Boston Harbor Distillery

I recently took the VIP tour at Boston Harbor Distillery and it was worth every penny. For a small-batch facility, the quality and focus they put into their spirits is impressive. They run a tight operation with a single mash tun and two stills (one 500-gallon and a smaller one), but the results are world-class. As a fan of high-proof spirits, the standout for me was their Cask Strength Single Malt. Made with two-row barley and sitting at a delicious 118 proof, it’s incredibly flavorful. Beyond the liquid, the history of the building is remarkable. From their serial number 1776 still to the "upside-down horseshoe" homage to Putnam at every door, the attention to detail is everywhere. Whether you stop by the bar for a cocktail or do the full tour, don't miss this place. I’ll be ordering a bottle from their site immediately!

The distillery tour was fabulous. Our tour guide Jenna did an excellent job and was very informative on the distilling process and the local history. You get to taste about 20+ spirits or pre-made cocktails in a cool old industrial building on the far south Boston waterfront. But you definitely can't drive to the tour cause you will not be legal when the tour ends!

Jenna was great! Loved the tour and very informative about the distillery and history of the spirits, would book again!

As soon as you take a few steps into the distillery, close your eyes for a moment. Breathe in the warm scent of wood, layered with the rich aroma of fine whiskey and a hint of Atlantic breeze. Trust us—this is just the beginning. This place is a genius loci on the Boston map, where history mingles with ocean and the unmistakable energy of Rhonda Kallman, the founder. Every sip, every detail of the space, reflects her passion and vision. Our signature selections: * American Single Malt * Maple Cream * Old Fashioned on Demon Seed Switch off the time, step outside between tastings and take in the breathtaking view of Boston by day and by night :) Just one visit—and one conversation with Rhonda will leave you with stories you’ll want to share again and again.

Amazing venue, great people, hidden gem and great place to catch live music. Seconds Out was there last nite. Boston Distillery has been there 13 years - worth hunting down this location! Thx for your hospitality Rhonda!

We registered for a VIP tour as part of my wedding registry and someone actually got it for us! WOW did this tour deliver. Definitely take some water with you because you get 13 tastings but you’re going to want to hear and remember every fact that they tell you! Our tour guide was Sal and our ‘pourer’ was Christian and both were excellent and incredibly helpful and knowledgeable! We tried everything and they answered every question we had and then some. Wonderful people! They deserve a raise, honestly. Cera was our server/bartender after the tour and she was beyond fabulous. Our cocktails and snacks were incredible and she was very attentive and nice and overall very good at recommending drinks and bottles to buy. I can’t wait to go back here! Highly recommend the VIP tour or the basic tour if the VIP is more than you’re looking for. Incredible experience during the tour and after! Will be back here for drinks with friends!

Great place to spend an afternoon! The tour is fun if you don’t mind drinking straight spirits, otherwise I’d stick to the cocktail bar! There’s lots of indoor space or a small outdoor standing room patio.

Absolutely amazing experience! 10/10 recommend both the Putnam and Lawley series. The pear was fantastic and so was the single malt. Wonderful time and time well spent on our vacation from PA!

Came here for the whiskey tasting tour and had such a fun time. The group wasn't too large and our tour guide gave us so much history about the place and also walked us through the whiskey making process. We got to try a lot of their products and there was no pressure to have to taste everything. It's a lot of alcohol in a short amount of time! There's also water provided and short breaks in between each of the rooms. Afterward, you can hang out in their bar area and try some of their other drinks or cocktails. It was an enjoyable experience and I would definitely recommend!

Really really cool old historic building, and that's about it... My husband and I came here for a drink before getting dinner at the restaurant next door. We waited so long in line at the bar that we thought we were going to miss our dinner reservation! We finally got a drink with 10 mins to spare. They were small and expensive, but good. Overall, nothing special or unforgettable here...

Can't believe I didn't right this review sooner! Stopped by in July when they were closed with my wife and dogs but they still let us in and we had several flights. Bartender was so nice and gave us a tour and the story of the place. We wound up buying several bottles to bring back home to Chicago! Can't wait to come back to restock!

