J. Carver Distillery

Waconia’s Hidden Gem: A Spirited Surprise at the Distillery I’ve always appreciated the charm of Waconia—its friendly small-town vibe, scenic views, and the occasional hidden gem waiting to be discovered. On a recent visit for a friend’s birthday, I stumbled upon a place that completely exceeded expectations: a locally owned distillery that blended education, elegance, and exceptional cocktails into one unforgettable experience. We arrived a bit early for our reservation, and the summer heat had us considering staying in the car with the AC running. But Gina, one of the staff members (and easily one of the most passionate and knowledgeable people I’ve met), insisted we come inside to cool off. That warm hospitality set the tone for the rest of the evening. The distillery itself is stunning—classy without being pretentious, and welcoming without losing that polished feel. They pride themselves on sourcing local ingredients, using the highest standards in their distilling process, and crafting spirits that tell a story. And let me tell you, Gina told those stories beautifully. She took us on an impromptu tour, breaking down the complex distillation process with clarity and enthusiasm. I walked away with a whole new appreciation for the craft and care that goes into each bottle. As for the drinks? Absolutely divine. I opted for the Dreamy Chocolate Espresso cocktail, which struck a perfect balance—not overly sweet like so many dessert cocktails can be, but just rich and smooth enough to keep you sipping slowly. My friends raved about their choices too—the Trifecta Old Fashioned, Brickyard Old Fashioned, and the 7-Year Runestone Old Fashioned all got high praise. Clearly, the bartenders know what they’re doing. Beyond the cocktails, it was the entire experience that stood out—learning the history behind the spirits, the art of distilling, and the passion that fuels this place. It wasn’t just another night out; it was a celebration of craftsmanship, community, and connection. If you ever find yourself in Waconia, don’t just stroll past this distillery—step inside, take the tour, try the drinks, and soak in the stories. You might just leave with a new favorite cocktail and a deeper appreciation for the spirit of the town.

Our tour at J. Carver was very educational. The staff was friendly, helpful, and fun. The drinks were amazing along with the sampling. Excited to have some of their bottles in our cabinet for home enjoyment and sharing with friends. Thanks to all for your smiles and hard work.

This distillery is awesome! My brother and I stopped in for the tour. Since we arrived early, we sat in the cocktail room to enjoy a drink and a cheese and meat tray. The drinks are exceptionally tasty. The food tray was plentiful and complimented our drinks well. The service was beyond fantastic. We felt like we were being fawned over. Our tour was given by the owner. We learned a lot about the business of distilling spirits. I highly recommend checking this place out. We found out that they do make cask strength spirits for off-site sales.

We celebrated my husband 40th at J. Carver and it was a night we will never forget! Gina was amazing to work with, the cocktails were sooooo good! She did a wonderful tour and did tastings in a barrel room. She helped make it extra special with a beautiful set up and personalized cocktail names. It was so much fun! Highly recommend for any special occasion!! Thank you Gina!

Had a wonderful and fun tour with Gina. The spirits were strong and the cocktails were amazing!

What a gem! This distillery has a fantastic tour, Charlie managed to make us laugh the entire time with his jokes and stories. The drinks we had were delicious - I was a big fan of the Summertime Sevilla Old Fashioned and the Bees Knees. Everyone who works here was so friendly and informative and we will definitely be back!

Gena was so wonderful to our group! She told us all about her business. She spoiled my husband with samples of her favorite old fashion. Great service and an amazing product!

Great spirits, atmosphere and staff. Attended a Distillery Tour here and enjoyed a tasting afterwords. The guid and whole team were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Would recommend the tour and tasting to others!

Fun distillery with a nice seating space. Saw a group getting ready for a tour and kind of wish my grouo had signed up, it looked like a lot of fun. Next time! We had a couple different beverages. Our server was friendly and helpful figuring out what we all would like. It didn't look like food was available, but could possibly bring in or order from other locations.

