Frederick, Maryland has quietly become one of the Mid-Atlantic’s best destinations for craft spirits lovers. Nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the suburbs of Washington, DC, the city’s historic downtown is home to a thriving food and drink scene — and at the center of it, a one-of-a-kind distillery experience.
Whether you’re a local looking for a weekend activity or a visitor planning a trip to the region, here’s your guide to distillery tours in and around Frederick, MD.
McClintock Distilling — Downtown Frederick (Free Tours)
McClintock Distilling sits in the heart of Downtown Frederick and is the region’s most distinctive distillery experience — because it’s the only one where everything you taste is USDA Certified Organic.
Our free tours walk you through the full production process: how we source certified organic grains, how we mill and mash on-site, how fermentation works, and how our copper pot stills turn wash into award-winning whiskey, gin, rum, and vodka. You’ll finish in our tasting room, where you can sample the spirits and buy bottles to take home.
Tours run regularly throughout the week and on weekends. Walk-ins are welcome, and there’s no charge for the tour itself — just show up and we’ll take it from there.
- Address: Downtown Frederick, MD
- Tour cost: Free
- What you’ll see: Grain room, mash tuns, fermenters, copper pot stills, barrel storage, tasting room
- What you’ll taste: Organic whiskey, gin, rum, vodka, and seasonal spirits
- Unique factor: Maryland’s first and only USDA Certified Organic distillery
Check our hours and plan your visit →
What to Do Before or After Your Tour
Frederick’s Carroll Creek Linear Park runs right through downtown and is a beautiful spot for a walk before or after your visit. The city’s Market Street and Patrick Street corridors are lined with independent restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques — so it’s easy to make a full afternoon of it.
If you’re coming from DC or Baltimore, Frederick is about an hour’s drive with easy parking in the downtown area. It’s a natural stopping point on a road trip along I-70 or Route 15 toward the mountains.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Distillery Tour
- Come curious. The best tours are interactive — don’t be shy about asking how things work.
- Eat beforehand. Tasting spirits on an empty stomach isn’t the best way to appreciate them.
- Bring a designated driver or use a rideshare. Frederick’s downtown is very rideshare-friendly.
- Check seasonal offerings. Craft distilleries often have limited-release spirits that aren’t available elsewhere — ask what’s new.
- Buy something. Picking up a bottle directly from the distillery means you’re supporting the people who made it, and you’ll often find bottles that aren’t distributed anywhere else.
Ready to Visit?
There’s no better introduction to McClintock Distilling than seeing it in person. Our free tours run regularly, and our team loves sharing the story behind every bottle. Come find out why we believe organic spirits aren’t just better for the planet — they taste better too.