Tasting and Tour at Fifth State Distillery in Bridgeport, CT

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Tucked away in a nondescript location on a tiny side street next to a cemetery in North Bridgeport, there’s a local family-owned distillery making whiskey, vodka, and gin from Connecticut-grown corn and other local ingredients. 

You wouldn’t find it unless you were looking for it, but heading to Fifth State Distillery for a taste of their award-winning products is worth going out of your way for. 

I’d had this on my list of things I wanted to do in Bridgeport for quite awhile, and Rich and I were finally able to catch an open time on a recent Saturday afternoon. Keep reading for a bit about the distillery, along with our experience of the tasting and tour.

About Fifth State Distillery in Bridgeport

Started about ten years ago, Fifth State Distillery was the first licensed distillery to open in Fairfield County, Connecticut after Prohibition ended. It’s named for the fact that Connecticut was the fifth state to join the union. 

This is very much a family operation, which we felt from the moment we stepped inside. 

The co-founder and distiller, Rob Schulten, is a former chemical engineer who’s clearly passionate about both his craft and the Connecticut history surrounding it. We could tell he not only knows his stuff, but that he’s curious and a great storyteller—all marks of a great guide in my opinion. 

In other words, he’s super smart but not boring. I got the sense that he finds all the science of this process genuinely fun. 

Rob creates award-winning liquors, flavored vodkas (the ginger vodka made with real ginger was fantastic), and specialty spirits. He told us they’re especially proud of their gin, and they’ve won Connecticut Gin Distillery of the Year four years in a row at the New York International Spirits Competition.

He doesn’t do it alone—his wife Bridget is “the boss” as he told me (CEO and co-founder), and he works alongside his son, Sandy, who was there bartending during the tasting we attended. 

About the Fifth State Distillery Tasting and Tour

The one-hour experience kicks off with a warm welcome at the door and folks gathering around several tables.

As Rob chats casually, the conversation flows from history to their brand to where they get their ingredients. Meanwhile, they ease us into the tasting with cocktail samples like a simple spiked cider, a cranberry mule, a delicious chocolate old fashioned, and several more.

We continue tasting various samples as Rob gives more of the “official” overview before heading over to the distilling area where he shares about the actual distilling process of each liquor. The tastings continue as we listen—now getting to the liquors themselves rather than mixed drinks. 

One of the things I really enjoyed was learning about what is required to be able to label a liquor whiskey or gin.

Rob told us that to call something gin, the alcohol must have a predominant juniper flavor. As he talked about that, I was able to taste this in the gins we were sampling. I told Rich after the tour that I started to develop an appreciation and taste for gin in the process (the same thing happened to me on a whiskey tour I took in Salt Lake City this year, which I wrote about on my other travel site). 

In all, we got to try more than ten samples, and they offered more at the bar after the tour concluded—of course with the opportunity to purchase some bottles to take home. 

Naomi’s Top Picks:

1. Simple Cider (fresh apple cider + Cinnamon Zap Vodka): I loved this classic, simple pairing. This vodka is great for spiking cold or hot apple cider—perfect for the winter months.
2. Cranberry Mule (sparkling cranberry juice + Ginger Zap Vodka): It’s not a mule without a strong ginger kick, and this vodka packs it in because it’s infused with tons of real ginger. At home I’ll probably include some lime juice because I love the tart contrast it provides (this is one of the bottles we bought).
3. Chocolate Old Fashioned (Chocolate XS Liqueur + CT Maple Whiskey): I’m generally not a huge whiskey fan, but this cocktail was smooth and sweet. Definitely memorable (and we got some of the liqueur to take home!). 

Rich’s Top Picks:

1. Barrel Strength Whiskey: I’m always looking for a nice whiskey to pair with a cigar. I look for something with a lasting mouthfeel that allows me to savor every sip. This whiskey is perfect to savor on your patio with a smooth and sweet cigar.
2. Chocolate XS Liqueur: I’m in my sweet tooth era and this is perfect for an after meal drink. The chocolate flavor is rich but not overpowering. It goes down easily so be careful!

During the summer, the team is busy selling at farmers markets around Connecticut, so the tours are offered during the colder months*. Generally they are offered on Saturday afternoons, but check out their website for the latest as dates and times may change. They also offer privately booked group tours. 

*I’m working to confirm whether they have set months throughout the year or if they vary.

Overall, we not only learned a lot from the experience but also felt the heart, soul, and passion that Rob and his family share for the products they produce. This is definitely a fun addition to exploring the Bridgeport area that we would recommend. (Note: we were regular attendees and paid for our tour ourselves.)

Be sure to check out our full list of things to do in Bridgeport here.