If you are planning on visiting the OBX area of North Carolina, you are probably looking forward to exploring Roanoke Island, downtown Manteo, and the beautiful sandy beaches. If you are of age, one location that you absolutely need to check out is Outer Banks Distilling.
This is the first legal distillery in the Outer Banks, and you will immediately fall in love with everything this rum Distillery has to offer. You can find this distillery in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, located at 510 Budleigh Street, Manteo, NC 27954.
Take a look at the top things to do when you visit this Distillery and learn more about the Distillery itself at outerbanksdistilling.com.
About the Distillery: From Molasses To Glasses
Outer Banks distilling is the very first legal distillery located in the area. The distillery has a reputation for making small batch rum straight from the graveyard of the Atlantic. The Outer Banks is known for its numerous shipwrecks, most of which took place during the colonial era.
The flagship rum is Kill Devil Rum, and you can visit the distillery if you want a tour or a sample. Of course, you can also purchase a bottle for yourself during your visit. You can also find it at ABC stores throughout North Carolina and Virginia. If you go to the ABC store in Corolla, you should be able to find the rum there as well.
Of course, the beauty of visiting The Distillery is learning about where everything comes from. What should you do during your visit?
Take a Tour of the Distillery
When you visit the distillery, you should certainly sign up to take a tour. Even though you may have tried plenty of liquor in the past, there is nothing quite like experiencing where it comes from! You can learn about how the professionals at the distillery incorporate local ingredients to bring out the best flavors and every batch. You can also take a look at the machinery and learn how rum is made from fresh ingredients. Throughout the tour, you might even be able to try a few samples to figure out how the taste evolves as it goes from step to step.
Taking a tour is also a great opportunity to learn about new liquors they might have in the works. If you want to be the first person to experience something new from this distillery, you can take a tour! Taking a tour is also a great opportunity to ask questions about how the rum is made, how small changes impact the taste, and what you need to do to truly experience every flavor that each batch has to offer.
Try a Few Samples in the Tasting Room
During the tour, you might even want to visit the tasting room. This is the best location to try the different types of rum the distillery has to offer. Of course, you need to make sure that you drink responsibly.
Some of the rums that you may want to try include:
The Flagship Rum Line
If you are trying Kill Devil Rum for the first time, you need to start with the flagship line, inspired by Kill Devil Hills. This includes gold, silver, and pecan rum. They are available throughout the year. A few quick points to keep in mind include:
- The silver rum is rum in the purest sense. It has a molasses face and has a few hints of vanilla, creme brulee, and marshmallow.
- The pecan rum is inspired by the mini pecan trees that grow around the distillery. This is a great opportunity for you to taste rum that has been made using local ingredients. Don’t overlook this pecan honey rum tasting opportunity!
- If you are looking for barrel-aged rum, you may want to try the gold rum. It is distilled in a bourbon barrel over the course of 18 months.
You might want to try a flight during your tour of the distillery.
The Shipwreck Series
If you are lucky, you may get an opportunity to try the Shipwreck Series during your tour. This is not a line that they offer constantly, but they produce more of it periodically. These are rum samples that are distilled in barrels and made from a wide variety of ingredients.
Each rum is made from a different type of molasses. They mix up the barrels and sugars to bring out different flavors in each batch. Every batch is named for a different shipwreck that can be found in the Outer Banks. Some of the examples include Mirlo, Harvest, and Metropolis. These are three ships that sank in the 1800s and early 1900s.
The Solspice Series
Twice per year, the distillery also produces its Solspice Series. As the name suggests, this is a series that is released during the summer solstice and winter solstice. These are unique rums that are made with a variety of spices and herbs that are perfect for the time of the year they are released.
Some of the ingredients used include lemon peel, Orange Blossom honey, cinnamon, and fig. If you are looking for the perfect liquor to serve at a party, this could be the way to go.
The Angels’ Share
This is rum that is produced to honor the people who work at life-saving stations along the Outer Banks. Every type of rum produced in this series goes through a long evaporative process.
All of the proceeds stemming from the sale of this specific batch of rum are donated to the local community to provide people with the support they need. You may want to consider giving this rum a try during your tour of the distillery.
Learn About Different Recipes
Even though these rums are certainly delicious when they are consumed straight, you may want to mix them in different cocktails as well. You may want to talk to some of the people at the distillery about different cocktail recipes that could work well. Some of the examples include:
- You can learn how to make a Kill Devil Mojito.
- You may want to explore mixing rum with coffee.
- You can learn about specific cocktails, such as the OBX Dreamsicle.
- You can also use the rum to make a basiltini.
If you are lucky, they might even decide to make a cocktail or two for you!
Consider Visiting Outer Banks Distilling During Your Tip To The Outer Banks
If you are looking for a craft distillery in the local area, Outer Banks Distilling is definitely the place to go. The owners of Outer Banks Distilling have produced some of the best rum in the local area, and you might be able to try a limited edition variety of rum during your visit.
Don’t hesitate to sign up for a tour and visit the tasting room, where you can try some of the best Outer Banks rum available! Of course, the Outer Banks is a very popular area during the summer, so remember to book your vacation rental ahead of time if you want to visit! This is a great opportunity that you cannot pass up!