Wine & Mead Tasting, Distillery and Brewery Tour with Lunch

Kingman’s best surprise may be its drinks. This day trip takes you from Laughlin to a Route 66 meadery, a family-run distillery and a small brewery, with lunch tucked into the schedule. Hive Five Meadery is the unusual first stop, since mead made from honey is still new territory for many people.

I like the mix of tastings and behind-the-scenes access, especially at Desert Diamond Distillery, where you can see how rum and vodka are made. I also like the small group size, capped at 12, and the chance to spend time with local businesses rather than only passing through Kingman by car.

The main consideration is the drive. About two hours of the seven-hour day goes to transportation, and not every stop will suit every palate. One person may love the mead and agave rum, while another may prefer the brewery or wine tasting.

Key points to know before booking

• Hive Five offers mead and local wine: Taste up to four wines from Cella Winery and several modern honey wines, including fruit and dessert-style flavors.
• Desert Diamond includes a distillery tour: You get more than a tasting, with a look at the production area and aging barrels.
• Lunch is included: Depending on the day, you eat at Sirins Cafe or at Grand Canyon Brewery.
• The van departs from Laughlin: Pickup is available at the New Pioneer Hotel and Casino, Regency Casino and other listed Laughlin locations.
• The group is limited to 12 people: That makes conversation with the guide easier and keeps the day more personal.
• Guides can shape the day: Michael, Wil and Kevin have led this outing, with Wil and Michael especially noted for their area knowledge and friendly hosting.

Why this Kingman day trip works

This is a tasting tour, but it is not only about collecting drinks. You get a look at how small producers work, hear about local ingredients and production, and see a side of Kingman that is easy to miss from the main road.

The route also has a pleasant sense of variety. Mead is ancient in origin but often unfamiliar in modern American drinking culture. Wine gives you a more recognizable comparison point. The distillery adds a production tour, and the brewery finishes the day with beer. You can compare four different kinds of drink in one outing without having to arrange separate taxis or designate a driver.

I would think of it as a social food-and-drink excursion rather than a serious technical course. You will learn how things are made, but the tone is relaxed. Guides such as Michael and Wil are described as good hosts who keep conversation moving during the drive and answer questions along the way.

The tour begins at 9:00 a.m. and lasts about seven hours. That is long enough for a full day away from the casino floor, but short enough to fit into a Laughlin stay without requiring an overnight trip. The air-conditioned vehicle and bottled water matter in this part of Arizona, particularly when the day includes several hours on the road.

First pour at Hive Five Meadery

The opening stop is Hive Five Meadery on Route 66 in Kingman. It is described as Mohave County’s first and only meadery, which gives the visit a clear local identity. Mead is wine made with honey rather than grapes, and the tasting offers a chance to try a drink that many people have only encountered in old stories or historical accounts.

Hive Five takes a modern approach. Flavors include mango, black cherry vanilla and chocolate-covered strawberry, along with other meads and cider options. These flavored versions are useful for first-time tasters because they show how broad the category can be. You might find a fruit-forward drink you enjoy, or you might decide that mead is not your thing. Either result is useful.

The tasting is not limited to honey wine. You can also try up to four wines made by Cella Winery and Vineyard. Cella grows seven grape varieties on more than four acres in Kingman, and the wine is made locally in traditional oak barrels.

That combination makes this a strong first stop. You can compare honey-based and grape-based drinks in the same room, then ask the staff about the differences. If you enjoy the tasting, bottles are available for purchase. Bring a plan for getting anything you buy home safely, since the van ride continues through several more stops.

One caution: preferences vary more here than at the distillery. A sweet mango mead may appeal to one person in your group while another prefers traditional wine. The outing works best if you are willing to sample unfamiliar styles instead of expecting every pour to match your usual order.

Behind the doors at Desert Diamond Distillery

Desert Diamond Distillery is the most educational stop on the route. It is identified as Arizona’s oldest craft distillery and sits near Kingman Airport in an unassuming location. The visit includes a behind-the-scenes tour, so you can see the working side of the business rather than only sitting at a tasting counter.

The focus is on hand-crafted rum and vodka, including award-winning products. The tasting may also include other spirits such as whiskey or bourbon, depending on what is offered that day. One especially memorable option mentioned by a participant is agave rum, which gives you another point of comparison beyond standard rum styles.

The operation has a family-run feel. That matters because you can ask direct questions about the process, the barrels and the choices involved in making small-batch spirits. You also get a look at aging barrels, and small pieces of old oak barrels are available for purchase for charcoal grilling or smoking.

The distillery sells more than spirits. Flavored vinegars and olive oils are part of the shop selection, giving non-drinkers or cooks in your group something to browse. Small shot glasses have also been given as souvenirs, and purchases can be wrapped in bubble wrap for the flight home.

I would give this stop extra weight when judging the price. A basic tasting can be brief, but the tour of the facility adds context and gives you something to remember beyond the samples. It is also the stop most likely to reward questions, so tell your guide if you want more time with the distillery staff.

