TOPO Distillery

Grrrross. Everything tastes like rubbing alcohol. Bought the whiskey bc it was decent after tasting all the garbage. Drinking that now and it’s complete garage.

What a great tour !! We had no idea that such a great distillery existed in our close proximity.
Note that this place is across the street from Al’s Burgers. FAR from the TOPO Restaurant. We started off with a draft beer and were treated to samples of EVERY type of liquor that TOPO produces. It is a top notch establishment and their liquor is delicious !!
We should all patronize TOPO and look for their liquor in your local ABC Store.

Went here for the UYE put together by Rose L. (Thanks, Rose!!) Our tour guide, Esteban, was very knowledgeable and clearly enthusiastic to share what he knows about the science and the art of distilling spirits. I was surprised that at the tasting, we got to sample the competition’s wares as well as TOPO’s. Yeah, they were THAT confident in what they make.
If you have visitors from out of town and are looking for something to do that is not ‘run of the mill,’ take them here! You won’t be disappointed. (…and be sure to follow it with a trip to the Top Of The Hill Restaurant, just a 10 minute walk away, like we did. Good times!)

What an experience… I went on a tour here for a UYE put on by Rose L. and it was a blast. I didn’t even know what to expect, just figured it would be cool to see a distillery. I mean I thought it would be fun and I’d learn some stuff, but Esteban (our TOPO tour guide) killed it! I really enjoyed myself and learned a lot about how Vodka, Gin, and Whiskey are made.
The TOPO facility is very clean and impressive, and Esteban is just a great friendly host. We all got to start the event off with a sampling of some Top of the Hill lager to enjoy while everyone arrived and it was excellent. For the first part of the tour Esteban gave a brief lecture about how spirits are distilled, the major differences between each type, and explained what TOPO is all about: distilling great tasting spirits made from locally sourced organic ingredients. I have a lot of respect for that, and from the sounds of it there are not a lot of other distillers that do this because of its challenges and impracticality for large scale production. All I got to say is the taste of all TOPOs products is proof they are on the right path.
I’m not a huge fan of Vodka and I just don’t like Gin, I’m a Whiskey/​Bourbon drinker through and through. Nonetheless I really enjoyed TOPO’s Vodka and even their Gin… to my surprise. Esteban explained that they spice their Gin with less juniper berries than most others out there do, so it doesn’t taste like your drinking a pine tree, I thought it was very well balanced and smooth. I found it and all their spirits to be nice, clean, and perfect to sip on because of the complex flavor profiles. In fact I’d have to say, hands down, all their spirits are among the cleanest tasting liquors I’ve ever had.
I was most interested in trying their Eight Oak Whiskey. I learned that all whiskey comes out clear when its freshly distilled, this is what is also referred to as White Lightning, hooch, etc. Whiskey and Bourbon as you and I know it are made brown and delicious from being aged in oak barrels. TOPO’s Eight Oak Whiskey is great and comparable to top shelf Whiskeys with much higher price tags. I’d have to say I’d rank it up with the best I’ve ever had. I found it to be smooth and rich with a dry, leathery, oakey flavor up front and a great spicy caramel finish… so good! Definitely one of my new favorites!
The Vodka is what really blew me away! Even though it has a vanilla flavor it just taste so much better than most other vodkas. Forget Tito’s and Grey Goose, this is the smoothest Vodka I’ve ever had! Especially the Vodka infused with Jalapeño and Serrano Peppers! I’ll have to try that infusion sometime cause it was nothing short of amazing.
I learned a lot about spirits and distilling in general here, plus I got to check out all their distilling equipment. TOPO is just the best! their equipment and facilities are top notch just like all their spirits! Not only did I have a a great time here, I was also introduced to several great liquors, of which TOPO’s Eight Oak Whiskey and their Vodka will now be in my regular rotation of drinks I keep on hand.

The beers are good and the balcony is great. Can’t say the same for the cocktails though. Tastes like a pre-​mix.

If you have not visited a distillery before, you should definitely check this one out! Not only that the tour was great, the liquors they produced were top notch as well.
I usually had such a hard time finding parking in downtown Chapel Hill, but there was ample parking space right outside the distillery. Once arrived, we were welcomed with a glass of TOPO beer while waiting the tour to start. The tour started with a brief history of how everything got started. After that, we moved into distillery, where the tour guide explained the process in details.
At the end of the tour, we had the opportunity to taste the gin, vodka, and moonshine whiskey. When tasting the liquors side by side with the other popular brands, you can definitely tell that TOPO has superior products. My favorite was the vodka infused with serrano peppers. It had a solid pepper flavor with a spicy kick. Overall, the tour was educational and fun! Thanks to Rose for setting up this amazing UYE.

