Dry Diggings Distillery

Went here 9 years ago for whiskey tasting with friends and it was great, including their vodka. Flash forward to their new dining experience that just opened, though on the expensive side, you can tell they still invest heavily into their quality. As their menu implies, it's a slower way of life here. Tasty cocktail concoctions and bites, and comfy classic ambience. They are hidden away so we got to give them more business! Check them out.

I don't know where to start. Me and my wife came here during the soft launch of their resturant expecting to have a good time and we did not. We had an absolutely amazing time. Everything about this place was absolutely perfect. The entire staff are all lovely and friendly people. The bartenders were perfect with the actual science of mixology and know exactly what needs to be done for a cocktail to have perfect chemistry. I cant prove this but the chef may have been trained by Chef Ramsay. The quality, complexity, and love that has been crafted into each dish was amazing. We ordered the pork belly and el chavez as appetizers and finished off with two orders of the steak and potatoes. We also had a total of 4 cocktails. With the level of perfection at every step of the way from the atmosphere to the staffs professionalism to the quality of the items we ordered we expected and would have been willing to pay upwards of $250-$300 dollars before tip. Our bill came out to $157 dollars which would have been the same price at any other resturant we went to but with everything being subpar. Dry Diggins Distillery has almost everything they need to be the perfect spot to go to escape everyday life. The only thing they need is for people to spread the word. Go try them out and tell all your friends, family, co-workers, even random people to try this place out. You will not regret it one bit.

Great spot for a meal and some amazing cocktails. Their newly rennovated location looks fantastic and they did a great job on the decor. Be sure to stop in the tasting room for samples of their line of distilled spirits.

Open Mon-Sat for lunch, Dry Diggings Distillery has exceptional food and liquor that you wouldn't expect to find out in an El Dorado Hills business park. Their Char burger was fantastic, and I have to admit, it isn't the style burger I would normally go for. I paired it with their Engine 49 Rye (120 proof), which was also very good. Definitely take the time to make your way out here and give Dry Diggings a shot!

I had the apple crisp and it did not disappoint. They started as a distillery and tasting room in 2012 and recently they started offering food to accompany their exceptional cocktails. I am hot or cold and this is definitely a winner. They are tucked away in El Dorado Hills and a must if in Folsom or Sacramento.

Excellent crafted spirits including whiskey, vodka, gin and brandy. If you're a rye lover, this is definitely the place to go. The owner is a friendly and knowledgeable guy who adds to the total experience. Soon to include a restaurant.

I work close by and walked over for lunch today, although they weren’t able to accommodate to-go orders yet as they just started serving meals, I will say the burger and fries I sat down for was 10/10 delicious. So good. What a gorgeous interior, unique vibe and truly good food. Can’t wait to come back for dinner.

If I could give 10 stars I would. These people know liquor. This is hands down THE hidden gem of your drive toward Placerville. 5 mins off hwy 50 in El Dorado Hills, in an unassuming business district, lies some of the best spirits produced in all of California. (That’s not just my opinion, they have won multiple awards for their liquors.) If you think you don’t like a type of libation before going, I dare you to tell the person on the other side of their absolutely gorgeous bar, I love how knowledgeable, welcoming, and focused they are in creating some of the best liquors your mouth will ever have the pleasure of touching. “You’re welcome mouth”, is what you will be saying. As the secret continues to get out, don’t you want to be the one who tells your friends about the best damn whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, brandy, and more, that you found and are now sharing with them? Because, if you go and do a flight, I would be astounded if you don’t coming back again. Buy a bottle, heck buy 2, as everything is small batch, it means everything is very limited before the next run, so you can taste the love that goes into each bottle.

Always Feels Like a Special Occasion My husband requested a repeat visit to DDD for his 60th birthday and it did not disappoint. Mind you, we celebrated his 50th at DDD as well and have taken business acquaintances and friends multiple times over the years. The atmosphere is so cool and unexpected, the owners and hosts know their stuff! and are incredibly welcoming, and the variety of spirits offers something for everyone . Some of the spirits have become requested Christmas gifts and we are happy to oblige. You don't need a special occasion to visit DDD but it always feels like one.

