Tarnished Truth Distilling Co.

My girl and I went on the distillery tour and it was amazing. Our tour guide was Tyler and he was very cool and knowledgeable. First time ever getting to see a distillery inside a historic hotel. My favorite was the premium pour of the Old Cavalier Single barrel bourbon, so good we bought a bottle to take home along with their number one seller the bourbon cream but the eggnog version. Definitely recommend this tour but beware parking is hard to find but they always have valet parking available.

We went on a Sunday afternoon and were the only two people for the 1 PM tour. My husband really liked the premium pour out of all the tastings (not pictured). My favorite was the bourbon cream. The tour was interesting.

Visited the distillery to do a Sunday tour and tasting - all around great experience. Our tour guide was incredibly informative and passionate about all things bourbon-making. The tasting was equally great, got to sample 4 different products. Recommend!

I really enjoyed the Tarnished Truth Distillery tour and tasting. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the bourbon-making process and each of the bourbons we sampled. It was a unique experience that I would highly recommend.

Entertaining and informative distillery tour! The guide was funny and had great pacing. Enjoyed the tasting portion too, where the guide had helpful answers to all the questions from the group. The distillery is inside a super swanky hotel so that's a cool experience in itself. Because the Hunt Room restaurant was closed, we got to peek inside and learn about the history there, too.

Had a great experience with our tour at Tarnished Truth! Our tour guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. I ended up taking home MOST of what I tried there. I am a history buff as well as a whiskey fan so this scratched both itches. I definitely want to go back to enjoy a meal at the Hunt Room someday. Worth the trip!

Wow! What an experience! We love their whiskey but to get to tour their distillery, taste some spirits and learn about their product was amazing. You would think their were a major manufacturer but a small team of 6 hand bottles and labels each and every bottle. Something this small means their put their heart and soul in each and every bottle. Five stars. Great experience.

It's absolutely amazing. The distillery is in the grand cavalier hotel, and it is gorgeous. The staff is amazing, and the bourbon tasting tour is great. We will definitely be going and purchasing their products again.

Such a fun and educational experience!! Our guide Claire was so great and knowledgeable! Definitely would do it again!!

We went here for a tour. The distillery is located inside of the hotel Cavalier. There were about 10 of us and it took about 45 minutes. This is definitely a small batch type of set up. They do everything except age the barrels in a small area. The tour is similar to other distillery type tours. We then went into a tasting room area which was very nice. We tried 4-5 samples of their various batches. They have a bourbon, a rye whiskey, and others. The bourbon and rye were both good. You can buy a bottle there or at the local ABC store in Va Beach. It was a good time overall

If you ever have the opportunity to take the Distillery Tour & Tasting at the Tarnished Truth Distillery, please do so. You will not be disappointed at all!!! The Distillery was located in the lower level of The Cavalier and opened promptly at 2pm on Sunday. I arrived at the Distillery around 1:30pm and was a little nervous when I saw the 'Closed' sign in front of the entrance but once I asked around, the staff told me that it should be open at 2pm and they were right. Once all parties were present, we were guided through the Distillery and learned an abundance of knowledge about bourbon, how it originated and the process of how the machines and barrels turn it into drinkable spirits. My favorite part was actually being able to taste the fermented grains in the Fermenter machine located in the Distillery; it wasn't as bad as I thought lol. Once the tour was over, we headed to the Tasting Room and sampled four of their bourbons. Each bourbon had a different flavor profile but my favorite was the Bourbon Cream Liqueur. The Tour & Tasting was about an hour long and at the end, we perused through the gift shop before heading out. You definitely don't have to be a bourbon fan to enjoy this experience. Our tour guide was absolutely amazing and shared with us that the Distillery was created by two Virginia Beach natives which I absolutely loved! If you are looking for something fun and unique to do in the area, definitely check out the Tarnished Truth!

Our group of eight had a reservation to visit. It was easy to make a reservation online. Our guide was great. She had a bubbly personality and was very interesting. It was great learning about the different products and the distilling process. The tasting room is really nice. It was quaint and made the tasting feel very special. Definitely recommend!