Stopped in at Boston Harbor Distillery at Logan Airport during a long layover. The servers were very rude . Food was average and the wine was not very good. Would consider another venue for food. But it sure if the bar seating would be better.

Hit another distillery spot in Boston this past weekend! This time, we came for South Shore Comedy on Saturday. We pulled up to see a massive parking lot, however, this is not for Boston Harbor! Note, your GPS will take you to the neighboring lot. Boston Harbor's is one driveway before, still with lots of parking. We arrived & were in awe of the space! It's a beyond stunning, exposed wood, space. Really encompassing what it should feel like to be in a distillery. We were pleased to be told there was a coat closet, as well! We ordered cocktails off of their menu once we made it to the bar. The cocktail list was not lacking, however, wasn't unique. I was hoping for special cocktails rather than cocktails you can usually get but just paired with their spirits. We liked the cocktails, but did not love. However, the spirits are great & are not ones to miss. I would like to come back again for a tour and gain the full experience of tasting!

Embarking on a visit to the Boston Harbor Distillery is not just a tasting experience; it's a captivating journey through the rich tapestry of history woven into each artisanal spirit. My recent tour of this distillery was nothing short of extraordinary, providing not only a delightful exploration of flavors but also a deep dive into the fascinating story behind the distillery's existence. Woman owned distillery is always a fascinating thing. Boston Harbor Distillery, founded by Rhonda Kallman in 2012, is a hub for crafting whole-grain whiskey and innovative spirits. With an illustrious career in the U.S. craft beer movement, Kallman realized her dream of producing whiskey in Boston. After an extensive search, the distillery found a historic location at The Port on Boston Harbor, an 1859 mill building in Dorchester. [citation from https://bostonharbordistillery.com/pages/about-us] Embracing the building's rich history, Boston Harbor Distillery draws inspiration from entrepreneurs like Silas Putnam, George Lawley & Son Shipyard, and Seymour's Ice Cream factory. Dr. James Swan, a whiskey production and maturation expert, played a crucial role in educating the team. Today, under the leadership of John Stark, the distillery prioritizes the use of top-quality ingredients for their whiskey, gin, rum, liqueurs, and even distilled beer from Sam Adams. The distillery's bonded barrel storage warehouse houses hundreds of barrels of aging whiskey, symbolizing a commitment to redefining American spirits. Boston Harbor Distillery invites visitors to meet their passionate team, savor their spirits, and join in celebrating the next revolution of handcrafted American spirits at the crossroads of Boston's history, craftsmanship, and celebration. The journey began with a captivating overview of Boston's role in the history of distilling, dating back to the Revolutionary era. The guides skillfully shared anecdotes about the city's illicit rum trade, prohibition-era tales, and the revival of craft distilling in recent times. This historical context added layers of significance to each sip, turning the tasting into a sensory exploration of both flavor and time. The selection of spirits at Boston Harbor Distillery is nothing short of impressive. From their award-winning whiskey to the unique liqueurs, each product carries a story that resonates with the distillery's commitment to quality and tradition. Tasting notes were expertly explained, allowing me to appreciate the nuances in every glass. Many good drinks here but the Rye was my favorite and took a bottle home to Pittsburgh, PA Cheers!!

I wish I could give this establishment a good review but I just can't. I went alone last year to see my son-in-law's band perform. When I ordered a House Special cocktail the bartender asked if I would like to open a tab. I agreed. An hour later, I ordered a second cocktail. When I went to pay my tab, I was surprised to see my bill was double what I expected. I questioned the bartender and after a lengthy discussion he agreed to credit the overcharge. He actually couldn't complete the transaction himself and got an associate to process the credit. After 30 minutes the associate told me she processed the credit but she had a problem producing a receipt. That made me suspicious and I decided to monitor my credit card account. Sure enough the overcharged bill was on my account and no credit was processed. I spent 60 days following up with the bank until Boston Harbor Distillery relented and stopped fighting my request for a refund. Can't recommend this venue.