Wow, where to start?! I planned a private tour with TOPO Distillery as part of a UYE I recently put on. Working with TOPO to organize a group of twenty-​five attendees could not have been easier and from the perspective of «event planner», this is a WONDERFUL option if you’re looking to organize a large group for an informative tour about Top of the Hill distillery, restaurant and even some tid-​bits about the brewery as well as a great spirits tasting. Our «spirit (s) guide» Esteban, was absolutely fantastic! Knowledgable, funny and insightful. He definitely delivered the most well-​rounded tour I’ve ever experienced.
The distillery itself is comprised of two rooms, one large room with high ceilings, lots of lighting and couches/​seats for the group to sit on. We spent about the first 20 – 30 minutes learning about the distillery, which, aside from the actual tasting, was definitely my favorite part. TOPO DOES actually distill all their own spirits in house using local, organic products. The second 30 – 40 minutes is spent in a side room that houses the distillery and bottling equipment. Here you learn about the actual distilling process, the science and logistics behind the spirits. The «strippers» (i.e. distillery machinery) are the largest I have ever seen, reaching all the way to the distilleries tall ceilings!
Finally, you end the tour by tasting ALL of TOPO’s spirits (and they have a lot!). Generous pours of their organic Vodka, Piedmont Gin, Eight Oak Whiskey and Moonshine Carolina Whiskey. In addition to tasting TOPO’s products, you also have the chance to taste some other basic vodka’s/whiskey’s to compare taste and smell. My favorite spirits were the gin and the eight oak whiskey (surprising, since I’m not a huge whiskey drinker!) Truly, the BEST distillery tour I’ve been on to-​date and one that I’d quickly recommend to friends. TOPO currently offers both Groupon and Living Social deals for their tours for $ 10/​person, and you really can’t beat that price for this 90 minute experience. And BEST of ALL, you can now BUY a [ONE/​person per year] bottle of liquor directly from the distillery (thanks to a new NC law passed as of October 1, 2015). You bet I now have a shiny bottle of TOPO Piedmont Gin in my liquor cabinet!

Sunday Funday at TOPO Distillery on my first ever Distillery tour, what a perfect way to spend the afternoon!
Started the tour out with a TOPO Lager while we waited for everyone to arrive. The tour was broken down into 3 parts — introduction, tour of the distillery and a tasting. Our tour guide, Esteban, was awesome and provided us with a fun, informational tour!
My favorite part was, of course, the tasting. We got to sample all of the TOPO organic spirits: Vodka (he even let us sample the Vodka infused with Serrano Peppers), Piedmont Gin, Carolina Moonshine Whiskey and Eight Oak Whiskey as well as a few other spirits to show you how much better their product is! My personal favorite was the Piedmont Gin and now that you can purchase one bottle per person per year I can’t wait to try a Fitzgerald per Esteban’s recommendation!
I highly recommend that you check this place out. Thanks Rose and TOPO Distillery, I had a blast!

I have now visited TOPO Distillery two times and I have to say this place is just awesome. This should be on your top 5 places to visit while in Chapel Hill. TOPO is one of five organic distilleries in the south. They are making some delicious gin, vodka, moonshine, and whiskey. This is a true distillery and once you walk in you will know what I’m talking about. No secrets here they will tell you anything you want to know.
As of Oct. 1^st you can now purchase a bottle of liquor from the actual distillery yay! The tour is awesome, walk in to a large open space and you will be greeted with a beer (from Top of the Hill yes they also brew their own beer). Sit down and listen to the entertaining men behind the biz (Scott and/​or Esteban). After learning more about the industry and TOPO you will get to walk into the actual distillery and see how these spirits are really made. It’s quite a site to see if you’ve never been to a distillery before. This is top of the line equipment and they are doing it right, even down to the bottling. What I love about TOPO is their passion for what they do, they not only put out a killer product but they also stand behind it 100%. When it comes to sustainability and the community TOPO shines.
Grab a group of friends, take your co-​workers, plan an event, or just stop by solo. You’ll have a great time learning and tasting some yummy organic spirits.

The TOPO Distillery tour really lifted my spirits on a dreary, wet afternoon. We were welcomed with a glass of TOPO lager, which we enjoyed while waiting for everyone to arrive. We all took a seat and were given the background of how the distillery came to be, and how they are differentiating themselves by being entirely organic. We then walked through the distillery and heard how each of the spirits are made (from scratch) and got to peek in a couple of the machines. Pretty cool — though don’t test me on what I learned — I’d fail! Finally, onto the tasting. We started by comparing Titos Vodka with TOPO’s version. One sniff and we could tell the difference (Titos smelled like rubbing alcohol — good for disinfecting wounds but not for sipping). We also tried their gin and whisky and as a special treat, we had their vodka flavored with Serrano chilies. I loved that one! Perfect for bloody marys & caesars. I’ll be flavoring the bottle I purchased to ensure a yummy brunch. Thank you SO much Rose L. for making this event happen and thank you TOPO Distillery for sharing your passion and delicious spirits with us. Cheers!!!

Great tour — full of knowledge and patient with the clueless.
Thanks to our state government you can now buy exactly 1 bottle per year (after showing your ID) from this distillery. They sell (almost) everything at the ABC stores as well, but super nice to be able to take home a bottle you just tasted.
I’m no vodka connoisseur, but this stuff tastes great!