Booked the Distillery Tour & Tasting in advance for our stay at The Cavalier. Took us longer to get to Virginia Beach than we expected, so we arrived just as the tour was starting, but they were kind enough to make us feel welcome and that we hadn't missed anything. Tour is just the right length of time. No boring spots. Informative in an entertaining way, and what's not to love about the tasting? We got to try four of their bourbons plus a vodka and a gin. All very good. I surprised Husband with a purchase of the "premium" tasting which included a small pour of another bourbon plus a glass to take home. Since we can't purchase their fine products in NC, needless to say we spent quite a "few" bucks in their shop LOL. In addition to bottles, they have canned "mixed" drinks as well. They also sell hats, and shirts and even a smoker if you want to make your own smoked drinks, which we do. Bourbon lovers, highly recommend this, whether you're staying at the hotel or not.

Our host was amazing! This was my first time doing something like this and I will definitely be doing it again! Very educating, engaging, and fun experience! 10x10!!

Whisky? History? Whisky? What else do you need? This place was epic. I took a group of 13 out for a tour and tasting today. We got a lot of history, a lot of facts on distilling and a ton of fun (and a tiny buzz). I would recommend this place to any whisky aficionados or rookies like myself. It was a great time and Karrington was the best tour guide ever. Can't wait to enjoy my bourbon in my souvenir glass when I get back home to AZ!

The tour with Julia was absolutely fantastic. She was warm, friendly and very knowledgeable. In fact my favorite part was the pieces of history she sprinkled in about the hotel into the tour. Pls add more!

One of the smoothest and richest bourbon distillers. Their discretion bourbon is forward smooth. Their three year is rich, smooth and tawny.

This is my second time doing the bourbon tasting tour. It is always so much fun. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the process of the whole operation as well as the flavor profiles we should be experiencing with each sample. It's a cute little operation with a nice gift shop that includes clothes, knickers knacks, and different Tarnished Truth beverages. It's a fun hidden gem in VB and a must for bourbon lovers! Even if you care for bourbon, I was skeptical until I tried it, I encourage you to at least give it a try.

Informative and fun tasting experience. Great gift shop too. And the hotel (where the distillery is located) is gorgeous. I'd recommend getting a cocktail at their bar after the tasting and enjoying it on the hotel patio overlooking the garden.

Perfect start for a date night. I have a new found appreciation for bourbon and will be back to buy more bottles.

Went here while on vacation. Really nice distillery. The tour was wonderful and the tasting great! Took home a few bottles! Highly recommend.

Quite the treat. Walked away after a tour / tasting with a lot of booze. I really liked TT moonshine. Bought 2 other bourbons as well. If you're sitting on your ass wondering if you should take the tour and tastings, book now. Friendly service. Nice attention. Great tastings. Great store. The Cavalier is THE spot in VA. DO not miss. Take it from me. Promise you it is good. Expensive to buy, but well worth your $. Support VA Beach. Support VA. #winnerswin.

Great experience. Julianne led us through the tasting and a quick tour! Big fan of their single barrel bourbon and rye. The Gin was a real surprise, as I am not a Gin drinker. Take a tour and look for their products in town. The Single barrel offerings can only be bought at the distillery though

Tour and tasting was educational but very brief. Their product is ok at best... not my cup of tea. The distillery is in a VERY high end hotel. Nothing against anyone involved, I just didn't care for their bourbon. Vodka and gin was pretty good.

Be sure to check out this special spot located inside the gorgeous cavalier hotel. I made a reservation a week or so in advance to do a tour. Our tour had 8 people in it which allowed us to ask questions and move through the space easily. Our guide was super knowledgeable, friendly and excited to share the teams work with us! So unique to hear about the small team, the hand bottling, the opening inside the cavalier and their alcohol. Great gift shop to purchase alcohol right on the spot! Reasonably priced. Also, right next door The Hunt Room serves great cocktails featuring their products!

My wife surprised me with a tasting at Tarnished Truth Distillery. Do yourself a favor and, reserve a tasting, and take a friend; they'll thank you. A truly impressive operation they have here. 6 people make it all happen, and the results are great. The tasting included a moonshine, their borbon, 11 yr aged Cavalier, and a Bailey's-esqe cream liqueur. All are good. They also sell a vodka, and a gin. The vodka is good, but not as special as the gin, which is amazing. The Cavalier is so smooth also, well worth it.