What a cute spot! I have lived nearby for over a year and a half and had no idea this place existed. Luckily, a friend of mine suggested it and we have now been twice! The first time, we went during the day time and sat outside. Of course, it's COVID times, so we had to order some food with our drinks. We went with the cheapest thing on the menu - biscotti - which we both despise. But it was actually good! We looked at each other and were like - yooooo! It wasn't "break your teeth" hard and came with berries and whipped cream. We ate it all! We got cocktails while we put our name in for a table-side tasting. I had an old fashioned and it was mixed perfectly. Blah blah - the TASTING, THOUGH! The owner's son came by with a cart of booze and took us through 7 or 8 different liquors. It was a smaller tasting (not like the full pours they do for the whiskey), but it was only $15! Score! I would do that again and again. The 2nd time we went was on a Saturday evening. We sat outside to start, but asked to move indoors as it got chillier and we were accommodated. The inside is super cute and almost looks like a lodge. There are comfy seating areas everywhere and we took two wingbacks off to the side. We were too late to get a tasting again, but we enjoyed our cocktails. I will 100% keep coming back here. I don't think it's a secret as it was pretty full when we went on Saturday evening, but it's not crowded either - especially for the greatness of the drinks and tasting offerings. I'll be bahhhk!

Excellent renovation of a historical spot in a part of Town I am quite unfamiliar with. Top notch distillery and good venue for music. Food is food trucks so far, but good ones like Jamie's Roast Beef from Peabody; best of the North Shore!

No surprise the derby party was free: extremely unorganized, no sound, it was streaming so it froze, not actual mint juleps, still rolling out tables as people got there. Website advertised oysters but no oysters. I understand it's the first one but the no sound and extreme disorganization was off putting. The only high point is the passion from the owner. She is so passionate and was hopping on the bar when it was slammed and told everyone the story behind what they were drinking. I'll come back again once they have a bit more footing because their drinks were good but the service and overall vibe was poor.

We registered for a VIP tour as part of my wedding registry and someone actually got it for us! WOW did this tour deliver. Definitely take some water with you because you get 13 tastings but you're going to want to hear and remember every fact that they tell you! Our tour guide was Sal and our 'pourer' was Christian and both were excellent and incredibly helpful and knowledgeable! We tried everything and they answered every question we had and then some. Wonderful people! They deserve a raise, honestly. Cera was our server/bartender after the tour and she was beyond fabulous. Our cocktails and snacks were incredible and she was very attentive and nice and overall very good at recommending drinks and bottles to buy. I can't wait to go back here! Highly recommend the VIP tour or the basic tour if the VIP is more than you're looking for. Incredible experience during the tour and after! Will be back here for drinks with friends!

This place is pretty fun to spend a few hours at! And they have outdoor seating. Because they're not doing indoor tours, they have someone come to your table and talk through the different products they make. And it comes with a shot glass and lots of baby shots. Like lots of them. Super fun! My boyfriend and I went twice in a weekend, oops. Food wise, the bruschetta was pretty good! The charcuterie board was also filling, but the bruschetta was definitely better. Cocktails are all good as well! I liked everything we tried, which was like half of their menu

Beautiful, hard-to-get-to space serving delicious cocktails made from their various local spirits. We did an impromptu birthday gathering here recently, and there was plenty of space and plenty of variety on the menu so there was something for everyone. Got a little crowded at the bar because there was only one bartender for the majority of the afternoon on a Saturday, but I enjoyed every cocktail I tried. Meant to take a bottle of the Putnam Rye home with me- guess I'll just have to come back, and maybe take the tour this time too.

The spicy mule is soooo fire (literally and figuratively). Please get this drink if you stop by BHD. FYI, they can make a gin and tonic by request although it is not on the menu. Great establishment with friendly staff. I will be back.

Amazing distillery in Dorchester, Massachusetts! Home of Putnam Whiskey. Open every Saturday to the public for amazing cocktails. They also do beautiful events such as weddings and birthdays.