We went there for our 43rd anniversary. The atmosphere is so cool. Didn't expect that from the exterior. The girl who told us all about the spirits and even how to taste them was so knowledgeable and friendly. Her brother explained to me some of the process. We bought 2 bottles and easily could have purchased more as they are so good. Highly recommend a visit. You'll be glad you did.

We had a great experience at our tasting! We went as a family to celebrate a couple of birthday for the weekend!

Erica and Chris were great hosts, accommodating a party of 20. They were friendly, hard working and accommodating. We enjoyed tasting their products and the atmosphere of the distillery. I would recommend them for your beverage likes! Cheers!

Never disappointed I learn so much from staff about spirits and distilling every time I visit. If your out wine tasting this is a great change of pace Excellent prices for a quality product

Whew my husband loves whiskey tasting so I brought him here today for his bday. Let's just say he had a ball lol. Started with some whiskey, gin and bourbon tasting. I ended up buying him a bottle of Cabernet brandy, some spices, got my bro in law the Floyd's kit and we got a bottle for a friend who has a birthday in a few days. Service was amazing and we loved the fact that the tasting room was setup like a tasting room which creates an atmosphere of excitement. Oh forgot to mention the staff that helped us was the owners daughter who was not only friendly but hella social. Good conversation, lessons on whiskey's/ gins/bourbons and great tasting, what more can the birthday man want?! Will come back!

My wife brought me to this distillery. The distillery setup was magnificent. I selected to do a tasting of six spirits. I tasted rye whiskey, bourbon, muscat brandy, Chardonnay brandy and apple jack brandy. The tasting was spectacular and the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The ambiance was a customer friendly and great atmosphere. If you like great whiskey, brandy, gin and vodka than do go try and have the dry diggings experience. You will not be disappointed.

Hosted a private tour and tasting for my husband's 40th birthday this weekend and we had a great time! The booking process was a breeze and the event itself was super fun. All of our guests had a great time. Ambiance is really cozy, staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and we all loved the spirits and cocktails. Lovely family run business - 100 percent recommend!

Erica is very knowledgeable, a great story teller, and great bartender! My Family came in to celebrate my Mother's birthday. We were regaled with the story of the historic bar, the distillery, and some of their unique spirits.

We set up a private tour and tasting for our group of eight people. Two were already spirits drinkers. The other six preferring wine and/or hard seltzer, with little to no understanding of spirits. Erica's tour and tasting changed everything. I think for the experienced spirits drinkers she elevated their knowledge, and respect for how spirits are engineered, to another level. And for the rest of us 'non spirits' drinkers she opened our eyes and gave us several "palm to forehead" moments. Erica's tour was nothing short of outstanding. Don't be fooled by her youthful appearance. She knows her industry, her own distillery, and the 30+ different products she sells extremely well. For seasoned wine tasters, you might think the tour would begin with a taste and a walk with a glass in your hand. I caution you not to expect that. What we received at the beginning was a tour in the distillery that helped us all get a better understanding, and healthy respect, for all that goes into creating spirits, and spirits with unique flavors. This was time very well spent to give us all some common ground before we jumped into tasting. I recommend that all that do a tasting heed their advise on sipping and holding to enjoy the unique flavors in each pour. The flight options, while initially a little overwhelming with soooo many options, it is very well organized and with a few minutes each individual was able to find a flight that was of most interest to them. I will add that one of our big takealways was to have an open mind. if you don't like something, say a brandy, a gin, or a whiskey, it may be because you tried a low quality product (e.g., E&J brandy), or didn't taste it properly (sip and hold). Erica helped us to get over several "prejudices" as we tried quality product and used proper tasting methods. To wrap this up, I will say Erica and DDD crushed this experience. Each person in our group came away very impressed with DDD and their products, and even more so with Erica as the very qualified ambassador for DDD and the spirit's industry. I recommend all with inquiring (and open) minds give this a try. Once you do, you will likely bring friends and family back to share in these hidden treasures.

Took my husband here for his 30th birthday. Erica is amazing! She is so knowledgeable & passionate about what she does and it shows. My husband and I had an amazing time. The experience is so fun & comfortable. My husband is a big whiskey drinker and I dabble. That said, even I walked away with a bottle!

I reserved a tasting for two, the day of without difficulty, for most of the tasting we had individual attention from the owner. Super knowledgeable, way into his craft. The tasting room is decorated in a great western style that is spirit focused. We tasted whiskey, all of which were fantastic, they also offer vodka, gin, and brandy. No hesitation in recommending this as a great experience for any spirit enthusiast!

