George Washington distilled corn and rye whiskey and operated a water mill near Mount Vernon, where he ground corn flour and flour. A reconstruction of George Washington’s Whiskey Distillery and Grind is open to the public and features guided tours led by historical interpreters that explain how the factory and distillery work and the role they played in Washington’s farming operation.
George Washington’s Whiskey Distillery and Gristmill is located three miles from Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens and requires separate admission.
Whiskey Distillery
George Washington was the only founding father to commercially operate a whiskey distillery, and its size and volume of production rank the building among the most important historic structures of its kind. The distillery was a very successful economic component of Mount Vernon. At its peak of production in 1799, five stills and a boiler produced 11,000 gallons of whiskey valued at $ 7,500.
Disguised distillers operate five massive copper stills, shake vats of mash, and run the kettle as they demonstrate 18th-century distillation. The two-story building also has a storage warehouse with barrels, an office, and two rooms where the site manager and assistant would have lived. On the second floor, a History Channel video called “George Washington’s Liquid Gold” and a museum exhibit, “Spirits of Independence: George Washington and the Beginnings of the American Whiskey Industry,” tell the story of whiskey at Mount Vernon and his history in America.
Grinding mill
At Gristmill, costumed millers operate four floors of machinery to show how Washington’s complex agricultural operation expanded to include a commercial grinding mill that produced flour that was exported around the world.
Location
The Gristmill is located three miles from the farm’s front gate on Route 235 South. Public transportation is available between the Estate and the Gristmill. Fairfax Connector Bus # 152 stops in front of the Mount Vernon Inn at 42 hours every hour. Fairfax Connector Bus # 151 returns to the state every hour between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Hours
10 am to 5 pm – April 1 to October 31
Admission
Tickets to the Gristmill are available at Mount Vernon’s Main Gate or the Gristmill Shop and can be combined with farm admission for an additional $ 2 for adults and $ 1.50 for children ages 6-11. Admission to the Gristmill is only $ 4 for adults and $ 2 for children.
