From restaurant-floor barrel runs to carefully constructed blends, Open Road Distilling Co. approaches whiskey through the lens of hospitality, creativity, and hands-on craftsmanship.
Built inside a working dining and entertainment space in Reston Town Center, Open Road combines sourced whiskey, in-house blending, and a deeply service-driven philosophy into something uniquely their own.
Featured Story
Sweat, Spice, and Six Barrels: Building the Next Open Road Bourbon
A behind-the-scenes blending session with Michael McElroy and the Open Road team.
An inside look at how Open Road builds bourbon blends by hand — from six-barrel bench samples and slow proofing to the physical realities of moving, blending, and shaping whiskey inside a live restaurant operation.
Dark fruit became baking spice.
Bright berries became maple and brioche.
And every resting period changed the whiskey again.
More than anything, the day challenged the idea that sourcing and blending whiskey is somehow the “easy way.”
Reviews & Distillery Features
Open Road Distilling Co. – Reserve Series Rye (Batch 1) Review
Polished and approachable MGP rye layered with toffee, pear, black tea, and peppery spice. A balanced, modern rye that drinks comfortably neat while still carrying depth and structure.
Open Road Distilling Co. – Reserve Series Bourbon (Batch 2) Review
Classic bourbon flavors pushed slightly richer and darker, delivering cherry, caramel, brown sugar, and syrupy texture without losing balance or drinkability.
Open Road Distilling Co. – Bourbon Coupe #6 Review
Dense, dark, and unexpectedly expressive — a high-proof bourbon showcasing earthy oak, dark fruit, spice, and a profile that occasionally drifts into single-malt territory.
A Glance Beyond the Tasting Room of Open Road Distilling Co.
A behind-the-scenes visit following an Open Road giveaway win, including barrel-room conversations, private tastings, and an early look into the philosophy driving the distillery’s blending approach.
About Open Road Distilling Co.
Open Road Distilling Company is a distillery, restaurant, cocktail bar, and entertainment venue located in Reston Town Center, Virginia.
Led by head distiller and blender Michael McElroy, the program focuses on approachable house blends alongside more ambitious Reserve Series releases built for sipping neat. Their whiskey program combines sourced barrels, blending experimentation, slow proofing techniques, and a hospitality-first mindset shaped by years in the restaurant industry.
The result is whiskey designed not just to impress enthusiasts, but to genuinely be enjoyed.
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Disclosure: Some samples featured on this page were provided free of charge for review purposes. All opinions are my own.