Boston’s first craft distillery since Prohibition, Bully Boy Distillers makes the full range of artisan spirits—from crystal-clear Vodka, Estate Gin, and White Whiskey to can’t-miss bottled and canned cocktails. Award-winning dark rums, such as Boston Rum and The Rum Cooperative blends, nod to New England’s rich history of rum production and involvement in the molasses trade. Find Bully Boy’s modern speakeasy-style Tasting Room in Roxbury and pull up to the bar for seasonal craft cocktails. Distillery tours can also be scheduled in advance.

The “short path” in question refers to this spirit-maker’s technique of using a pot still, which shortens the distance between evaporation and condensing to concentrate flavors. But it could also refer to the short distance between Short Path Distillery and Everett breweries Night Shift and Bone Up, a three-stop itinerary which makes for a fun day for any craft food and drink fan. Short Path has a bar serving up snacks and seasonal cocktails made with an impressive range of spirits brewed in small batches. Try everything from various gins to Greek-style ouzo to a Scotch-like local peated whiskey.

GrandTen Distilling debuted nearly 10 years ago with Wire Works American Gin, a balanced botanical blend that’s versatile for any number of cocktail combinations. Since then, the craft-distilled repertoire has grown with numerous creative cordials and spirits, including Fire Puncher pepper vodka, South Boston Irish Whiskey, and the acclaimed Amandine barrel-aged almond liqueur, a bar cart essential for making a Mai Tai with all-local ingredients. Visit this South Boston distillery for tours, tastings, and a full-service bar that shakes up (and stirs) craft cocktails on-site and to-go. 

This beautiful venue on the harbor in Dorchester celebrates spirits and the city of Boston equally. Founded by Rhonda Kallman, a pioneering woman in the craft beverage industry (the cofounder of Boston Beer Company), Boston Harbor Distillery creates small-batch alcohol in honor of historic entrepreneurs, such as Putnam Rye Whiskey, named for the horseshoe-nail tycoon who originally built the waterfront factory. The tasting room gift shop also offers local food and drink, like rum- and whiskey-infused Goodnow Chocolate bars, and a line of 84-proof distilled Boston Beer.