End of Days Distillery

There’s a quiet pride that surrounds End of Days Distillery — and it’s well earned. As Wilmington’s very first distillery, this Castle Street craft house has been pouring distinctive, North Carolina-rooted spirits since 2020, and has quickly built a reputation that extends well beyond the Cape Fear coast. Housed in a restored Quonset hut just east of downtown, End of Days is the kind of place where you can sit down for a flight, walk through the still room where it all happens, and leave with a bottle to take home. Be sure to check out the pictures below to get a feel for the place before you go — or to relive the visit after.

A Distillery with North Carolina in Its Veins

End of Days Distillery was opened in early 2020 by husband-and-wife team Shane and Beth Faulkner, who renovated an old Quonset hut to bring it to life. From the start, their mission was straightforward — to craft distinctive, high-quality spirits inspired by bold pre-prohibition flavors and rooted in the unique character of the Carolina coast.

That commitment to place runs deep. The Faulkners strive to source from within North Carolina whenever possible, with some of the grains for their malts and whiskeys coming from North Carolina farmers via RiverBend Malt House in Asheville. Their label printer is based in Thomasville, their branding partner is in Wilmington, and at the end of the distilling process, the spent grain is passed along to local farmers. It’s a quietly thoughtful operation — one that ties the distillery to the state in ways most consumers never see.

The Spirits

End of Days has built its reputation on craft, character, and a smart, evolving lineup. Their core series, the Port of Entry Series, is the heart of the offering — a vodka, rum, and gin trio designed with one of the coolest small details in craft spirits: line up all three bottles side by side, and the backs of the labels combine to form a panoramic view of the Wilmington riverfront.

Beyond the flagships, the distillery’s lineup has grown to include a wide variety of spirits, including:

Whiskeys, ryes, and bourbons — the long-aging projects that have steadily been coming online as they reach maturity
American Single Malts — made in part with North Carolina-sourced grains
Luna Bloom Violet Gin — one of the most distinctive small-batch gins in the state
Castillo 1815 Blue Agave Spirit — a unique addition to the lineup
Barrel-rested rums and gins — both have earned awards at national spirits competitions
Ready-to-drink canned cocktails — three varieties of well-crafted, no-prep cocktails for the home bar or the cooler

If you’re new to End of Days, the tasting room offers free spirit tastings — a great way to sample your way through the lineup before committing to a bottle.

The Tasting Room

End of Days has built a tasting room that feels just as carefully crafted as the spirits themselves. Inside the restored Quonset hut you’ll find a wide variety of seating — bar stools, couches, armchairs — that makes the space feel more like a great neighborhood lounge than a typical tasting room. Outside, there’s a sizable patio that’s a favorite spot when the weather cooperates.

The bar features full cocktail service, with signature drinks built around the distillery’s own spirits, plus charcuterie packs for purchase and rotating food trucks several nights a week to keep the appetites at bay. Live music, special events, and tasting flights are all regular parts of the experience.

Tours

For visitors who want to go deeper, End of Days offers distillery tours by appointment — typically ending with a tasting of around ten different products. It’s a great way to learn the history of the distillery, see the production process up close, and find your new favorite bottle along the way.

Good to Know

Outdoor patio: Comfortable seating with a relaxed neighborhood feel.
Food on-site: Charcuterie packs are available for purchase, and food trucks rotate regularly — typically Thursday through Saturday.
Tours: Available by appointment; well worth the booking if you want the full story.
Onsite Mercantile: Bottles, branded glassware, mugs, and shirts are all available to take home.
Located on Castle Street, just east of Wilmington’s downtown riverfront.

A Wilmington Standout

End of Days Distillery is the kind of place that elevates the entire Wilmington beverage scene. The spirits are genuinely well-made, the space is welcoming, and the love of place comes through in every bottle. Whether you’re a serious spirits enthusiast, a casual cocktail fan, or just curious about how craft distilling works, this is a stop you’ll come back to. It’s no exaggeration to say End of Days has helped put Wilmington on the map for craft spirits in North Carolina.