You have to try their selectionof spiritsl! This was a last-minute trip and our first time visiting. This place is tucked away in the back of business office area, but don't let the outside fool you. When you pull up the place looks like a regular office building, but look for the sign that will lead you to the tasting area. As you walk through the plain wall hallway, you start to notice lights and a western setting area. Then you're pulled into a speak easy type of setting. Love the design! The staff is wonderful, with warm greetings, then presents you with their menu of flight choices (great price, btw). The host your preference, then recommend several tasting choices (if you're unsure), we chose the Cowboy (all whiskey/bourbons). As our host poured, she explained the history, flavors, and how the drink/bottle was made. Ever pour was excellent! My boyfriend loved the rye 18yr, and I loved the Bodini. Bottle prices are reasonable, and we're definitely coming back to buy more! Thank you for the wonderful experience!

Great service, cool atmosphere inside, a good opportunity to learn about Whisky. Looks like an office on the outside but an old 1800's saloon on the inside.

This place has spirits and a super hospitable hostess! So much fun! Highly recommend the gins!

Awesome place to go as a couple or group and enjoy some spirits. Owners are very knowledgeable, friendly and show your party a great time.

I had an amazing time talking and sipping on some very delicious spirits. I have not been fond of Gin and their Gin have to say is AMAZING among their other selections of spirits and bitters are Delicious and found my new location to purchase my spirits and local bar family feel.

Paying for tastings I get, not crediting to a purchase after seems a bit overboard. Whisky is pretty good and staff is knowledgeable, just makes their product over priced when adding in tasting cost.

Was very excited to take hubby and our friends for his birthday as he loves whiskey. We booked a tour plus tasting. I am not sure why they offer a tour for a extra charge when it's just another room that was VERY hot. The owner was nice but pretty much just talked about himself for 25 min. The good news is Erica is amazing and knows what she is talking about. She poured based on our pallet and we learned we shouldn't judge a name aka Gin. . I was surprised by her amazing Gin she has created. So, definitely go, just skip the tour.

Great tasting in a cool joint. Learn a lot every time I go. Love all the available goodies and the candles are the best I've ever found!

The gin class was amazing! We learned a ton and making our own blend of aromatics to fit our tastes was awesome! Please keep doing these classes and we will be back! Also as a warning if you are going to buy candles stock up! They are custom made and there is never enough to satiate us!!!

I wanted to do something original for my husband's birthday so I made a reservation for 6 of us Sunday afternoon. Erica was full of energy and information and we left with three bottles we're looking forward to sipping in the future. The ambiance inside is like nothing else! Can't wait to go back and introduce to other friends!

Nothing but good things to say about this place. Our tasting was filled with great conversation from Chris the owner. Chris is a man of integrity and takes great pride in his work. It was such a good experience and will definitely be coming back.

Ambience and friendly service. We stopped in on a whim to check it out, it was pretty busy so we will be back with a reservation and intend to invite some friends. I'll post when we return!

Yay! A distillery right in our neighborhood! You couldn't ask for much more than that. Having just moved to the area I found this distillery while searching for wineries on Yelp. We happen to be members of a distillery in Paso Robles so finding another one even closer to us was a huge win. Located in an business park the outside is definitely deceiving but compared to distilleries in Sebastopol or elsewhere it is not out of the ordinary. Once you get inside the transformation to a gold rush saloon begins. While we made reservations online I don't know that they are needed at certain points of the day as a few other couples just walked in during normal hours. The service is extraordinary as she explained everything about each liquor we were tasting and you could see the passion behind every pour! My wife and I love vodka but the distillery offers broad tasting options of, whiskey, gin, rum, scotch and so much more. We split a vodka/gin tasting and were blown away with the flavors. Every vodka was great but were really taken back with the gin flavors. I wasn't a gin fan before coming to Dry Diggings but I am now. Looking forward to coming back very soon it is only 5 minutes away : ) Favorite Vodka: Diamond Springs then the Rocket. Favorite Gin: Engine 49 Gin, then the Citrus Flavored Gin. But seriously everything is so good!!!

