Two Baltimore distilleries are joining forces for a single pour-your-own-glass operation in Northeast Baltimore. Louthan Distilling and Hognose Distilling plan to open a joint tasting room at 4251 Harford Road in Lauraville by the end of 2026, bringing dark bourbons and clear gins together under one roof with an eight-seat bar at the center of it all.
The 1,200-square-foot space recently received approval for a liquor license, according to WBAL, a detail that matters more than it might sound. Per Maryland statute, a local licensing board may grant an on-site consumption permit for use at the location of a Class 1 distillery license, and that permit is what lets a distillery sell mixed drinks made from its own liquor combined with nonalcoholic ingredients for consumption right there in the room, according to Maryland law. In practical terms, that license is what separates a simple tasting counter from an actual neighborhood cocktail bar.
Louthan Distilling co-owner Chris Saffer said the tasting room is planned to debut by the end of 2026, per his comments relayed in the station's report. The space will feature products from both Louthan and Hognose rather than operating as a showcase for just one brand, giving Lauraville regulars access to two distinct Baltimore spirit lineups in a single stop.
What's Actually Going in the Glass
Louthan's dark liquors, including its signature bourbons, contrast with Hognose's clear spirits. Two drinks already named for the opening lineup show that split in action — an old-fashioned made with Louthan's 7th State hickory-finished bourbon, and a gin and tonic using Hognose's Yamabito gin.
Hognose Distilling describes itself on its own site as a Baltimore-based distilling company created by owner and operator Alexander (Zander) Wolf Rupp, according to Hognose Distilling. Pairing that gin program with Louthan's bourbon-heavy catalog gives the Harford Road space a built-in reason to offer a wider pour than either distillery could manage solo.
A Years-Long Plan Finally Taking Shape
The idea for a tasting room isn't new. According to the Baltimore Business Journal, one of the two distilleries first began planning to open a tasting room seven years ago, long before this Lauraville address came into play. That slow runway underscores just how much groundwork, including the liquor-license approval now in hand, had to come together before the concept could actually open its doors.
Once it does, the room will offer a place to enjoy a cocktail. For now, Lauraville's newest pour is still a plan on paper — but one backed by an approved license and a target date before the calendar turns to 2027.
