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visit Red River Gorge Distilled Spirits

Taste the Spirit of an Appalachian Tradition.

For generations, moonshiners hid their stills in these mountains, dodging revenue agents, and selling their "fire water" in gallon jugs to underground networks of friends and relatives. These Appalachian renegades were the descendants of Scots-Irish settlers whose whiskey-making skills were often the only thing between them and destitution.

Red River Gorge Distilled Spirits brings their historic recipe out in the open to pay homage to these rebels and keep their heritage alive.

Tastings, Moonshine Flights, and Bottle Sales available.
Open
Thursday & Sunday: 11am - 7pm
Friday & Saturday:  11am - 9pm

Closed
Monday - Wednesday
Drinks Menu

Kentucky Clear Moonshine

Our original “white lighting” is reminiscent of granddad’s creekside still. Distilled with 100% corn for a lightly sweet profile and a crisp, clean finish.

"The Red" Cinnamon Moonshine

Our signature cinnamon moonshine, “The Red” gets you going with a kick of spicy cinnamon then finishes warm and smooth. Chill it down or feel the heat straight up. 

Apple Pie Moonshine

This familiar blend of ripe apple and warm baking spices is perfect for porch-sipping on a summer evening. This is whiskey that’s American as apple pie. 

Proudly Serving Empress Chili

In 1922, brothers Tom and John Kiradjieff, Macedonian immigrants, began ladling their seasoned meat sauce to theatre patrons and performers out of a small shop next to the Empress Theatre in downtown Cincinnati. Both the Empress name and its legendary chili caught on. True to its roots, Empress Chili is still family owned and continues to serve its original recipe chili, complete with the finest quality beef, the same blend of secret spices, and absolutely no preservatives.
Chili Menu

Find Us in the Heart of the Red River Gorge

1255 Natural Bridge Road, Slade KY 40376
Open
Thursday & Sunday: 11am - 7pm
Friday & Saturday:  11am - 9pm

Closed
Monday - Wednesday

Distilled With a Renegade Spirit.

The legacy of Appalachian moonshining goes back hundreds of years to the Scots-Irish settlers who brought their whiskey-making heritage to these rugged hills. Generations of their descendants stayed alive by bootlegging, fostering a legacy of survival, ingenuity, and rebellion. 

Our distillery is a tribute to the artisans and rogues who kept this tradition alive, often under the cover of shadows and moonlight. Today, we carry that torch proudly, blending time-honored techniques with modern ingenuity.
 
I’m thrilled to invite you in to taste this legacy firsthand. Join us for tastings and flights, and take home a bottle to enjoy the authentic spirit of Appalachia. 

Cheers,

Caitlin Bell - General Manager
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