I had an INCREDIBLE experience at J.Carver's! I was driving by on my way to an event, and this place had been on my list for a while. I didn't have enough time for a cocktail, but I could make time to pick up a bottle or two. When I walked in, I realized I was there about ten minutes before they actually open. I could totally understand if they would have asked me to wait! But, they let me still shop. A woman, who I assume was the owner, steered me toward the 7-year aged whiskey (only a few bottles left, so I'm glad she told me) and told me all about the change in the laws that let them sell bigger bottles. It's clear she's an AWESOME advocate for better liquor laws in Minnesota (we're so behind the times!). The place itself is so cute. I think it's built into an old mechanic shop. Parking is plentiful, and the tasting room is spacious and seems like it would be an awesome place to get a drink alone at the bar or with friends. Making time for a cocktail here is now on my bucket list. It looks like they host awesome tables for birthdays and celebrations, too, and the whole team was exceedingly friendly. Keep it up, J.Carver!

Been here quite a few times, whether driving Mnbeerbus groups or just coming here for cocktails- always top notch! Tonight we went for the unveiling of their first 7 year old bourbon release. Bill, one of the owners gave the very informative and passioned tour, along with tasty sam-les of about six of their bourbons.

Came here through a Groupon deal for a tour and tasting. There were four in our group. Brian was a great guide and educational as well as easy to talk to and ask questions. I didn't care for the tasting flight I had. I'm not a big burbon, whiskey and straight vodka person so it was not very goodb however, the cocktail I had was delicious and easy to drink. No food available just meat and cheese tray. The tap room was busy and we had about 10 people on our tour group. Waconia is a little far for us and so we will stop by when we are in the area.

My GF and I got a wild hair and decided to drive out to Waconia to checkout a MN distillery. It's located in the auto service bay of an car dealership. We sampled 7 spirits that they distilled. We both liked their straight rye whiskey the best followed by the barrel gin. We also had a charcuterie board while sampling. If you're out in Waconia stop in to wet your whistle. You won't be disappointed. Cheers

We came here for a tour and tasting on a Saturday afternoon. The tour was so informative and everyone here was so lovely. The employees came over to speak with us several times and even offered up some additional things to try. J. Carver makes more than 20 varieties of liquor in-house, plus they make a lot of their own mixers for cocktails. They have a strong commitment to Minnesota products and supporting Minnesota enconomy by purchasing their grains, yeast, and barrels from various Minnesota businesses. They produce high-quality products and are really making a commitment to sustainability within the state. For their products, everything we had was really smooth and several items were pretty unique. I'm not really a whiskey person, but I do love a good gin. They make 3 different gins. I particularly loved their barrel gin - it is one of the most interesting ones I've ever had. The caramel/oaky taste mixes well with the botanicals. Their Grimm Farm Gin is also great. It has strong botanicals and is really great for people who love that strong taste. Two things I tried there surprised me by how good they were. I'm not really into vodka, but the J. Carver vodka knocked my socks off. It was so buttery and smooth, I was just delighted. I also really like their straight wheat whiskey. It was not too sweet and not quite as strong of a whiskey taste as their bourbon or rye. My partner is a huge rye whiskey fan and really liked theirs. I thought it was decent and I typically don't care for rye whiskey at all. We also had a few cocktails there too. I had a Barrel Gin Bees Knees and it was pretty good (the recipe is on their website). My partner had a Sazerac and liked it ok (he thought it probably needed more absinthe or fennel). The cocktails are a little on the sweeter side, but I didn't mind it. It was nice to have one to drink on our tour. Overall, they have a really nice setup and have some terrific products. The tour was definitely worth the price. If you like supporting Minnesota products and businesses and like a good cocktail, I strongly recommend this place. It's a great addition to the area!