Took my husband here as a Father's Day present. Very well greeted and treated! Will definitely bring our friends with us the next time we visit. Their Bodie 5 dog single malt whiskey is a refreshing change from the heavy peat types. Hopefully their restaurant and bar will open soon.

You wouldn't know it from the facade, but this place is gorgeous inside and such a lovely tasting experience! Erica is a gem and with a great knowledge not only of the spirits that they offer in the tasting room, but spirits in general. She walked me through the history of their establishment, the differences between Dry Diggings and Amador Distillery, and what makes their spirits special. This is a wonderful place to go if you're in the Shenandoah/Amador wine region and are looking for something a little bit stronger (if you catch my drift). I will definitely be back for more! Keep that Engine49 Citrus gin in stock for me!

My mom came here originally for a class she was taking. She had so much fun she decided to bring us to check it out. She signed us up for a tour and that is where our crazy journey started. Now I've been on so many brewery and distillery tours in my life that I really wasn't looking too forward to this if I'm honest. The liquor or beer making process doesn't really change from place to place. What does change though is the quality of your tour guide. A good guide can make all the difference. We lucked out and had the owner of the distillery as our tour guide. He was a riot! The tour was supposed to be 30 minutes I think. We ended up spending well over an hour on our tour. The tour itself wasn't much. You walk into the back production space, and you can see it all without having to step anywhere. What made the tour special was his clear love for his work and story telling. Like I said we aren't distillery newbies, and my husband in particular loves bourbon, so the two of them were getting into some deep talks about the world of whiskey. The time just seemed to fly by as he would jump from one topic to another, keeping us in ah and laughing with equal ease. He said that his tours are the most polarizing thing that people write about; you either love them or hate them. I would go on this tour again and again if he lead it just to hear more stories. After the tour came the tasting. What was nice about the tasting was that they have such a large selection of liquors that they can really get you want you like. My tastes and my husbands tastes are quite different. We explained to the bartender what exactly we each liked, and she was able to pour us things that would be more in our wheel houses. Now I would happily go back for the tour, but the liquor... It was good, but nothing that blew my socks off. I really liked that they had such a range of styles and really were trying stuff. Nothing really quite connected with me though. It was all good, but nothing that made me want to say yes. My husband thought their whiskeys were decent, but he still loves anything from Kentucky more. If you are looking for something different to try, this is a great place to go. It has the feel of a speakeasy/1920's bar, and the personality to match it.

What a nifty find! I was searching up things to do in the El Dorado Hills area and came across Dry Diggings Distillery. Who would've thunk that there would be a whiskey distillery in El Dorado Hills? Like the good little Yelper that I am, I had read up on Dry Diggings before I went, so I wasn't phased by the industrial complex looking area that we turned into. The outside of Dry Diggings Distillery is very unassuming and looks just like any other office building. But once you enter, you're transported to an old-timey saloon bar ala the gold rush era! The decor is PERFECT. You go from concrete on the outside to wood and warm tones on the inside. The bar is absolutely gorgeous and makes for a great place to do a whiskey tasting. Options for tastings (comes with 6 tastings): - Whiskey Flight ($20) - Mixed Flight ($15)-- can include Brandies and/or up to 3 Whiskies We opted for the Whiskey Flight, which featured the Bodie 3 Dog White Whiskey, Rubicon Rye Whiskey, Engine 49 Rye Whiskey, Engine 49 Barrel Strength Rye, Engine 49 Bourbon, and the Engine 49 Barrel Strength Bourbon. Our hostess for the tasting was lovely and did such a good job of walking us through the tastings, telling us a little about how each whiskey was made, and what to expect. Each whiskey was different, and each batch of each type of whiskey is slightly different, but we ended up liking the Rubicon Rye Whiskey the most and took a bottle of that one home. tl;dr: I would come again! Such a fun and unique experience unexpectedly located in El Dorado Hills. Just remember, miners only-- no minors!

What a quaint and unique place! We had a great time. Tried some delicious beverages and our hostess brought the experience to life. We walked away with multiple bottles. I recommend you check them out!

