Awesome spot, good drinks, great parking, and knowledgeable people. Definitely worth a visit.
Todd Jewell
Awesome new drink, chili pepper water vodka and pineapple. My new go to.
A McCollum (aMcCollum153)
Great experience in a fun relaxing environment.
Rae Rae
Completely off the path but worth the drive to the distillary. Had a small tasting and ended up with the whisky in an Manhattan. A must go if you are a fan of whisky or gin. The drive through the mountains is beautiful!
Slex
Brewery with a bar hidden in an industrial lot, with a menu full of excellent cocktails. They also do tours.
Sam Keske
THE whiskey and gin distillery on Oahu, quietly settled among picturesque hills. You don't have to do the tour, but a flight might help: moonshine, whiskey, and two gins. Not a big fan of the whiskey (woodsy but young), but enjoyed the others. They also have local beer and snacks, plus plenty of gift sets/ideas. Veteran business of the year, with artwork from another popular local veteran.
Colleen Boyack
Very friendly people awesome experience totally recommended
DeAnna Tennant
I don’t even like whiskey! This place was great. The tour is confined to one room but it is a good one! Keeps you engaged and everyone is so welcoming.
Kevin
Great place to stop! The liquors are high quality and the environment is nice
Matthew Olmstead
Nice destination. Great drinks and great staff. If you can make your way here you should. Smooth drinks and great whiskey.
Mean! Enjoyed it here. Came for a birthday party and really liked the tasting room. The bartenders were friendly and there was live music. Would definitely come back
Patrick H.
Excellent service and high quality food offerings in the Waikaloa resort area. Don't miss the mochiko chicken or the grass fed burger with big island goat cheese. Great vibe and the ambiance is casual but well appointed. It's a bit pricey but it's also Hawaii so that kinda comes with the territory.
Jeff B.
(Drank 05/19/23 FR @ 12:00pm): Wow... a cool little distillery in the middle of nowhere!I took my friend on an exploration of Kailua into parts I haven't "discovered" yet, which ultimately brought us to Ko'olau Distillery. I scoped out this place and was finally happy to try it with someone who was interested as well. A slight detour from my brewery exploration, libations were still going to be had! Founded in 2018 by a disabled Marine, this was a story I wanted to learn more about and support. Would my usual beer and wine-forward tastebuds be cool with various distilled liquors!? PURCHASE4pc Flight Taster $15.00 yelp.com/user_local_phot…~Old Pali Road Whiskey 96 Proof 1/2floz: Honey, oaky, and smooth. yelp.com/user_local_phot…~Tradewind Gin 95 Proof 1/2floz: Citrusy, floral, and smooth. yelp.com/user_local_phot…~Barrel Aged Tradewind Gin 95 Proof ¼floz: Citrusy, spicy, and mouthfeel. yelp.com/user_local_phot…~Mahealani Moonshine 100 Proof ¼floz: Smoky, sweet, and trailing. yelp.com/user_local_phot…Pineapple Sippin Cream ($5.00): Pineapple, tropical, and creamy. yelp.com/user_local_phot…Old Fashioned ($15.00): Made with their Old Pali Road Whiskey, this was less smoky and more smooth than what I was used to. yelp.com/user_local_phot…Moonshine Refresher ($12.00): Made with their Mahealani Moonshine and POG juice, this was a really refreshing elixir! yelp.com/user_local_phot…Hawaiian Hoki ($10.00 HH): Made with their Old Pali Road Whiskey and ginger beer, this was a very light Moscow Mule. yelp.com/user_local_phot…Gin & Tonic ($10.00 HH): Made with their Tradewind Gin and tonic water, this was simply water to me. yelp.com/user_local_phot…Lin's Hawaiian Snacks Ube Chex Mix 4oz Bag ($7.00): There were few eating options other than the food truck, so we opted for this. Nearly every crunchy piece had some slightly sweet ube flavoring on it as we devoured the entire bag while we were there. yelp.com/user_local_phot…Round Sticker ($1.00): I loved stickers and enjoyed placing them at breweries and the like to spread the love. yelp.com/user_local_phot…SERVICEGreeted by a young friendly female who directed us to sit anywhere, we each eagerly ordered a taster flight which she brought to us minutes later as she explained each one. Throughout the afternoon, we continued to order more drinks and even spoke with the owner. Before we left, live music started. Everyone was helpful and kind - mahalo! PARKING (FREE)It appeared they shared a somewhat spacious outdoor area with a handful of businesses - 'nuff said!ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCELocated in an industrial area inside a sizable warehouse with one side for the tasting room yelp.com/user_local_phot… and the other side for to the distillery yelp.com/user_local_phot… and tours. There were plenty of places to sit in addition to nice visuals yelp.com/user_local_phot… hung on the walls. There was a decent amount of natural lighting at the entrance while various electric hung and ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were a couple TVs while I couldn't remember if there was any background music. yelp.com/user_local_phot…ATTIRETotally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops.OVERALLI had a wonderful afternoon at Ko'olau Distillery and would consider returning with people who haven't been here before. Unless they offered something different, I couldn't see returning by myself. Aside from the tasting sizes (I wished they were at least 1floz), I was pleased with everything else. This also appeared to be a family and pet-friendly place. I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $80.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS
Kerrin Mitchell Johnson
Ko'olau Distillery has become our go-to venue, known not only for its exceptional whiskey and libations but also for its fantastic events and unique experiences held right at the Distillery itself.We had the privilege of hosting our Welcome Gathering for our wedding at this remarkable venue, offering our guests an unforgettable, and delicious, experience. Ian, Eric, and the entire crew are not only masterful in their craft but also exceptionally generous and wonderful people. They collaborated with us to create personalized etched whiskey bottles and glasses, adding a special touch to our wedding. Jane, the Events Manager, handled all the details flawlessly, and her support was truly remarkable.We wholeheartedly recommend Ko'olau Distillery at the highest level, whether you're seeking top-notch libations or planning an exceptional event.
Awesome spot, good drinks, great parking, and knowledgeable people. Definitely worth a visit.
Awesome new drink, chili pepper water vodka and pineapple. My new go to.
Great experience in a fun relaxing environment.
Completely off the path but worth the drive to the distillary. Had a small tasting and ended up with the whisky in an Manhattan. A must go if you are a fan of whisky or gin. The drive through the mountains is beautiful!
Brewery with a bar hidden in an industrial lot, with a menu full of excellent cocktails. They also do tours.
THE whiskey and gin distillery on Oahu, quietly settled among picturesque hills. You don't have to do the tour, but a flight might help: moonshine, whiskey, and two gins. Not a big fan of the whiskey (woodsy but young), but enjoyed the others. They also have local beer and snacks, plus plenty of gift sets/ideas. Veteran business of the year, with artwork from another popular local veteran.
Very friendly people awesome experience totally recommended
I don’t even like whiskey! This place was great. The tour is confined to one room but it is a good one! Keeps you engaged and everyone is so welcoming.
Great place to stop! The liquors are high quality and the environment is nice
Nice destination. Great drinks and great staff. If you can make your way here you should. Smooth drinks and great whiskey.
Restaurantji Recommends
Mean! Enjoyed it here. Came for a birthday party and really liked the tasting room. The bartenders were friendly and there was live music. Would definitely come back
Excellent service and high quality food offerings in the Waikaloa resort area. Don't miss the mochiko chicken or the grass fed burger with big island goat cheese. Great vibe and the ambiance is casual but well appointed. It's a bit pricey but it's also Hawaii so that kinda comes with the territory.
