7 Distilleries in Frederick MD: Marking Their Territory

Last updated on September 12th, 2024

Distilleries in Frederick Md are “marking their territory” (distillery cat pun) on Frederick’s craft beverage scene in a big way!

And, if you’re familiar with Frederick, Maryland, you already know that craft breweries and cideries have become THE thing these days.

As a result, Frederick is becoming quite the eclectic town. And we love it!

BUT, the breweries and cideries have had to move over and make some room for the increasingly popular distilleries!

Distilleries in Frederick Md

You might remember that a guest post was written for us about Frederick’s very first distillery: “Dragon Distillery: A Frederick First”.

Less than one year later, two additional distilleries in Frederick MD opened their doors.

Tenth Ward Distilling Company and McClintock Distilling.

And, since then, 3 additional distilleries have entered the Frederick scene!

Yet, each distillery has it’s very own distinct character and bragging rights.

Just check out their individual websites and Facebook pages for their days and hours of operation.

1. Dragon Distillery

Dragon Distillery
1341 Hughes Ford Rd Suite 108
Frederick, MD 21701
(301) 844-6416

“Dragon Distillery is a small, woman-owned business strongly rooted in the local Frederick, Maryland community. In the mid-1700s our family settled on a 200 acre tract of land about 25 miles away from the current distillery location. We are continuing the tradition of supporting and enjoying Frederick through our craft distillery. We create hand-crafted, premium, artisan spirits using locally-sourced, natural ingredients.”

Dragon Distillery Offers:

• Axe Throwing
• Trivia Events
• Board Games
• Annual Events
• Craft Events
• Themed Events
• Drag Show Brunches
• Tours

2. Tenth Ward Distilling Company

Tenth Ward Distilling Company
55 East Patrick Street
Frederick, Maryland 21701
(301) 360-5888

“We are Tenth Ward Distilling Company. We are proud to be a woman-owned distillery. Located in what used to be the Tenth Ward of downtown Frederick, Maryland and specializing in a variety of spirits and canned cocktails. Everything we make is non-traditional and unconventional, which is why we live fearlessly by our slogan – #wardoffordinary.”

Tenth Ward also offers:

• A Cocktail Lab
• Live Jazz Thursdays
• Tasting Flights
• Live Music Fridays
• Tenth Ward Bottle Club
• Wedding and Event Venue Space

Tenth Ward Distillery’s Name

The name “Tenth Ward” was chosen to reference the way Frederick City was divisioned during the late 19th century.

The distillery’s original location at 508 East Church Street is part of what was once considered the Tenth Ward.

A large map on one of the walls in the distillery depicts the boundaries of Frederick’s Tenth Ward in 1873.

How cool is that?

Since their humble beginnings, Tenth Ward has moved to a prime spot at 55 E. Patrick Street in Downtown Frederick.

Tenth Ward Distillery Tour

My friends, family and I took a tour at Tenth Ward and learned about their distilling process.

During the tour we were shown the oak and bourbon barrels as well as all of the equipment behind the scenes.

It’s so fascinating to be able to peek “behind the curtain” and to see their process of making their booze.

With a background in sustainable resource management, the Owner, Monica Pearce, commits to “keeping our environmental footprint as minimal as possible.”

Tenth Ward is “conscious about our energy and resource usage. We’re holding ourselves accountable to staying as locally sourced as possible.”

Therefore, it’s not a surprise that the sources for their grain, honey, mead and cider are all located within 45 minutes from the distillery.

Many of the spirits’ names have been named after famous Frederick bootleggers from way back in the day, like:

• Claude Countee Corn Whiskey
• Lindsay Stunkle White Rye

Interestingly, Tenth Ward has a wall showing information on the history of these famed bootleggers.

In addition, Tenth Ward offers:

• White Caraway Rye Spirit
• Applejack Brandy
• Citrine Liqueur
• Cerise Liqueur

Because some of Tenth Ward’s spirits are limited, seasonal batches, you’ll need to snag them while the gettin is good!

We had the pleasure of meeting Tenth Ward’s distillery cat, Verbal.

He hangs out in the distillery and helps Monica bag bottles.

And as Monica explained to me, distillery cats have their very own social media following.

Who knew?

The Tastings at Tenth Ward

Each of Tenth Ward’s distilled spirits has its own distinct taste.

SO much smoother than the run-of-the-mill bottle of liquor you’ll find at the liquor store!

3. McClintock Distilling

McClintock Distilling
35 S Carroll St
Frederick, MD 21701
(301) 825-5921

“From how we grind our locally sourced ingredients using a stone burr mill to our careful selection of organic, pesticide-free heirloom grains, every choice we make is for the purpose of delivering an incomparable experience through distinctly flavorful, pre-Prohibition-style spirits. Where ingredients come from, how they’re processed, and the equipment used to create the spirits you love make all the difference in a finished product, and that’s why we are uncompromising in our craft.”