During these hard times, it was extremely refreshing to have real conversations with genuine people. It was an amazing atmosphere and I have already recommended pretty much all of my friends lol. Absolutely the best Sunday date I've ever chosen ;)

What a cool place! We went to brunch with friends of ours, and since we were in El Dorado Hills we decided to give this distillery a try. When we arrived there was a party doing a tasting in the main room so we waited our turn and walked around the gift room which had a number of foodie items such as BBQ Sauce, seasonings, and more. Once the other party moved on to a tour of the distillery, it was our turn. Unfortunately, the owner was giving the tour with the other party but to our delight his very young knowledgeable and engaging daughter was ready to conduct our tasting. She began with history of her father, and his company; which led to the beginning of the tasting. For $15 you can taste up to 5 liquors. The liquors ranged from vodka, brandy, and whiskey; some were clear, dark, flavored or not (most are available for purchase). Though my only purchase was a lime chili seasoning from the gift shop, overall we had a wonderful time.

FANTASTIC WHISKEY!! Cant wait to go back to get more. I took the distillery tour and got some great knowledge of the whiskey making process and tie-ins to California history. What a great find! Willy's Tip Jar: take the tour, it's really worth it!

I had never been to any kind of tasting other than food and wine. To find a place to taste spirits was sooo fun. The owner was fabulous. He was so knowledgeable. I have to say going in it kind of feels like a prohibition era place. On the outside you are in a total business park and incognito from what lies inside. Inside is a beautiful bar and a fabulous selection of libations distilled right in the building. You can actually tell them what you are currently into flavor profile wise and they will lead you on a sensory wonder of a taste with flights tailored for you. The owner ran our tasting and we had an amazing time talking to him about his whiskeys. We love whiskey not shooting whiskey but tasting, sipping whiskeys. You will have many types to try here at dry diggings. They have a cute little store area too with other items, it was just a great time!

Ericka was knowledgeable and patient. She spoke passionately about the various qualities of the spirits she poured for us. She was intuitive in her guidance in choosing the tastings. It was a little off putting that the hours on the outside of the building didn't match Yelp! It seems those are the office hours. Whew! We highly recommend this spot for visitors and locals.

Quaint out of the way place; looks like an old west saloon. The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about their product.

This was my third visit to Dry Diggings Distillery and once again it was a fabulous experience. We did the distillery tour with Chris followed by a tasting with Erica -- both have a tremendous passion for their work and great skill at what they do. Aside from their expertise, they are the kind of friendly folks you could spend hours talking with on a range of topics. Between us we tasted a variety of whiskeys and gins along with a vodka and a brandy. The wide spectrum of flavors always amazes me, and Erica is great at curating their offerings to match the palate of each taster while challenging them with a surprise or two. As others have stated, the tasting room is very nicely appointed with an old west theme, completely unlike the generic industrial park exterior. I will continue to return and bring other friends...it is not only a wonderful experience but a great way to support a local family business of high integrity. Come visit, you won't regret it!!

We did a Bourbon tasting which we really enjoyed. Our guide through the tasting was very knowledgeable the tasting room nicely reflected the gold mine rush era. Very enjoyable. Check it out.

If you're looking for a laid-back and individualized experience this is the place to go! It's a small family business run by a father, daughter, and son and they really take time to explain how their products are developed and why they are unique. There is also no pressure to purchase and the prices are fair. Looking forward to going back because they're going to be opening up a restaurant in a couple of years, so exciting! Can't wait to eat some delicious food paired with wonderful spirits. Don't be fooled by the exterior industrial complex... this is a little diamond tucked in the El Dorado hills!

The best distillery! Erica is so helpful and knowledgeable. The tasting room is adorable with an old West vibe and a beautiful bar. Dry Diggings has huge variety of spirits that will suit everyone's needs.

I went for the Gin crafting class last week. Everyone there is nice and incredibly knowledgeable. The inside has a very cool throwback look. The class was fun and I learned a lot.

We emailed our drive itinerary around United States and were kind enough to meet us on a Sunday to sell us their product. The 120 proof bourbon was amazing Thanks for fitting us in. Friends in Lake Lanier Ga loved it. We got home after 5 weeks and 10.5 k mile trip

My girlfriend took me here for a tour to gain some general knowledge about the alcohol making process and to have a flight of my choice. I left here with a greater knowledge than I ever would have expected to gain. The flight I had was very well put together, and each alcohol was delicious and flavorful. The owner Cris was absolutely incredible and his passion for his work was truly awe inspiring. I can honestly say this is one of the best stores, bars, distilleries, businesses, etc. that I've ever been to. I now have a greater appreciation for tasting different spirits and hopefully a better tongue for telling a well made one from a not. We will be back for sure. I almost forgot to mention... Get the Bodie 5 Dog Single Malt Whiskey. You won't be disappointed.

