00 AM–5:00 PM. The website also lists special events such as Happy Hour (Thursdays) and special events such as Pet Portraits with Santa and Repeal Day Soiree, as well as planned closures during Christmas and winter holidays. Addresses: 25 E. Allen Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123 and 160 N Gulph Rd, King of Prussia, PA 19406.

Philosophy

At Philadelphia Distilling, craft and science come together in authentic spirits, enabling you to Be Revolutionary. We focus on quality characteristics through local ingredients and durable equipment: copper stills, wooden fermentation and batch-by-batch processes that celebrate big, bold flavor experiences.