Cute, clean and modern distillery located in Waconia. My husband and I came here for the first time this past weekend. We got there around 7:30 on a Friday night and were seated with a table right away. They do distillery tours, but we just came to check out the cocktails. I ordered the Minnesota Mule, which was a similar version of a Moscow Mule (without the copper mug). The drink was light and refreshing. My husband ordered the Lakehouse Lemonade, which he also enjoyed. I ordered a Cosmo for my next drink, but I wish I would have stuck with the MN Mule. The Cosmo was so pretty to look at, but just a little too sweet for my taste. Although, I think all cosmos are pretty sweet anywhere you go. This distillery is definitely worth the drive if you live near or far away. My only suggestion would be to keep their doors open a little later on the two days they are open. Interesting fact: the building used to be a car dealership, so they stil have the garage doors and a couple signs left inside -- pretty cool!

this review is not based on the product produced, but rather the experience gained from visiting this distillery. Staff here is very friendly. They want to help you, inform you, and make your stay enjoyable. The tour of operations is fun, educational, and great for groups. The stills and barrel room are impressive. Playing it's part of the agricultural tourism boom in this area....this place is a gem. The tour ends with tastings where the staff is eager to talk you through all the spirits and suggest different drinks. The drinks here are classy and well crafted. - worth the trip to visit, don't miss if you are in the area....look for Groupon deals

This place is great! We came here with some friends and did the tour/sample flights. The staff was very friendly. The owner was the one who actually did the tour, he was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot about the distilling process. They buy their ingredients locally to help support the local economy which is wonderful. Although I haven't tried all their types of liquor, I'd say the barrel age gin is my favorite. I'll definitely be back!

We love this place and it's one of our faves in the far West burbs. We went there most recently with a group of friends to celebrate my husband's and my joint birthdays -- after hanging out at the llama farm 5 mins away. TIP: We had about a dozen people in our group so definitely recommend calling ahead at least a few days earlier to let them know when you're planning to arrive so they can best advise and manage the logistics. When we got to J Carver, there were a couple of other big groups so they put us in the conference room space which at first was pretty hilarious as we started holding mock board meetings and pointing at the flip chart. But honestly, it was PERFECT for us! We could close the doors, listen to our choice of music in the room, and play Cards Against Humanity (borrowed from their community game table) without, ahem, disturbing the other patrons. The manager and servers took excellent care of us. We could want for nothing. They made sure we were enjoying ourselves and always had one of their delightful cocktails in hand, something to nibble on, and water refills. All in a way that was minimally intrusive to our revelry. Brilliant. Go for their exceptionally handcrafted cocktails. Go for their friendly service. Or just go buy a few bottles to take home. Recommend: their premium vodka, Cruella amaro, Brickyard straight bourbon whiskey.

A bit off the path on the far side of town so I could've missed it if I hadn't known it was there! We had a nice afternoon here playing trivia and other games while trying a few house inspired cocktails. There's still more to try and I look forward to returning. I do look forward to summer when the patio will be open. There's some event space here as well - the staff was definitely personable so I would consider it if I had the appropriate need.

This was our first time at J. Carver and we stopped in with a group of 6 people. For a Saturday, at 3:30pm there was only room for a 2 top, but were moved to a 6 top after a half hour. We took the tour and learned a lot. The tour is an hour long so make sure to bring a full cocktail with you. Service was slow for our group because we came in with the goal of getting 2-3 cocktails/person and it seemed to be a better fit for a 1 cocktail pace place. We also shared two meat and cheese plates which were delicious and helped edge the hunger cues after 3 hours of cocktail drinking. We had a blast, but service was a bit rough

Such an awesome place! I was thoroughly impressed with the fact that the owner gave the tour of the distillery. Phenomenal liquor. I highly suggest the J. Carver Vodka and J. Carver Gin, as they are hands down the best and highest quality tasting, and I don't even like Gin!! Very impressed.

Fun afternoon touring the distillery and enjoying one of their many specialty cocktails. Friendly service and good quality drinks.

Toured yesterday. Very impressed with their commitment to local businesses, local products, and minimizing ecological footprint. Their cocktail lounge is definitely with a visit.

What a fun place! We made a tour reservation for a Saturday afternoon. We have toured distilleries before, but this seemed like the best option for tastings. The tour was surprisingly a great time. You can opt to take a cocktail with you in the tour, and the guide did an excellent job keeping us entertained! While not every spirit we tasted was our cup of tea, they were all well done. We were even given a couple of extra things to try, and the staff was extremely friendly and passionate about their spirits. The cocktails were well done as well, and really showed off the quality or their product. Definitely a olace worth checking out, and revisiting again and again!

