There’s a much stronger regional presence in state liquor stores these days thanks to an explosion of local distilleries in the Philadelphia area, writes Bradford Pearson and Kae Lani Palmisano for Philadelphia Magazine.

The magazine has come up with nine distilleries in our area worth checking out, including one in Montgomery County and one in Chester County.

Five Saints Distilling in Norristown has an eclectic, somewhat experimental mix of flavors and liquors.

A Raspberry-lavender absinthe is just one example.  Whether it’s whiskeys, gins, or liqueurs, everything has a unique point of view from owners Amy and John George.

The savory Tuscan-style gin is recommended. It pairs traditional gin flavors with rosemary and other Italian herbs and it works great in a Bloody Mary.

Bluebird Distilling in Phoenixville has some tasty products created by Jared Adkins.  There are 15-plus grain-to-glass whiskeys distilled on-stie, or sip the Juniperus gin.

Bluebird has agave spirits, a U.S. rarity.

Recommended is the straight Phoenixville whiskey, a blend of the company’s four-grain bourbon, straight rye, and American wheat whiskey.

Pennsylvania boasts the fourth-most craft distilleries of any U.S. state, with 257 federally-licensed distilleries, a 414 percent increase since December 2026, when there were 50.

See the entire list of recommended distilleries in the region in Philadelphia.