After being berated at the adjacent winery(which is most definitely NOT affiliated with the distillery) I opened the door and asked if we were permitted to enter. )I had my daughter wait outside to see if it was ok to enter. The woman at the door (who was the owner) couldn't have been more welcoming. The staff was friendly and courteous. The drinks were fresh and delicious. If you're unsure about what to order, they make recommendations based on your taste preferences and were quite patient. The place was large and open and the bathrooms were spotless. We were happy to spend our time and money here. You will be too.

The ambiance was great and the staff were friendly. The drinks were inconsistent (the same drink didn't taste the same each time) but still good and very strong.

Came from California for the Putnam Rye Whiskey! It's that good! The tour is fun- you learn the history of the building, have a little taste, learn how the various grains are fermented, have another taste, learn about distilling, have yet another taste! Their products are all great! Be sure to try the "spirits" distilled from Sam Adams beer! You can't find this anywhere else! When you decide which is your favorite, they will "craft" a specialty cocktail at the bar. Seating area is comfortable with good tunes. Enjoy!

Alex was great at explaining all their liquors during our tasting. Great outdoor and indoor seating. The cocktails were A+. Super great spot during Covid times. Can't wait to come back post Covid.

Went here as a group of 7, all with Groupons. The tour was perfect. Not too long, guides knew their stuff, and lots of free samples. If I lived closer I would definitely consider going just to hang out at the bar, but in any case it was a great experience.

What a gem! We had a blast here. Great attentive and knowledgeable service. Drinks were unique and atmosphere was second to none. What a beautiful venue! Thank you Boston Harbor Distillery for a great experience, 10/10 recommend!

My Scottish boyfriend and I loved the Boston Harbor Distillery too. We stopped in since my boyfriend loves whiskies. They are open 1-7PM on Saturdays for whiskey tastings. We will return for the $10 tour this fall. BTW: This property was once the Putnam Horseshoe Nail company, which was one of the early manufacturers at Port Norfolk in Dorchester, MA. Horseshoe Nails, Yachts and Nutty Buddys were made at the site of the horseshoe nail company. (DOT Historical Society).

So, I am totally a fru-fru drink kind of gal. You know, Wines, ciders, cocktails and other lighter sweet side beverages. This place is an exception for me. The tour offered a good variety of sampling as well as a history of the building and the names for each product as well as an intimate look at the actual distillery operations. Awesome staff, open location, overall chill AND if you want to mix your whiskey they've got something for everyone. Good 'ol fashions, daiquiris, EZ rider. Quite tasty. Can't wait to come back on the next trip to Boston. Worth the drive, and hey you can actually park! Just a tip, don't come on an empty stomach. Other than that, a good stop for your driving adventures.

Lovely spot for drinks. Outside seating now available. Imaginative drinks. Small gift shop. Took the tour last year loved it. Due to covid not running at this time. Fun place in a repurposed factory. Looking for something cozy and delicious ... Bucket list item.

Awesome distillery making some pretty cool stuff. Had the opportunity to drop by here and take a tour with one of the co-founders. For ten bucks, we sampled 4-5 liquors and a cocktail. The tour content is well thought out and tied together. It also helps your taste buds as they start you off with a rum-type liquor that is not often had straight and transitions eventually to a delicious coffee liquor. The ambience feels kind of modern antique-y.

Great local distillery. We had Katie as a bartender before hand (and after) who was wonderful. The tour itself was great. I love supporting local business. The tour in itself was great and I loved learning about the business. We ended up buying 3 different whiskeys. Reasonably priced and I would definitely recommend. Support local amazing businesses !!!!!

Sam was an amazing bartender, amazing drinks. Great environment, friendly staff. Winery next door makes for a great night!

I'm a Massachusetts transplant currently residing in Colorado - wanting to get married back home, I turned to the web for the top rated venues in the city, stumbled across the Distillery. On a recent trip home, made it a point to stop in....take in the atmosphere, chat with the staff and of course, test taste. In short, I was impressed. Pictures of the space don't do it justice and the vibe alone will make you want to book on the spot - from the crew behind the bar to their event's contact, Laura.....and then there is the whiskey. Laura was easily able to translate the picture I had in my head about the big day to an attainable plan and eased my mind about coordinating the wedding from across the country. You can tell right off the bat she's passionate about what she does and you are in capable hands. I look forward to visiting next month with my fiance and getting the wheels in motion....