Went on a tour guide at Tarnished Truth and I absolutely loved it. Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. This is a pretty small distillery so the tour wasn't super long, the history/location of Tarnished Truth is fascinating. If you are a history buff and like bourbon, check them out!

I was trying to figure out a fun thing to do for my boyfriend's birthday. He is a big fan of bourbon so I decided to look into a tour at Tarnished Truth. It's a distillery located at the historic Cavalier hotel at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Anyway, I am glad I booked our tour ($20 per person at the time of this review) early because the groups are kept to a maximum of 12 people - a friend of mine tried to book a couple of days later and they were sold out! Anyway, they advise you to arrive 5 minutes prior to your tour - of course we were 10 minutes late, but they were gracious and accommodated our tardiness. Masks are required during the tour. Including us, our group consisted of 10 people, and we were shown the ins and outs of distilling a variety of spirits. At the end of the tour, you get to sample the different products they offer. Of course, you may take your masks off, but we were able to distance from the other parties at a large table and felt very safe. My favorite was the 3 year high rye, very smooth! It was really neat (no pun intended!) to take time to taste and smell the different essences of each drink! You get a tasting glass as a parting gift. Would recommend this tour, and be sure to make a reservation at one of the restaurants after your tour!

The Tarnished Truth Distilling Co. is a growing local distillery. They produced 10k bottles in their 1st year and 55k in their 4th year this year (2021). I made reservations for my spouse and I for the tour ($21.47/adult) a couple weeks in advance as a surprise for his birthday, and we had a great time and tried some excellent spirits! -- The Distillery & Tour -- The distillery is located on the bottom floor of the Cavalier Hotel in what used to be the laundry facilities. It's a small location and a small team, and they clearly put a lot of passion and knowledge into their work. We enjoyed the 20 minute tour and getting to learn more about the process. I definitely learned a lot! There is then additional time spent in a guided tasting in their private tasting room. -- The Sips -- (Prices current as of Dec '21) * Bourbon Mash Moonshine (90 proof; made of 70% corn, 18% wheat, 12% barley): Unaged. This is their "before version" of their whiskey, which is still aging. This has a slight burn but not like cheaper spirits that burn with ethanol. ($25.99/375mL, which is $0.07/mL) * High Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey (86 proof; 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% barley): Aged 3 years. Great aromas developed during the aging process. This whiskey gives you the sweetness from the corn and the spices from the rye. It's not as sweet as most bourbons and not as spicy as most ryes but rather is in-between. Would be good in cocktails. ($39.99/375mL, which is $0.11/mL, or $59.99/750 mL, which is $0.08/mL) * Old Cavalier Reserve Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whisky (86 proof; 84% corn, 8% rye, 8% malted barley): Aged 11 years. Single barrel means they only open one barrel at a time, and this is their most premium product. The higher corn and lower rye content results in a lot of butterscotch flavor. It's smooth and well rounded. This is a limited product exclusive to their distillery (whereas their other products are distributed outside and throughout VA). My spouse's favorite. ($54.99/375mL, which is $0.15/mL, or $99.99/750mL, which is $0.13/mL) * Old Cavalier Bourbon Cream Liqueur (32 proof or 16% ABV; their High Rye spirit blended with cream and sugar): Made with their 3 year aged High Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Their "answer to Baileys" (which is 17% ABV), it's similar to Irish Cream but richer and bolder in taste with caramel and vanilla notes. Sometimes they are unable to keep it in stock (the pandemic has made it challenging to get things delivered). Definitely tasty. ($29.99/750 mL, which is $0.04/mL) * AVA Vodka (80 proof; 100% corn): Triple distilled. Has a pretty clean taste, but we found it to be not as smooth as other pricier options. Great quality for value. ($19.99/750mL, which is $0.03/mL) * Fourth Handle Coastal American Gin (90 proof; 100% corn vodka redistilled with botanicals and pink peppercorn): Very floral and smooth. I don't usually like gin, but I enjoyed this. ($34.99/750 mL, which is $0.05/mL) * Coastal Cocktails (7.5% ABV) Made using their spirits, these canned, carbonated cocktail options include Grapefruit, Orange Crush, Vodka Cranberry, and Whiskey Lemonade. The AVA Vodka is featured in the vodka cocktails, and the 3-Year High Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey is in the lemonade cocktail. I love that they're made with real juice! The ABV is low for a "cocktail," which can generally range from 7%-37%. Available at most grocery stores. ($12/355 mL, which is $0.03/mL) -- Takeaways -- Their spirits are smoother than many, especially those at comparable prices. Lots of pleasant aromas. We also learned a lot, like that the flavor and color comes from charred barrels, which are one time use. We would definitely recommend a tour and tasting! -- Pandemic Notes -- They have a sign posted that says 6 feet, but with 12 people attending the tour squeezed into the small space, there was no way to social distance. Masks were not required.