McClintock also offers:

• Tours & Tastings
• New Release Events
• Classes
• Annual Events
• Weddings & Private Events

Located in a 105 year old former garage, the owners, Braeden Bumpers & Tyler Hegamyer, painstakingly transformed it into a state of the art distillery and tasting room.

The McClintock Distilling Name

They named the distillery McClintock after the renowned 1800’s inventor, McClintock Young, who lived in Frederick.

The McClintock Distilling Tour

When you tour McClintock, you’ll get a step-by-step explanation of their distilling process.

You’ll get to see their:

• A 264 gallon handmade copper pot still
• Fermenters
• Mash Tun
• Gin Basket
• Stone Buhr Flower Mill used to grind their grains

McClintock uses “local farmers in order to secure the highest quality, locally grown, organic grains as a base for our products.”

They are “dedicated to using Maryland-grown grains to process authentic Maryland spirits. By minimizing distance traveled, we will be cutting down on carbon emissions from shipping and helping to support small, family-owned Maryland farms.”

The Tastings

After our tour, it was time for our tastings!

At the time of our visit, McClintock had three bottled spirits available:

• Maryland-Heritage White Whiskey
• Epiphany Vodka
• Forager Gin

We tasted all of them.

They were all good, but I ultimately chose to purchase the Forager Gin.

The owners of all three of the distilleries in Frederick Md are friends in real life.

Together, they have created the Frederick Area Distillery Association.

They’re working on putting together a Frederick Distillery Trail sometime soon!

4. Puerto Rico Distillery

Puerto Rico Distillery
1341 Hughes Ford Rd Unit 113A
Frederick, MD 21701
(240) 457-4038

“This family-owned distillery is led by father-daughter team Angel Rivera and Crystal Rivera. Puerto Rico Distillery specializes in high-quality artisanal Puerto Rican diaspora rum. Affectionately known on the island as Pitorro, it’s been close to impossible to find it anywhere outside of Puerto Rico. Pitorro is a rum distilled from sugar cane molasses that for centuries has been enjoyed by Puerto Rican families and friends.”

Puerto Rico Distillery Offers:

• Tastings
• Founders Club
• Yoga & Tasting Events

5. Rosie Cheeks Distillery

Rosie Cheeks Distillery
10229 Woodsboro Pike
Walkersville, MD 21793
(240) 285-8139

Family-owned, farm distillery offering signature flavors and seasonal flavors of premium moonshine, made in Maryland.

Rosie Cheeks Distillery Offers:

• Tastings
• VIP Club

6. Springfield Manor Distillery

Springfield Manor Distillery
11836 Auburn Rd
Thurmont, MD 21788
(301) 271-0099

“Springfield Manor uses only corn grown on our 130 acre farm to craft our Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, Corn Whiskey, & Caramel Corn Whiskey. Our fruit brandies are crafted exclusively from fruit grown on local orchards. Our Patriot Rum, the top winner of numerous awards also, is crafted exclusively from pure molasses. We recycle or merlot & cab franc grape skins to create a double gold winning grappa.”

Springfield Manor Offers:

• Tastings
• Tours
• Trivia Nights
• Food Trucks
• Live Music
• Food Menu
• Cocktail Flights
• Wedding Venue
• Annual Lavender Festival

7. True Standard Distilling – Opening Spring 2025 (Now Open for Private Events)

True Standard Distilling
10 N Carroll St
Frederick, MD 21701>x
(240) 415-8753

“Each of our distinctive rums tells a story, making every sip a journey through the rich landscapes of flavor that define our brand. Explore our exclusive rum collections and find the perfect spirit to elevate your moments.”

“Dangerous Summer is the essence of summer in a bottle, perfect for lively cocktails and festive gatherings.”

“Dum Rum combines quality with a playful spirit, ideal for casual enjoyment and light-hearted banter.”

True Standard Distilling Offers:

• Guided Tours
• Exclusive Access to Limited Editions
• Private Events
• Public Events
• Crafted Cocktails at the Cocktail Bar

My sister and I visited True Standard Distilling for a tour before they officially open their doors to the public.

Prime location, gorgeous space, and amazing family owners!

What’s your favorite cocktail using distilled spirits?

Next time you’re in the cocktail shakin’ mood, support local business and buy your next bottle from one of these amazing distilleries in Frederick Md.

For more posts on local distilleries and drink recipes using their spirits, click on over to:

Our Very First Distillery in Frederick, Md: Dragon Distillery

Gin Cocktail Recipe: The Thirsty Forager (Made from McClintock Distilling’s Forager Gin)

Nationals Park: 7 New Reasons to Visit (Spirited beverages from 4 DC distilleries)