When this place opened two years ago, we went for the grand opening weekend. Right when I walked in I thought, "This would be a fabulous place for a wedding!" And now, three years later, we booked this spot for our 2018 wedding! The venue is perfect... from the size (we are having a smallish wedding of 75), to the seating, the copper bar and the amazing beams. The tour was great (we've done it a couple times now). We even get an amazing wedding coordinator with it! Very excited to get things rolling for our big day. UPDATE: Our big day was BEAUTIFUL. The scene was exactly how we imagined and all of our guests loved the space, the food (we had Moody's cater) and the DJ (DJ TRex is the BEST!). However, the "amazing" wedding coordinator turned out to be a let down. We were recommended a different liquor package than the one we signed up for because she wanted to save us money. That did not happen. Not only did she do everything in her power that night to get the bar tab higher (like telling the catering staff to stop passing beer and wine that we bought, clearing drinks before they had been finished and inviting the catering staff to drink as well) she also decided to come to me, the bride, at the end of the night to pay the ridiculous bar tab. She said she would give us a heads up if or when the tab was coming close to our $2,000 limit but she never did. Everything became a bit clearer when our good friend (who was the event manager that night for Moody's) told us she had come up to him at the beginning of the night and told him she had "popped a couple Adderall". Although nothing can ruin our wedding day, this woman came very close. I highly recommend proceeding with caution if you really want to have your wedding here.

Sal was our tour guide and he was absolutely fantastic! From the beginning with the history of the distillery to the end, with the dessert portion, he delivered. Following the tour, we got a couple of Harborslides and relaxed for a bit before meeting Rhonda and making a purchase. The whole experience is fantastic and you feel right at home. Highly recommend whether you're interested in a tour or just coming in for a couple of drinks! We will be back!

I was blown away by how beautiful this venue is and how receptive and helpful the staff was for my bridal shower. I was worried that I don't even like whiskey but the mixed drinks were incredible and a lot of our guests bought bottles to attempt to make them on their own. The whiskey tasting was also a huge hit with all the men there. I cannot recommend hosting an event there enough. We had an amazing couples shower and wish we knew about it sooner so we could have gone their for tastings before.

I've enjoyed my time at this place over the years so much that when my husband and I were approaching our second anniversary and his completion of his master degree it was a no brainer to bring family and friends here to celebrate. I worked with the staff ahead of time section off an area for my guest and arrange for a tour and tasting. Everything was seamless and the staff was accommodating. I had the event catered so guest were able to enjoy food and cupcakes along with their whiskey.

Great experience not to be missed when in the Boston area. Super friendly staff. Steve and Tom were superb! All spirits were tasty and quality all around. Not to mention a great vibe in this old refurbished horse shoe nail factory from the civil war era. Do this!

Boston Harbor distilling is a new take on spirits. Unable to classically/officially call themselves rum Lawley's Dark New England Spirit is a flavorful spirit with no industry equivalent. With its mild sweet notes from Vermont maple syrup and its smokey undertone the dark is most have for any home bar or business. P.S. Take it from a boston native and please visit their distillery for a tour.

Had a wonderful time getting a tour of the newly opened distillery from Charlotte and enjoyed drinking three different cocktails made with their in-house made spirits. $10 for the tour which includes shots of their spirits and the cocktails. Totally worth it and so much fun! Everything was laid back and we even bought a handle of their whiskey. Can't wait to bust it out at our house-warming party! We will definitely be back!

I went here yesterday (Sunday) afternoon for a tour and tasting. This is a very impressive business run by dedicated and genuinely nice people. The tour ($10 per person) was fun and included samples of their products and a mixed drink afterwards that used their rum like spirit. The building is very old, well restored and beautiful. The atmosphere, especially near their bar, was party like. I ended up buying a couple of bottles of their booze and look forward to serving it to friends soon. This place is well worth a visit - and can be combined most days with a visit to the separate Boston Winery next door.