Great experience...interesting history combined with fascinating tour of the distillery and then topped off with a wonderful tasting. Also, our guide Cat was both informative and entertaining.

Great experience! Sweet and to the point tour...ending with a lovely tasting experience! Finish it all off in the hunt room! Overall fantastic time!

Freaking phenomenal!!! As a lover of all things tasting and tours, this is an absolute must!!!! I actually stopped in the on a Saturday looking to do an actual tasting and was greeted she assisted by the most fab gent James, hi friend!!! He was so passionate about describing everything!!! We were able to get a small rare before purchase and did not, I repeat did not leave empty handed at all!!! During the course of my visit, my new bourbon friend was kind enough to let me know there was a tasting and tour on Sunday at 2pm and if I wanted to I could join in on that tour. Since my dad was willing to be my tasting partner I signed us up!!!! Full circle to Sunday when we came back for the tour and tasting. Our tour guide was Anna and she was the best!!!! She gave us a history lesson and to my surprise this distillery is the only one in the US located in the bottom of a hotel!!! Talk about being an original!!! It was cool to learn about the owners who were able to dream big together and make this place a reality!!! Anna gave us so much information and took us from grain to glass as we got a first class education of how they make their bourbon whiskey, vodka and moonshine!!! They take the ultimate pride, as they should that each bottle is filled and labeled by hand in house!!!! As if the visuals of the distillery do not captivate you, the tasting at the end is a perfect ending!! You get to sample each of their spirits!!! I loved them all!!!! The Old Cavalier, straight bourbon aged a cool 9 years was fantastic and good fir a first time bourboner!!! The High Rye, aged 3 years packs a punch with a stronger bite on the finish. The Moonshine is not for the faint of heart because it will test your palette!!! The absolute best and my favorite was the Bourbon Cream!!!! Listen, you can drink it iced, add it to your coffee, pour it over ice cream or in some bread or banana pudding!!! This creamy dreamy lover has a plethora of potential!!!! After all this, you are walked back to the retail space through the Hunt Club, which is beautiful and given your free tasting glass as a thank you gift!!! Listen, for only $20 per person you should be here, go here or have gone here!! A tour, a tasting and several bottles to go home with later, you need to see how the truth can be tarnished!!!!

If you're a lover of bourbon or you just want to learn about it, I highly recommend checking out this distillery. It's located in the Cavalier Hotel. You'll have to valet your car as there is no self parking. The distillery offers tours for $20 every hour. The tours also include tastings at the end and a free souvenir cup. Star was our tour guide and she was great! She taught us all things bourbon and shared some history about the hotel as well. The tasting room is beautiful too! Be sure to check out the gift shop to purchase alcohol and other souvenirs.

Impressive tour in a compact facility. Got to see almost all of the steps in production and details from the start to labelling. The tasting room was beautiful and I appreciated the unrushed pace of the tasting.

One of the best times I've had going out for 4th of July! We decided to do the distillery tour and hang out afterwords. The tasting was such an awesome and unique experience. Even had to buy some goods after to take home. Highly recommend!

