George Washington's Distillery and Gristmill

George Washington, as you probably know, was the first President of the United States. But, did you know he also distilled whiskey and milled flour? Those were two of the important industries at Washington’s Mount Vernon plantation. Today, you can see these 18th century industries at work at George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill in the Mt. Vernon section of Fairfax County, Virginia.

The working mill and distillery complex is located on Dogue Creek, about 3 miles (5 km) from the Mount Vernon estate. The flour mill was built in 1771 to mill flour and cornmeal from wheat and corn grown at Mount Vernon. At the time, Washington was seeking to diversify and move away from tobacco as his chief cash crop. His flour became so popular that it was exported to the West Indies and the UK. A tour of the mill includes a demonstration of its machinery and milling operation, an example of 18th century automation. The whiskey distillery was added in 1797 and, at one time, was the largest distillery operation in the United States. The present distillery is a modern reconstruction, built from the original plans discovered in insurance company papers. A docent assured me that the reconstruction was so accurate that Washignton would recognize it. A tour of the distillery describes the 18th century method for making rye whiskey.

Visit the Distillery and Gristmill for some unusual insights into 18th century life!

Admission is $4.00. The flour and whiskey produced at the exhibits are for sale.