This place is everything!! Came from out of state for the weekend and saw the great reviews ... this distillery out did themselves. Service was excellent. Drinks and food were amazing. Table side experience is soo worth it. Loved every minute of being here. Definitely pay them a visit.

If you want a unique, fun and creative event space then this is the place for you. The staff is friendly, accommodating and fun. The space is wonderfully versatile allowing for an intimate or large event. I threw my husband's 50th surprise birthday party here and they guests list ranged from college friends to family. Each and every guests commented on the cool factor fo the venue. Those who sampled at the tasting bar were blow away by the spirits. The space speaks for itself. It doesn't need ANY additional decor which is helping when planning and event and also managing a budget. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Was a vendor at a private event there recently and the Director of Events couldn't have been more rude. Of the three times I needed to speak with her only one time did she even look at me and it was as if I was annoying her. She was rude to my staff and I witnessed her irritability also being unleashed on guests. I have been in hospitality for over 25 years and I must say, if you work in the hospitality business, have to deal with people on a regular basis, you at least need to have basic manners and common decency. I live nearby and was excited to experience this place not just professionally but personally but unfortunately I will never go back in any capacity.

An amazing space that gives unique tours and a chance to taste true New England spirits. They include spirits made from molasses and maple syrup that captures the true essence of the area. It is a relatively new business but definitely one to check out! Take a date, your pals, family and/or tours.

I wouldn't recommend it for an event. The second half of the event seems very focused on wrapping up the event. They stop serving food and alcohol well prior to the end of the schedule time, so effectively it is a much shorter event than it is scheduled for. The service was rather cold and matter-of-fact.

Had such an amazing time at the distillery. Rhonda was amazing! They have such great cocktails.You have to try the Bloody Mary.

Great spirits, amazing cocktails and friendly staff. All the makings for Saturday afternoon fun. Skipped the tour and opted to pay $10 for a tasting of 5 different spirits....what a deal! Only issue was the temperature. It was really cold but we kept the drinks going to warm us up. My favorite was the Hot Bostonian.

Must visit this place and do a tasting. I found it at Total Wine and Julio's in Shrewsbury area

I can't say enough good things about my experience working with BHD. We hosted a private corporate event there this week and the staff was phenomenal. They went above and beyond to help me out in a pinch and provided excellent customer service for all of our guests. The building is absolutely gorgeous and such a fun venue for corporate or social events. Laura, the director of events, was a pleasure to work with and very accommodating and helpful. I'm looking forward to returning with friends soon!

Attended Whiskey Wednesday with friends from out of town. Excellent whiskey and pairings, along with tour of the distillery. Super tour by one of the co-founders and staff. Great space and location.

Everything about this establishment speaks of quality. From the moment I walked in the door I could feel the history and yet respected the modern mission. This is a fantastic place and I highly recommend you visiting. Take the tour and try the spirits - It's well worth it. GREAT experience. Thanks for getting it right, Boston Harbor Distillery! I will indeed be back.

Cool little hidden gem in Boston. Nice to taste some spirits and learn the history of the distillery. My freind who is a whiskey person wasnt a huge fan of their whiskey I thought it was fine but I also think Fireball is a fine Whiskey, Their coffe spirit was tasty. All in all well worth the trip to check out.

Terrific distillery along Dorchester Bay next door to the Boston Winery and Venezia's Restaurant. Tours of the historic building---the distillery, run from 1-7pm on Saturdays but it's my understanding that you can still purchase their bottled alcohol throughout the week during their business hours (call to confirm.) As far as the tour, which I took this afternoon, it's $10.00 per person and they run every half hour until 7pm. The tour is roughly an hour long. We had two tour guides. The first part was on the history of the building, the founding of the company and the story behind each spirit, which you will get to sample. We sampled 6 or 7 today. Our guide was wonderful and she was very well-versed in the products she was discussing. Very informative. The second half was the distillery room where the magic happens. This too was very informative---impressive actually. Our guides were great and we picked up a few bottles of their Seymour's Liquors on the way out, which are for Sale on premises. Definitely worth a visit, to learn a little local history, to admire the beautifully restored factory in which it resides, and to support a terrific Boston business.