Stepped into a beautifully decorated tasting, rich with Northern California history, great selection of spirits and gifts for purchase. Cris, the owner was a pleasure to spend the afternoon with, very energetic, entertaining, knowledge and great host! So much fun, certainly worth the drive up the hill!

My fiancé's family bought Groupons for a tasting at Dry Diggins to celebrate a birthday. The distillery is oddly located within an office building and is rather out of place- but they did an excellent job with the interior. It's just a little hard to find. When we started our tour, the owner explained his idea for the distillery and all of the work he did on the inside. I found this information to be interesting, but it could have been condensed. We were then given a tour of the distilling/boiler room, where they distill and bottle all of their products. While we were forewarned of the heat and though the information was interesting, the time we spent in this room was far too long and extremely uncomfortable. It was so hot and stuffy that I was very close to passing out, and quickly lost attention. I think a quick pass through of this room would have been great, and the process could be explained in the other room. We couldn't wait to get out of that room and back to the air. After the tour, I did find it to be a bit off-putting when the owner suddenly announced he had to leave because he had plans to attend a concert. I'm all for small business owners being relatable and honest, but if he had plans I would've preferred to start the tour a bit earlier. His daughter took over when he left, and she was very knowledgable and friendly. She poured our six half-shots of their products, and was able to answer all of our questions and it was very interesting. It was not my favorite activity (as I do not like "straight" liquor), but the rest of my family enjoyed it. I would've enjoyed the opportunity to try (or even purchase) a cocktail, but that was not an option. We were able to keep our shot glasses and were also permitted to take home one piece of select merchandise per Groupon; we chose a bottle of BBQ sauce/marinade from another company, and I am excited to try it out next til I am visiting my in-laws.

"The artisanal craft distilling movement is exploding ..." ... I'm in! Looks can be deceiving. Certainly the case of the office/industrial park that's home to Dry Diggings Distillery. Stepping through the glass office door and down a short hallway. To the right, a step into the calming room, a look back in time, reclaimed wood clad walls (plaques noting from where the wood is from). An reclaimed wooden beam and original aged corrugated ceiling over the bar. It's an old bar from an old brothel. The stage here has been set for an experience in whiskey done Dry Diggings style. Is it vodka, gin, or whiskey? Yes. Is it fruit, wheat, or rye? Yes. If you thought that whisky wasn't for you, then you haven't experienced Dry Diggings and their other brand whiskeys (Engine 49) .. or is it vodka, ... or gin. Yes. Maybe even rum. The sense here is a love of their craft done in a way that's theirs, not belonging to anyone else and not "like" anyone else. Whiskey is tasted and taught here, whether you're a novice or a pro. It's a tasting room, not a bar. Discover what you like about distilled and what you don't. Choose pre-matched tastes of 6 or mix up the lot and let Chris walk his way helping define your palate and preference. I could easily have walked out with a mixed half dozen ... that would include Bodie 5 Dog, Rubicon Rye, and Botanica. I came home with a bottle of Bodie 5 Dog and a DDD Bodie 5 Dog shirt. Find all their product here as well as bitters, books, shirts, hats, and like. There is a cost for tasting and well worth it.

Fantastic experience! As their whiskeys age and time allows them to, they're on the path to offering some truly exceptional spirits. Even at their current age, their Ryes are great, and Bourbons enjoyable. I'd highly recommend visiting now, before they continue to grow. Go see them before they really take off, and say "I remember tasting in this cute little tasting room before they became HUGE! :)

Wow cool little place w some history. Not anywhere i would suspect it to be located (business park). But the inside is pretty cool. Great way to sample different whiskeys, gin etc. this is not a bar so go in thinking this. The staff was super friendly and has great knowledge. The gift shop is pretty nice too.

I made a tasting reservation for my dad for his birthday and we loved it! The vibes inside the tasting room are amazing and Erica made our experience so great between telling us about the history of her family's company and the history of the Dry Diggins area. What a cool time and I highly recommend for a dad birthday!