History

A bartender and a banker returned to Blacksburg… When Jayson Hudson and Jason Hardy, both born in Blacksburg, VA, moved back to the New River Valley area in Virginia in 2017, they started a local whiskey club called Bourbon and Rye Drinking Society, or BARDS. In the following months they had many whiskey-inspired conversations about how cool it would be to start their own distillery and bring their vision of good whiskey to the area. From these conversations J.H. BARDS Spirit Co. was born. We hope you will join us on an exciting journey! Although we have big plans for the future, we believe starting small and gaining local support is the most important. Connect with us, come see our facilities, and let us share a taste of Appalachian culture together.

Production and Approach

As an Appalachian distillery located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, we have a local focus (90% of ingredients sourced in Southwest Virginia) and a strong commitment to our mountain craft. Our mission is threefold: to create exceptional spirits from locally produced and tested ingredients, to provide education about the history and current trends in the distilling world, and to convey an understanding of both the culture and science behind whiskey.

Products / Whisky Series

Our lineup of timeless spirits, available year-round: - Bourbon Whiskey - Rye Whiskey - Maple Whiskey - Single Malt Whiskey - Sinking Creek Vodka - Skipper’s Select - Skipper’s Maple - Skipper’s Bourbon - Reasoned / Limited Releases (Limited Releases)

Our collaboration with Triumph NIL: provisions for Triumph operations and not directly to athletes. Skipper’s Maple and Skipper’s Bourbon are also part of our range.

Visits and Experiences

The Distillery and Tasting Room are located in the heart of Downtown Blacksburg, close to Virginia Tech. We hope you will stop by, sample our selected products, and enjoy a delicious cocktail and conversation with friends and loved ones. Address: 213 Draper Rd SW, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060 Hours: - Wednesday: 14:00–21:00 - Thursday: 14:00–21:00 - Friday: 14:00–22:00 - Saturday: 12:00–22:00 - Sunday: 12:00–18:00 - Monday & Tuesday: Closed *As opening hours can change, please check Facebook and Instagram for the week's current opening hours.

Philosophy

Our mission is threefold: to create exceptional spirits from locally produced and tested ingredients; to provide education about the history and current trends within the distilling industry; and to convey an understanding of both the culture and science behind whiskey. We are an Appalachian distillery located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with particular emphasis on 90% of the ingredients coming from Southwest Virginia and on fostering a deeper understanding of our cultural and geographical heritage.