It's not every day you get to go through a distillery in a hotel and that's because tarnished truth distilling company is the only one in the US located inside of a hotel! It starts first with the staff in the greeting that you get when you walk as a novice or an experienced bourbon aficionado through the doors. They make you feel welcome They don't make you feel stupid They want to share the passion of their bourbon making process with you and you can't help but feel the joy of the experience I will leave it to others to rate the bourbon but clearly the owners and staff all share a vision of creating something special in Virginia Beach and I highly recommend the tasting tour as well as a stop at the gift shop

My boyfriend and I decided to go on a tour here. The tour was nice considering it's a small local distillery. Our tour guide was very friendly. I wish I could remember her name smh, but she was very knowledgeable about the distilling process, whiskey styles, and cavalier hotel history. Overall the tour took about 20 mins, finishing in their beautifully decorated tasting room. We tried their 4 current offerings (moonshine, high rye, deviation, and old cavalier) all decent, but my favorite was definitely the old cavalier ( think bailey's Irish creme style). Additionally, they also offered samples of their vodka and gin in the gift shop. Both are very smooth. After the tour, they also offer the chance to buy spirits. The prices actually weren't too bad, with a bottle of their signature high rye going for about $60, and their old cavalier $30. For anyone planning a trip to Virginia beach, I strongly suggest you put this spot on your list!

Great staff... I did not know this place existed till recently amazing whiskey. A definitely must try.

I booked the tour and I am so glad I did. I have only done wine tours or beer but never whiskey! This was not like any tour I have been on. It's local and it was cool to talk to someone who actually bottles up the whiskey! We tasted four of the whiskeys and one vodka and One rum. All of it was amazing. I will say don't skip out on making a reservation for dinner because I was starving after the tasting! I loved it and I can't wait to go back and buy more whiskey and merchandise.

The tour was highly informative and interesting. The tasting portion of the different products was the best part of the tour. The guide was very knowledgeable and personable. I would highly recommend the tour.

I was picking up a gift card for an event. This place looks like a hidden gem! The staff are very friendly. We talked about favorite foods for 15-20mins. The store looked so nice and put together. It smelled amazing! I had a casual tour of the distillery and it was really interesting setup. You would never think you were in a hotel. Sounds like a great combo though. Get a hotel room for the night and do a tour & tasting in the same building! You know it'll be a nice stay since it's in the Cavalier hotel. I'm coming back with friends!

Walked in a few minutes late (sorry, got lost!) Got our car valet at The Cavalier Hotel and headed downstairs towards the gift shop. The cashier greeted my husband and I, and guided us to the back of the gift shop into the distillery area. Lexi welcomed us, and gave us a lovely tour. She was very knowledgeable, answered all sorts of questions, and had a great personality. My husband and I really enjoyed our tour. I also booked online so I was not able to take advantage of the military discount, but I was refunded the difference at the gift shop.

Absolutely enjoyed this tour! Highly recommend! Small group, totally clean and socially distanced, Rachael was so well informed and anytime we can support local we are in! Come check out this gold mine in the Cavalier Hotel.

Rachel was a great hostess and guide! Very informative new her stuff. After finishing the tour she suggested trying one of the cocktails at the Cavalier Hotel which is upstairs from the distillery. To no fault of the distillery This was our only problem. For a 400.00 a night room you would expect the service to be impeccable not totally disorganized and almost to the point of being rude. The were very good once we finally got them.

Y'all I do not even like bourbon and this was absolutely amazing! I felt super safe the entire tour and during the tasting. The staff were knowledgeable and made it fun!

So we did the tour and tasting. The staff were all wonderful. The tour was informative and fun and the tasting was great. They have a little of something for everyone on the tasting menu. Don't think it's just whiskey. It's a fun way to spend an hour in a cozy environment.

We had a great time on the tour tonight. This was a surprise date from my BF. He booked this for me because i love good fashion. But he's also a Bourbon admire. First of you live in Hampton Roads and you love Bourbon this is a must tour. Tickets less then $24 per person. Rachel out tour guide, was wonderful, I've watched few making of bourbon shows but she in different level. You need to have a youtube channel. She was very informative and pleasure to listen and follow. The distillery is small, so it does nothing get boring. This also makes something different to do in the area that's very pleasant with loved ones. We tried four of their Bourbon (see pics ) and the cream one was favorite for me. Once you finish tour there is a small shop and next to is Hunt-room also good stop to get some of the cocktails!! Definitely worth visiting, then you get to checkout the beautiful Historic Cavalier Hotel.

