Copper Fiddle Distillery

My friend and I did the tour and Fred did a fantastic job! Really cool on how the place came about! This place is a hidden gem. It’s the only distillery in the area; it’s easy to get to from Cary. I am not the biggest fan of gin, but I tried their spicy gin and it was perfection. Also tried their regular gin and bourbon. I honestly enjoyed each of their warmth. They were all Smooth with a nice flavorful finish. The bartender Travis was seriously such a great guy and a genius with personalizing drinks! The atmosphere inside was comfortable. Definitely planning on coming back and leaving with a bottle next time! My friend and I need to try out the root beer candy infused moonshine we helped make :)

This is a very cool place. I love the bar atmosphere. I have never been a fan of gin so I can’t comment on that, but the bourbon is fantastic!

So, I’m not a big fan of liquor, especially brown liquor, but I am a fan of small craft breweries and distilleries and a good product. Copper Fiddle is that exactly: a small craft distillery making a good product. Yeah they don’t have many options, but what they do have they have perfected. With lots of experimenting and hard work. And the back story of how they’ve gotten to where they are now is great. I seriously think I told them they were «living the dream» like a hundred times while I was there.
As for the product, they make two gins and a bourbon whiskey. Like I said, I passed on the whiskey as I’m not a fan of the brown stuff but my man seemed to really like it and he’s somewhat of a whiskey snob so there’s that. I recently discovered that I’m kiiiiiiind of into gin so I was happy to see gin as their other option (s) and I was able to sample both the fiddle and the tom gin. Both are really good… the fiddle gin is a more flavorful and typical gin but with a nice flowery, fruity, and piney taste and the tom gin is the fiddle gin that has been barrel aged so it’s brown (makes me feel like more of a woman drinking some good ol brown liquor) and nice and smooth. We ended up having Moscow Mules with the whiskey and the tom gin and they were strong as hell but delicious. Next time I’d like to try a gin and juice or something citrusy with the fiddle gin because 1) I really hate this mule trend that’s happening and 2) that’s more my bag anyway.
The owners are awesome too. They will sit and chat with you or leave you the hell alone if you so please, they are really friendly (aka will answer a million questions) and care about what they do, and they have made a a really nice joint to hang out in out of an old concrete slab room. Point is, you should come here, eat some free popcorn, and have a heavy handed drink. But you better like whiskey or gin.

The concept of this place is good and you can tell there is a lot of thought given to the cocktails. The bartender did an excellent job presenting the drinks and liquors and we were having a good time. However, I was there with my girlfriend and one of the owners/​distillers approached our table, without introduction, and offered her a sip from his own drink! I will never return to this place and recommend that any women attending this establishment be accompanied by their significant other or group of friends.

Fresh from a day browsing and shopping at Volo Antique Mall, Copper Fiddle was the perfect place to sit and relax and have a good drink… or two.
CF crafts Bourbon Whiskey and Gin. The front is their tasting room/​bar and through the window you can see their distillery tanks. There was a tour going on when we arrived, but I don’t think we missed anything with Travis as our tasting room guide.
Travis, or Chad as we liked to call him, was a blast. Such a great guy, he explained a bit about the history of CF and the history of Bourbon Whiskey/​Gin and a bit about prohibition (bathtub gin!). All this while we got to sample their three spirits (Bourbon whiskey, Tom Gin and Fiddle Gin) and also a new one he was working on – a roasted serrano pepper infused gin. When it comes to spirits, I like them mixed. Travis/​Chad suggested their Ginger Mule but with the pepper Gin and it was amazing. I loved the extra bit of kick. I got to sample it against a regular Ginger Mule and I preferred the spicier version. My second drink was a Manhattan and it really packed a punch, but it was refreshing and delicious. Ericka A told him she’d like something «tropical» and he brought out this gorgeous tri-​color drink that was really tasty and tropical.
Now they don’t serve food, but we did help ourselves to the fresh popcorn available for guests. Folks are allowed to order in so you do have that option if you need heartier eats.

Ok so I went here with my guy on a Saturday night and had a great time before we went out to dinner. The bartender was FANTASTIC! Now I was not a super huge fan of the gin but the concoctions he came up with were quite tasty!
We were not there late enough for the entertainment but I bet it would be fun to hang out there when that is going on.
Great owner and really cool décor!

Copper Fiddle is probably my favorite discovery in the burbs this year. It’s such a wonderful gem tucked away in Lake Zurich! The only upset for me is that I live an hour away.
The distillery itself is very homey feeling. A great mix of the Copper Fiddle history and brand along with the equipment of a running distillery. When you walk in you’ll see a rustic decorated bar area with small round tables and a large rectangle table perfect for a big group. Keep heading back and there will be a door that leads to the warehouse-​ish part with the distillery equipment, tall boy tables, and a great space they use for live music.
Travis the bartender is pure genius when it comes to mixing cocktails. I’ve literally never seen someone treat the craft as such an art form. Not only are his drinks delicious, but it’s entertaining to see him concoct such masterpieces. One of the drinks he made us even involved setting ingredients on fire! Of course the base of each drink is Copper Fiddle’s delicious gin or bourbon (which currently can only be bought at their distillery — that alone is worth the trip!). They have a small cocktail list, but Travis can surprise you with a drink or make whatever you’d like.
Fred and Jose are the owners and they’re awesome. Very knowledgeable and passionate about the biz. If you live in the area (or even if you dont!) be sure to stop by this fantastic bar and distillery that we’re lucky enough to have in the suburbs.
I know I’ll be back :)

This place is awesome! The owners make a quality product and go out of their way to give all of their customers a great experience. Every cocktail that I’ve had there has been delicious! We often stop by and pick up a bottle to give to our friends as gifts and it’s always a huge hit. The ambiance inside is so much fun (very rustic, homemade) and we are just so grateful to have a business like this so close to home!

