Bullock cocktails anyone?

August 19, 2026

Folks in the Charleston, WV, area who are interested in trying some masterfully prepared cocktails need look no further than the tasting bar at The Bullock Distillery in the Elk City neighborhood.

Royce Tanner, in her role as distillery sales manager, also oversees the tasting room. There, she demonstrates an uncommon talent in mixology. Who would have guessed that a distillery tasting room would offer some of the very best and most creative cocktails in the city.

Bullock Distillery, Charleston WV — Royce Tanner (center) with WVBR’s Charles Bockway and Erin McCoy at The Bullock Distillery

One of the coolest West Virginia liquor law changes in recent years is the one allowing small distillery tasting rooms to serve cocktails or mixed drinks to their customers. Originally, small distillery tasting rooms could only offer customers a couple of little 1-oz, samples of their distilled spirits.

Today, the tasting room’s ability to offer cocktails gives customers the chance to sample the spirit in a real mixed drink—trying it the way they would normally drink it at home. Old Fashioned, anyone? At Bullock, if you love the cocktail you sample, you can pick up the ingredients and the recipe from Royce. Take them home and mix away.

What you can’t take-home from Bullock’s tasting room, though, is Royce’s talent for designing and mixing such luscious cocktails. To experience that, you’ll have to drop in Bullock’s in person.

Royce Tanner mixing a Bullock Distillery cocktail — Royce Tanner mixing cocktails

WV Beer Roads visits Bullock

Recently, the West Virginia Beer Roads podcast crew ventured into The Bullock Distillery and sat down with Royce to record a podcast episode. Erin and Charles got to sample some of Royce’s handiwork first-hand. We also heard Royce’s story of managing sales at a small distillery. We present that to you now in Episode 113.

Listen to the Podcast here

Episode 113 • WV Beer Roads • 40 Minutes

Cocktail Happy Hours

Royce, and/or her Whiskey Sommelier assistant, Josh Fetter, are on hand for Cocktail Happy Hours from 5:00 PM until closing every day the tasting room is open.