Went to J. Carver for the first time. We got there within an hour of closing, and wish we had gotten there sooner. They do tours of the distillery but end a couple hours before closing. So when we gotbthere, it was just cocktails. I got the Lakehouse Lemonade. It had great flavor and a little kick. I also got to try the J. Carver vodka with which I was very impressed! It was so smooth. The best vodka I have had. The service was perfect, just enough checking in on us without getting buggy. The interior was also clean and spacious. When I am visiting Minnesota, I would love to go here again. I would highly recommend J. Carver to anyone in the area.

We received amazing service, a lovely tour of the distillery, and tried some great spirits. I would absolutely recommend!

Very nice building and bar area. Plenty of choices and specialty drinks to try. Servers where very nice and came by often. We were in a hurry when we stoped so didnt get the pleasure of taking a tour but definitely will try next time im in the area. Picked up a bottle and tshirt before we left and prices are reasonable. Owners where very nice and talked to us as well which was pleasant

Highly recommend the tour of J. Carver Distillery. Lots of wonderful local history, great people/service, and they purchase their grains/barrels/etc. locally. In addition, they have tons of different types of spirits that they produce, so there's something for everyone! The mixed drinks that they make are really tasty, especially the Chocolate Espresso cocktail, and I don't even like espresso!

Love this place so much!! The cocktail classes are delicious and I love that I get to learn exactly how to make their cocktails to drink at home. The staff is always so friendly and welcoming. It's one of my favorite places to visit!

Just had a fabulous night at J.Carvers trying their newest spirit Acqavit. Have been drinking this Scandinavian liquor at NORSKI TORSKI meetings for years. This was so delicious I bought a bottle to take home and stick in my freezer so I will always be ready for my Swedish and Norwegian friends. This should be good for a couple of Xmas presents next year too. SKOL!!!

Our bartender was Stefan when we came and he was great! He had great recommendations for drinks and did a couple bartender choices which we really enjoyed. The drinks were great and we will definitely be back. The Old Fashioned is a must try if you go!

Went to Schram Winery In Waconia today. Awesome place! Decided to go to J Carver next and what a fiasco. The place is an old car dealership and they didn't do much to the interior in changing it into a distillery. Very sterile environment even left the late night key drop in. Went in and some matronly manager said they were full. Asked about the 8 empty tables and she said they had a party later on. She thought we couldn't get a drink down in 45 minutes. Whatever . Avoid J Carvers and their unappealing room. Operated by a bunch of tools too. Go to Schrams winery if the weather is nice. Also go to Lola's or anyplace in Victoria. Just avoid J Carver's at all costs. You know what you'll be missing? Absolutely nothing

I was thoroughly surprised at how good the drinks were to a small town distillery. The bar tender (Stefan) gave us a sample of another drink and we appreciate that! Will be coming back again!

Great tour and liquor. Loved that the owner gave the tour. Lots of options for drinks for all tastes. Highly recommend!

This is an essential MN distillery! A huge breadth of products, including whiskey and rye, a botanical gin, two very different vodkas and more. Barrel Gin is a must! The tours are fun and very informative. Everyone here is a professional and takes their work seriously, crafting some of the best cocktails in West Metro.

Has the best staff that only want to create a positive experience for everyone and will go above and beyond for you!

Hands down the best service I have received ever. We were a group of 15 women, which some places might not be so keen on a large group, but they were FABULOUS. I had communicated via FB message that we were coming - so they had a table set up for us... many attentive servers ready to take care of us. They were all so friendly and helpful in describing the spirits. Gina is amazing - and sent the kindest message to us after we left thanking us for coming in a praising our group. Would go back again and again - had such a fantastic time. Oh and the spirits are REALLY GOOD and SO reasonable for the tasting of three, we were shocked at the price!!

The drinks were absolutely fantastic! 5 stars for the service and 5 stars for the drinks. The only reason why I'm giving it 4 stars is because of the atmosphere. The bar is beautiful & big. It was missing that cozy feel. A fun local band or music would be helpful, dimming the lights, creating more of a lounge feel, etc. I can see it being really fun in the summer playing yard games.