THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Step into Kings County Distillery in the Brooklyn Navy Yard for a 45–60 minute behind-the-scenes look at small-batch whiskey production. Tours cover milling to barrel aging and end with a guided tasting of four signature whiskeys.
Step into Kings County Distillery in the Brooklyn Navy Yard for a 45–60 minute behind-the-scenes look at small-batch whiskey production. Tours cover milling to barrel aging and end with a guided tasting of four signature whiskeys.
A low-slung brick building hums with steam and a faint trace of oak as visitors step off Sands Street and into the Paymaster Building at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Inside, copper stills gleam under industrial skylights and the air carries the warm, dry perfume of aging whiskey — a place where machinery and craft meet.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Kings County Distillery · Brooklyn, NY
A low-slung brick building hums with steam and a faint trace of oak as visitors step off Sands Street and into the Paymaster Building at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Inside, copper stills gleam under industrial skylights and the air carries the warm, dry perfume of aging whiskey — a place where machinery and craft meet.
Kings County Distillery, founded in the early 2010s and billed as New York City’s oldest legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition, occupies a literal and cultural corner of Brooklyn history. The Navy Yard itself was a 19th- and 20th-century hub of shipbuilding; that pragmatic industrial past frames the distillery’s focus on small-batch production, local grains, and hands-on techniques. Geology plays a quiet role: oak barrels imported from established cooperages interact with New York’s humid seasonal swings to shape the spirit’s final character.
The guided tour runs about 45–60 minutes, moving from milling and mashing through fermentation and pot distillation onto the barrel room, where the “angel’s share” evaporates and flavor deepens. It finishes with a guided tasting of four signature whiskeys on the distillery floor.
Practicalities matter: bring government ID (21+ for samples), arrive 10–15 minutes early, and use public transit—the Navy Yard is well served by several subway and bus lines. The experience is mostly indoor, wheelchair accessible in many areas, and suitable for most fitness levels, but not recommended for guests with serious heart conditions. Bookings are mobile-ticketed, refundable with 24-hour notice. For an urban taste of distilling craft, this tour pairs industrial history, clear process demonstration, and an approachable tasting in under an hour.
easy.
45–60 minutes.
Suitable for most fitness levels; mostly standing and light walking on level surfaces.
Tours run approximately 45–60 minutes and conclude with a guided tasting of four core whiskeys.
Yes—participants must be 21 or older to join the tasting portion and must present valid government-issued ID.
Much of the tour is on one level or via accessible routes, but contact the distillery ahead of time to confirm specific accessibility needs.
Full refunds are available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time; no refund within 24 hours.
Kings County Distillery revived commercial whiskey-making in NYC in the 2010s and operates in a former industrial precinct of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, tying its small-batch craft to the area's shipbuilding past.
The distillery emphasizes local sourcing and small-batch production to reduce transport impact; visitors are encouraged to use public transit and dispose of waste responsibly.
Kings County Distillery operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
A low-slung brick building hums with steam and a faint trace of oak as visitors step off Sands Street and into the Paymaster Building at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Inside, copper stills gleam under industrial skylights and the air carries the warm, dry perfume of aging whiskey — a place where machinery and craft meet.
A low-slung brick building hums with steam and a faint trace of oak as visitors step off Sands Street and into the Paymaster Building at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Inside, copper stills gleam under industrial skylights and the air carries the warm, dry perfume of aging whiskey — a place where machinery and craft meet.
Kings County Distillery, founded in the early 2010s and billed as New York City’s oldest legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition, occupies a literal and cultural corner of Brooklyn history. The Navy Yard itself was a 19th- and 20th-century hub of shipbuilding; that pragmatic industrial past frames the distillery’s focus on small-batch production, local grains, and hands-on techniques. Geology plays a quiet role: oak barrels imported from established cooperages interact with New York’s humid seasonal swings to shape the spirit’s final character.
The guided tour runs about 45–60 minutes, moving from milling and mashing through fermentation and pot distillation onto the barrel room, where the “angel’s share” evaporates and flavor deepens. It finishes with a guided tasting of four signature whiskeys on the distillery floor.
Practicalities matter: bring government ID (21+ for samples), arrive 10–15 minutes early, and use public transit—the Navy Yard is well served by several subway and bus lines. The experience is mostly indoor, wheelchair accessible in many areas, and suitable for most fitness levels, but not recommended for guests with serious heart conditions. Bookings are mobile-ticketed, refundable with 24-hour notice. For an urban taste of distilling craft, this tour pairs industrial history, clear process demonstration, and an approachable tasting in under an hour.