(Drank 05/19/23 FR @ 12:00pm): Wow... a cool little distillery in the middle of nowhere!I took my friend on an exploration of Kailua into parts I haven't "discovered" yet, which ultimately brought us to Ko'olau Distillery. I scoped out this place and was finally happy to try it with someone who was interested as well. A slight detour from my brewery exploration, libations were still going to be had! Founded in 2018 by a disabled Marine, this was a story I wanted to learn more about and support. Would my usual beer and wine-forward tastebuds be cool with various distilled liquors!? PURCHASE4pc Flight Taster $15.00 yelp.com/user_local_phot…~Old Pali Road Whiskey 96 Proof 1/2floz: Honey, oaky, and smooth. yelp.com/user_local_phot…~Tradewind Gin 95 Proof 1/2floz: Citrusy, floral, and smooth. yelp.com/user_local_phot…~Barrel Aged Tradewind Gin 95 Proof ¼floz: Citrusy, spicy, and mouthfeel. yelp.com/user_local_phot…~Mahealani Moonshine 100 Proof ¼floz: Smoky, sweet, and trailing. yelp.com/user_local_phot…Pineapple Sippin Cream ($5.00): Pineapple, tropical, and creamy. yelp.com/user_local_phot…Old Fashioned ($15.00): Made with their Old Pali Road Whiskey, this was less smoky and more smooth than what I was used to. yelp.com/user_local_phot…Moonshine Refresher ($12.00): Made with their Mahealani Moonshine and POG juice, this was a really refreshing elixir! yelp.com/user_local_phot…Hawaiian Hoki ($10.00 HH): Made with their Old Pali Road Whiskey and ginger beer, this was a very light Moscow Mule. yelp.com/user_local_phot…Gin & Tonic ($10.00 HH): Made with their Tradewind Gin and tonic water, this was simply water to me. yelp.com/user_local_phot…Lin's Hawaiian Snacks Ube Chex Mix 4oz Bag ($7.00): There were few eating options other than the food truck, so we opted for this. Nearly every crunchy piece had some slightly sweet ube flavoring on it as we devoured the entire bag while we were there. yelp.com/user_local_phot…Round Sticker ($1.00): I loved stickers and enjoyed placing them at breweries and the like to spread the love. yelp.com/user_local_phot…SERVICEGreeted by a young friendly female who directed us to sit anywhere, we each eagerly ordered a taster flight which she brought to us minutes later as she explained each one. Throughout the afternoon, we continued to order more drinks and even spoke with the owner. Before we left, live music started. Everyone was helpful and kind - mahalo! PARKING (FREE)It appeared they shared a somewhat spacious outdoor area with a handful of businesses - 'nuff said!ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCELocated in an industrial area inside a sizable warehouse with one side for the tasting room yelp.com/user_local_phot… and the other side for to the distillery yelp.com/user_local_phot… and tours. There were plenty of places to sit in addition to nice visuals yelp.com/user_local_phot… hung on the walls. There was a decent amount of natural lighting at the entrance while various electric hung and ceiling lights filled in the rest. There were a couple TVs while I couldn't remember if there was any background music. yelp.com/user_local_phot…ATTIRETotally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops.OVERALLI had a wonderful afternoon at Ko'olau Distillery and would consider returning with people who haven't been here before. Unless they offered something different, I couldn't see returning by myself. Aside from the tasting sizes (I wished they were at least 1floz), I was pleased with everything else. This also appeared to be a family and pet-friendly place. I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $80.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS
Ko'olau Distillery has become our go-to venue, known not only for its exceptional whiskey and libations but also for its fantastic events and unique experiences held right at the Distillery itself.We had the privilege of hosting our Welcome Gathering for our wedding at this remarkable venue, offering our guests an unforgettable, and delicious, experience. Ian, Eric, and the entire crew are not only masterful in their craft but also exceptionally generous and wonderful people. They collaborated with us to create personalized etched whiskey bottles and glasses, adding a special touch to our wedding. Jane, the Events Manager, handled all the details flawlessly, and her support was truly remarkable.We wholeheartedly recommend Ko'olau Distillery at the highest level, whether you're seeking top-notch libations or planning an exceptional event.
Smoothest whiskey you'll ever taste.