The Distillery Complex Offers Libations With Skyline Views

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Drinks With a View at The Distillery Complex

We had been fortunate enough to visit Big Spring Spirits in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, many years ago, and when we heard they were expanding into Pittsburgh at The Distillery Complex, we were quite excited.

Great spirits, a large line-up of cocktails, food, and a city view? What's not to love about that!

But it doesn't take long after arriving at The Distillery Complex to realize that this place is special. With six floors of unique spaces, from a bottle shop on the first floor, to event space, membership-only cigar lounge, and a sixth-floor bar and restaurant (named The Finch as a nod to the original owner), there really is a lot to enjoy here.

Naturally, we made our way up to the top level to check out the bar and were blown away by the space.

When you walk out into The Finch, you'll quickly see why this one should be the model for all rooftop bars for those looking to expand in the region. A generously sized indoor space has floor-to-ceiling windows nearly everywhere you look (which are actually garage doors that can pull up during good weather). Head outside on the city end of the building, and you'll get to enjoy a decently sized patio with couches, other patio furniture, and sunsails for those who want to be outside.

No matter where you go, inside or out, you have the imposing Pittsburgh skyline providing the views, which we greatly appreciate.

Ignoring the skyline views, one of our favorite elements about this space is that the building is also located next to the T line, and the sixth-floor bar space is actually higher than the nearby tracks. So as you're drinking, be sure to look down to watch a trolley car roll by, and give a cheers or three to the passengers below!

On the drinks front, we tried four cocktails- What's Up Doc?, Cucumber Smash, Texas Medicine, and Peach & Oak (formerly named Brown Sugar Peach Old Fashioned on our visit).

What's Up Doc? featured Big Springs Spirits American Whiskey with lemon, carrot, and honey, and reminded us a lot of a whiskey sour, but with a refreshing light note of carrot thrown into the mix. Alongside the Cucumber Smash, which used their Seven Governors Gin, lemon, and an abundance of cucumber, these two felt like refreshing, albeit somewhat simple, cocktails for a hot summer day.

Our favorite of the four was Texas Medicine, which featured reposado tequila, Jackworth spicy ginger beer (a personal favorite), simple syrup, and lime. The intensity of Jackworth's ginger beer was quite prominent here, and really hit you with a bit of heat and the strong ginger flavor that played nicely with the tequila.

The final cocktail we tried was the Peach & Oak, which was a wheat whiskey Old Fashioned with a brown sugar peach simple syrup. Much like our first two drinks, the peach notes in this one were on the lighter side and could've been a bit more intense, but it was still an easy sipping Old Fashioned all the same.

The Finch also has a gastropub-style menu with the likes of pretzels, charcuterie, sandwiches, and more, with some elevated twists thrown into the mix. We ordered the brisket sliders, which came out a bit like shredded beef with a tangy barbecue sauce- perfect for a snack to share to go along with our drinks.

Overall, The Distillery Complex is helping solve a need that Pittsburgh has endured for quite some time- namely, a lack of epic rooftop spots to enjoy a libation. Although we could argue that the cocktails are, perhaps, a bit on the simple side, this one makes up for it with an impressive lineup and one of, if not the best, views of any bar in the city. For that, we're going to be regulars with a cocktail in hand. 

But this is just one of many great spaces at The Distillery Complex, as the facility is also home to a bottle shop, a members-only cigar lounge (which we got a tour of and we have to admit, it is pretty incredible), an event space, and more- meaning you have many reasons to return for more here!

The Distillery Complex by Big Spring Spirits is located at 59 S Second Street in South Side. Street parking is limited (valet is available), and we paid to park at The Highline garage a block or so down the road.