I attended a fundraiser for a local shelter and Copper Fiddle could not have been more supportive. Travis was awesome. He is a true mixologist. The tonics speak for themselves. What a great local place with great atmosphere. They had a live band in the back room that rocked some oldies.

I came with the Unilocal crowd and it’s no frills, nothing too fancy. It’s all about the drinks. Two gins and the bourbon whiskey. Now I have never had gin in my life, so I was sailing into new waters. First, I had an old-​fashioned with the bourbon whiskey and was surprised how potent it was. Even with the orange slice and cherry, it still packed a good punch.
The owners were generous enough to give me a free sample of each drink and it’s amazing how flavorful they are. They just warm you up inside! Travis, the mixologist, was amazing. I asked him to surprise me. He asked if I wanted sweet or sour and what I usually drank. I said sweeter side and I drink medium-​bodied beers and a little red wine. Well, 15 ingredients and 10 minutes later, I had a tall rocks drink that we named the Knickerbocker, in honor of my NYC roots. Dark red on the bottom, with a little bit of electric blue on top. It had both gins, Madagascar vanilla, apple, kiwi, cinnamon, sugar, shoot I don’t know what it didn’t have! But everything came together so well. It was a wonderful drink.
Probably the only reason I might not go back is because it’s an hour drive from my house. But it was a really fun experience and even coming from someone who doesn’t drink much of the hard stuff, I would recommend this distillery.

Had the pleasure of visiting the Copper Fiddle (through Unilocal’s Suburban Born & Bred events) last night. Don’t know how to express how enjoyable the evening was. First, the Copper Fiddle Gin and Bourbon are hand made and homemade, and exceptional. Second, the drinks that Travis (a superior bartender) made us, were memorable and enjoyable. Third, the establishment itself has a very comfortable and homey feel. This is a place I plan to visit regularly.
I particularly enjoyed Travis’ bourbon Journey. A drink that transforms itself over time based on the unique ingredients he adds which evolve and emerge while you drink it slowly. I highly recommend it. But enjoy it slowly. It is powerful.

Cocktails are inspired. The owners followed their dream and we are lucky they did! Check the website for live music!

Holy Cow! What an awesome time the drinks are great. Travis makes some neat drinks, and he lights them on FIRE!

Yummy drinks and good live music make this a gem in the area. The staff is friendly and they make their own whisky which is cool. In general, i think Lake Zurich is pretty boring so I find this a refreshing little cocktail lounge.

Great place. The owners are fabulous. Total place to hang for cocktails with friends. You got to try this place.

Absolutely great business and even better people. Their spirits are well crafted and true to form! However, that is just where it begins. Mix Master Travis will make you a uniquely inspired cocktail that I can promise you have never had and will not soon forget! From there your opportunities only expand as you involve more friends and family. Whether it is enjoying an evening of live music or booking a private event, they will cater to whatever you may be looking for. My wife and I had a photo shoot with our wedding party there after our ceremony. As if the unique atmosphere and picturesque setting wasn’t enough, Travis even developed a custom cocktail that incorporated our wedding colors as well! You will not find anywhere else that will even consider doing that! Copper Fiddle, you are the best! Thank you!

We read all the reviews coming out and thought we’d provide one of our own after our recent visit.
The owners… fantastic. Spent time with us and explained everything. Very warm and inviting. They do have a list of about 6 cocktails that they make with their three products (2 Gins and 1 Bourbon Whiskey).
But, to help some other visitors with some missing information… they do not have full bar service. They can only serve the three spirits they produce on site. They do have all the mixers to go along with them to make very interesting cocktails.
Also, the Gins they serve are not the traditional flavors that gin drinkers may be used to. That’s definitely not a bad thing, but don’t go there expecting something similar to Bombay, Tanqueray or Seagram’s.
A great stop for connoisseurs of their products. And, definitely meet these owners who are truly passionate about their products and craft.

These guys are the best! I walked in one afternoon just as they were opening. The owners quickly poured a sample of their three very smooth spirits made in house. All were amazing — the bourbon was more of my speed so I bought a bottle to take home and have since turned three buddies into fans as well.
Just a cool place to drink and hang out and relax after work.
I’m a fan for life.

Absolutely one of the best secrets in Lake Zurich!
I must admit I was a bit skeptical when we walked into the place and they had such a limited selection of choices, but WOW… the magic a talented mixologist can do with those three basic ingredients. Everyone in our party ended up with an exotic concoction customized to their taste buds.
The atmosphere is wonderful and welcoming. Every time we visit the area, Copper Fiddle has to be one of our stops.

What a great place. We went on the tour and it was infused with distilling knowledge and passion. The owners clearly love what they are doing — producing great local booze. Seeing the copper still was pretty cool.
After the tour we stayed for a drink and brought a couple bottles home. Nice, relaxing atmosphere with a bartender that will make you basically anything you want! I loved the barreled gin, very unique and tasty.