Grand Canyon Brewing & Distillery
Overview of the Distillery
Grand Canyon Brewing & Distillery combines brewpub operations with active distillery activity in northern Arizona. The company operates several brewpub locations — including a production facility and brewpub in Williams — and offers both craft beer and a growing range of bottled spirits from grain-to-glass gin to rye whiskey and single malts.
History
Grand Canyon Brewing & Distillery has been visible in both beer and spirits competitions throughout the 2010s and 2020s. Already from 2011, beer awards began to appear, and from 2018 recognition for the distillery’s spirits grew. During 2020 and beyond, Star Shine Single Malt, bonded bourbons, and other spirits have won medals in national competitions. Alongside the focus on competitions, the company is a local actor with several brewpub locations in Williams, Flagstaff, Page, and Kingman, and the site also hosts local events such as the Labor Daze Festival in Williams.
Raw materials and production
The product text shows that the distillery works from grain-to-glass for certain spirits and uses specific grain blends in its whiskies. A concrete example is their Rye Whiskey (Old Bill), which is composed of 55% rye, 30% red wheat and 15% 2-Row malt. The gin production is described as built around ten organic botanicals, including a strong juniper base and spices such as coriander and cinnamon as well as citrus and lemongrass elements. These details point to production that encompasses both traditional malt- and grain-based distillates and botanically driven spirits.
Maturation and Cask Types
Snippets from product descriptions and competition briefs indicate that oak plays a role in maturation — Old Bill has a nose dominated by 'soft oak' and is described as oak-driven through the palate. There are no details about specific cask types, previous contents, or aging times in the available texts, but several of their whiskies and bourbons appear as barrel-aged products in competitions.
Whiskies
The range covers both brewed beers from several brewpubs and a broad spirits portfolio. Among the spirits there is an American gin produced with ten organic botanicals, a rye whiskey (Old Bill), single malts such as Star Shine and Bond Fire Smoked Single Malt, as well as several bourbon and whiskey releases based on blue corn and other grains. Additionally, vodka, rum, and RTD products are mentioned in the price lists. The products appear both as bottled releases and as sampling editions at events.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Cask and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OLD BILL Rye Whiskey | Rye Whiskey | 47.5 % | Oak | Rye whiskey composed of 55% rye, 30% red wheat and 15% 2-Row malt. 95 Proof / 47.5% ABV. Bottle size 750 ml. The text highlights a nose of soft oak followed by rye, vanilla and dark fruit.; Nose: Dominated by soft oak, moving toward the characteristic rye aroma; Taste: Rye character with notes of vanilla and dark fruit; hint of molasses; Finish: Persistent oak with rye, according to the product description | Ships in Arizona |
| Star Shine Single Malt | Single Malt | Single malt from Grand Canyon Distillery, repeatedly rewarded in competitions (including the U.S. Open Whiskey & Spirits Competition). | |||
| Bond Fire Smoked Single Malt | Smoked Single Malt | smoked | Smoked single malt (the name indicates a smoked character) that has won medals in the U.S. Open Whiskey & Spirits Competition. | ||
| AZ Blue Corn - Straight Bourbon | Straight Bourbon | Bourbon based on blue corn, over the years rewarded in the U.S. Open Whiskey & Spirits Competition and Heartland Whiskey Competition. | |||
| Blue Corn Bourbon | Bourbon | Bourbon made from blue corn, documented through competition medals in 2025 (Bronze). | |||
| Straight Bourbon | Straight Bourbon | The name appears on the distillery's spirits price list; exact variant and commercial details are not provided on the pages supplied. | |||
| Fire Line Whiskey | Whiskey | Whiskey release from the distillery, mentioned in competition results. | |||
| Thunder Snow: Cinnamon Fire | Whisky/Spirit Variant | Special variant (Cinnamon Fire) mentioned in the competition list of spirit prizes. |
The whiskies' styles and flavor profiles
From the product descriptions, several clear flavor directions emerge: the gin profile is juniper- and citrus-driven with notes of fresh pine and lemon, while Old Bill rye whiskey is highlighted for soft oak, a pronounced rye character, vanilla and dark fruit, and a molasses-like hint. In addition, spicy variants (e.g., cinnamon/Cinnamon Fire) and a smoked single malt appear in the lineup, so the overall directions span juniper/citrus, oak/vanilla/dark fruit, and spicy/toasted elements.
Visit the Distillery
The public can visit several brewpub locations: Williams (Production & Brewpub) at 301 North 7th St is open daily from 2 p.m. to close (closing times vary around 8–10 p.m.), Flagstaff Brewpub is open daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Page Brewpub 11 a.m.–10 p.m., and Kingman Brewpub 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Each location has its own phone numbers and email addresses for contact. The distillery also participates in local events with tastings and samplings, but there are no details about fixed guided tours or booking procedures on the pages shown.
The stated hours are Williams (Production Facility & Brewpub): Open daily, 2 p.m. - close (closing times vary 8–10 p.m.). Flagstaff Brewpub: Open daily, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Page Brewpub: Open daily, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Kingman Brewpub: Open daily, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Philosophy and Craft
The company highlights the grain-to-glass approach for certain spirits and uses organic botanicals in its gin, which shows a focus on raw material control and ingredient quality. At the same time, the price list documents a craft-oriented production across both brewing and distillation.
Awards and Recognitions
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Gold - Star Shine Single Malt (2024, Gold, Star Shine Single Malt)
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Gold - AZ Blue Corn - Straight Bourbon (2026, Gold, AZ Blue Corn - Straight Bourbon)
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Gold - Rum (2024, Gold, Rum)