Add this to your «To Do» list! We had such a great time at the TOPO Distillery Tour & Tasting. The TOPO tour guide was a good showman and I really appreciated their transparent marketing and commitment to being organic and locally sourced. The equipment was quite impressive and looks expensive. My favorite tasting was the TOPO Eight Oak Whiskey; it goes down smooth. Brian T. liked all of them but said he needed to try them all again *headshake*. The other tastings included: TOPO Vodka, Piedmont Gin, and Moonshine Carolina Whiskey. All of them offered a pleasant uniqueness outside of the mainstream widely distributed liquors.
Special thanks to Rose L. for setting up the UYE and TOPO Distillery for the tour and tasting!

I have been to this restaurant a few times, it is very nice to sit out on the patio and overlook Franklin Street below. Today I took my cousin from Australia and my 3 children for lunch ($ 90 for 3 kids meals with 3 sodas, 2 glasses of wine, 2 adult meals and appetizer including tip). All of the food was eaten and we were very happy with the portions and quality and taste. The service was great, everyone was polite and attentive. On the way out we all used the rest room and it was beyond disgusting. the smell, the run down condition and our feet STUCK to the floors. Our shoes were making noise all the way out of the restaurant. The guys said the men’s room was just as bad. I almost wish we didn’t go in there because it really took away from our overall experience. I would have quietly mentioned it to a staff member on the way out but the hostess was eating lunch at the bar and I didn’t want to interrupt her.
I like to take out of town guests to Chapel Hill and we usually eat at this restaurant, I will give it another chance so I hope that this bathroom condition is not the new norm. I have been more comfortable in big city public restrooms.

DISTILLERY!
TopO distillery is a distillery! You can tour it and try samples. It’s a lot of fun, and you learn a lot about the distilling process.
Unfortunately you cannot buy any product on the tour, because of state politics. That’s not their fault. State politics are important.
So go and tour!

Though I’d seen the TOPO vodka in the North Carolina section of the ABC store, I’d not really been tempted to give it a try. But after having a chance to listen to Mr. McMahan talk passionately about their products, and their process (everything that goes into their vodka is from inside North Carolina), I knew I wanted to give this vodka a try.
Vodka is my drink of choice for the family cocktail hour, and most of the other times as well, so I was looking forward to what this locally produced, organic version would taste like. I had tried the Texas product, Tito, and was underwhelmed — at least as a sipping vodka, no smooth, creamy finish at all — of course, it is pretty cheap, under $ 25.
My choices in vodka are the non-​Russian, European brands, and I prefer the vodka on the rocks with a small lemon twist, so the entire taste process, and especially the smoothness of the finish, are primary. TOPO Vodka ($ 28.95) is pretty darn good sipping vodka, better than many of the international brands that are heavily advertised, and definitely preferable to Tito. It has a better start than finish, a little on the raw side at the end. I’ll definitely keep a bottle or two on hand

We went there for a tour that we bought off Living Social. Esteban McMahan gave us a few free beers while we waited for the tour to start and then gave us a great tour of their facility. Esteban was very patient and explained the whole story of distilling, their process, and their business. He was very passionate about the product they made.
Word of warning, at the end of the tour, they let you sample some low quality spirits vs their vodka and gin. Don’t drink too much of the crap liquor. That stuff is one step above paint thinner.
We had a lot of fun on the tour and learned a lot about alcohol distillation. I’d definitely do it again with friends.

We also used a LS voucher, and loved this tour. Highly recommended, both for the sheer fun of the tour and the educational value. And the vodka is absolutely the BEST I’ve ever tasted. To mix this stuff with anything except ice and maybe a little vermouth is sacrilege. We now keep a bottle in our fridge at all times.
We’ll be back, bringing friends and house guests. Just a great surprise!

Usually I’m the one to spot Living Social deals and purchase them, but Husband spotted this one and bought it for us. HAH… whiskey and vodka, that’s my guy!
The Top of the Hill brewery folks have invested a lot of money to create top-​of-​the-​line organic spirits, and we can all see and sample what they’re doing by taking an inexpensive tour! Seriously, do you have anything better to do on a Sunday afternoon then spend an hour with a couple guys who have put their hearts and soul into this and want to share their enthusiasm by showing us the complicated process and letting us compare and sample? :)
They’ll start you off with one of their brews, if you’d like… plenty of hospitality here. The place is spotless (even the bathroom, ladies!) and you leave with not only a nifty TOPO glass, but pride knowing our state will soon become known for these high-​quality spirits. Sadly our state also keeps them from selling us anything on the spot, but you better bet we’re gonna keep our eyes open for some of their smooth TOPO vodka, and try to snag one of the nifty «Age Your Own Whiskey» kits!
TIP: You don’t have to have a Living Social deal to get in. Show up with ten bucks and you’ll be welcomed in. Location is on Graham right off of Franklin. Parking is no problem!