We had a wonderful experience at Tarnished Truth and the tour/tasting was worth every penny of the $20 per person! We actually scored a deal from a local site before going and got two tickets for $30 instead of $40 which they gladly honored and made easy for us! When we arrived for our 4:00 tour, we met Lexi, our tour guide extraordinaire! She had so much positive energy and we could tell that she is passionate about this place! She was super knowledgeable about each of the processes and every piece of equipment there! We learned so much and really enjoyed the tour portion! The tasting was done in a beautiful private room and since it was just the two of us plus Lexi, it felt like we were on a specialty private tour of the distillery! The tasting was a lot of fun as Lexi walked us through how to first sniff and sniff correctly then taste multiple ways! I've obviously been tasting alcohol wrong my entire adult life so this was another thing I learned! We really enjoyed the tasting experience and the atmosphere of the private room which they actually rent out for private events! Side note, it boasts an autographed barrel from Va Beach local, Pharrell! Following the tour and tasting, we went back to the main area where the shop is and were able to purchase some of the items that we tasted as a keepsake of sorts! They also gave us two etched glasses and stickers as a part of the tour and tasting which was a nice added touch! They have many adorable keepsake items for sale such as hats and T-shirts plus little barrels that you can make your own bourbon in! Overall, we really had a great experience learning about Tarnished Truth and it's history! We had no idea that they are the ONLY distillery housed in a hotel in the country so they really are quite unique! The entire place is an experience itself and I highly recommend you do the $20 per person tour as you will learn so much about the company, the Cavalier and the distilling process!

Highly recommend if you are in the Virginia Beach area. Karrington was a great tour guide, she is awesome, she is so informative and fun. We had a great time!!

Amazing tour of this bourbon distillery in Virginia Beach. As bourbon is my drink of choice, it was a unique experience watching the process and sampling at the end. Tour guide was fabulous. I'll enjoy what I took home (again bourbon)!!

Great tour, great tour guide, great whiskey. Extra words to make this simple review over complicated

Anna was a great tour guide, very engaging and informative! I appreciated the intimate feel of the distillery and enjoyed the 3 year rye. The space simultaneously feels modern and like a throwback to the prohibition era. If you like Old Fashions, the smoked old fashion offered in the hotel bars is a must!

Rebecca gave the most informative distillery tour I've been on of about 4 or 5. The facility, and especially the tasting room are gorgeous, and they exist in The Cavalier, which is another level of excellence in ambiance and decor. Tour & Tasting pricier than others, but include a souvenir glencairn tasting glass and the tastings are done in a beautifully appointed tasting room. A nice hour spent. $100 Cavalier is the tastier to me, but out of my price range. The Tarnished Truth fit the wallet better and was still tasty. Can't over emphasize the quality from start to finish. Kudos and thanks to Rebecca.

I took my husband on a distillery tour there for his birthday. The drinks were delicious and our tour guide was very informative. The tour and tasting only lasted about 30 minutes, so it was definitely quicker than I thought it would be. However, we still had a great time! :)

Rachel was great in her knowledge of bourbon and the history of the company. Great tour, lovely tasting room and for a novice the bourbon offered during the tasting was very good. They had 6 different styles to taste which was sure to please even those like me that were there for the experience. Thank you for the wheelchair accommodations and wonderful evening kickoff.

My wife and I had decided to come here for a "date day" we have never really been educated or experienced bourbon. We really enjoyed the education and the sampling of their different bourbons. This is not an all day tour but rather one hour and great "add on" to a date and dinner type day. Great ambience as well.

Oh my what can I say! Very welcoming atmosphere a place to go and enjoy the view while you wait for your tour. Absolutely wonderful tour Lexi did a wonderful job as a tour guide she was so knowledgeable and fun. One of the best tours we have done on a very long time.