Lunch near Black Bridge Brewery

Lunch is included, which keeps the $230 price easier to assess. Depending on the day of the week, the group may eat at Sirins Cafe or at Grand Canyon Brewery. The schedule allows about an hour and a half for this portion of the outing, giving you time to eat rather than rush through a plate between tastings.

Sirins Cafe is described as a top local dining choice, with fresh sandwiches and salads available. A lemon pasta salad has been singled out as part of a satisfying lunch, and the menu includes several sandwich and salad choices. This is a useful balance after a morning of alcoholic samples.

On other days, lunch is at Arizona’s Grand Canyon Brewery. The exact restaurant matters if you are choosing the tour for food as much as drink, so it is worth checking the operating schedule when you book. The included meal is convenient, but the restaurant is not fully fixed across all departure days.

I also like the timing here. Eating after the mead and distillery visits gives you a natural pause before the final beer tasting. You should still pace yourself, drink the supplied water and use lunch as a real break rather than treating it as another quick stop.

Beer flights at Black Bridge Brewery

Black Bridge Brewery is the final tasting stop. It is a microbrewery known for recipes that go beyond basic lager and pale ale territory. The exact selection can change, but one tasting has included a flight of six beers, which is a good way to sample the range without committing to a full pint of every style.

This stop will likely be strongest for people who enjoy variety. You might find a beer that feels familiar, or you might encounter a more unusual recipe that takes some explaining. The setting is described as friendly and local, which fits the rest of the tour’s focus on independent producers.

Not everyone will rate this stop equally highly. If you prefer wine and spirits, the brewery may feel less exciting than Desert Diamond. If you like trying several beer styles, it may be the most relaxed finish. The tour does not force you to choose a single favorite, and that is part of its appeal.

Because Black Bridge is last, you can finish with beer after lunch instead of adding another spirit tasting at the end. That makes the day feel better paced than a nonstop sequence of hard-liquor samples.

The drive from Laughlin to Kingman

The pickup point is in Laughlin, Nevada, not central Las Vegas. Listed pickup options include the New Pioneer Hotel and Casino at 2200 South Casino Drive and Regency Casino at 1950 South Casino Drive. The activity returns to the meeting point at the end of the day.

The listing gives about two hours to transportation. That is a significant part of the schedule, so you should enjoy scenic road time and conversation rather than expect seven hours of tastings. The vehicle is air-conditioned, bottled water is provided, and the group maximum is 12.

The van format has another advantage: you do not need to drive after tasting at four different drink-focused locations. You can focus on the stops and leave the road to the guide. Guides named Michael, Wil and Kevin have led the tour, though a particular guide is not guaranteed.

Michael is described as organized, friendly and good at answering questions. Wil is noted for his area knowledge, energy and willingness to add a small personal touch to the outing. One day, he called a local place to help a participant find postcards and plants. That kind of flexibility is valuable, but it also means the feel of the day can vary slightly with the guide.

Is $230 a fair price?

At $230 per person, this is not a budget transfer to Kingman. You are paying for a full-day excursion, round-trip transportation, multiple tastings, a distillery tour, lunch, bottled water and a small group capped at 12.

The value improves if you would otherwise need to arrange transportation from Laughlin, pay for several separate tastings and find a safe ride back. The included lunch also removes one extra expense. The distillery tour is important to the calculation because it gives you an activity beyond drinking.

The price is harder to justify if you only want one kind of beverage or if you dislike long van rides. You may not care much about mead, wine, beer and spirits as a combined subject. In that case, a shorter tasting experience may suit you better.

I see this as a reasonable splurge for a couple or small group that wants a structured day in Kingman. You can buy bottles, oils or other products along the way, but those purchases are extra. The tour price covers the planned tastings and meal, not souvenirs or take-home alcohol.

Who should book this outing?

I would recommend it to adults who enjoy trying new drinks, learning how small producers work and meeting local business owners. It is also a good choice if you are staying in Laughlin and want a break from casino entertainment without planning a complicated day yourself.

Food-minded visitors should appreciate the included lunch and the chance to compare drinks with different flavors and production methods. Route 66 fans get a stop at Hive Five, while people curious about spirits get the most direct look at the distilling process.

I would think twice if you want a major sightseeing tour of Kingman. The focus here is tasting and local production, not museums, landmarks or a long walking tour. You should also skip it if you do not drink alcohol, since the central activity at every stop is sampling alcoholic beverages.

The tour is not described as wheelchair-specific, and the supplied information only says that most people can participate. If you have mobility concerns, ask the operator before booking rather than assuming the van and stops will meet your needs.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund, and the tour requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not met, you are offered another date, another experience or a full refund.

My recommendation

Book this tour if you want a relaxed, guided day built around small-scale drinks and a good lunch. The distillery visit and the unusual mead tasting give it more character than a standard brewery outing, while the small group and included transportation make the day simple to manage.

Before paying, confirm your Laughlin pickup point and check which lunch venue operates on your date. If you enjoy wine, honey wine, spirits and craft beer in equal measure, the variety is worth the $230. If you already know you dislike one or more of those categories, the long drive may outweigh the value.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins in Laughlin, Nevada, at the listed meeting point. Pickup is also offered at the New Pioneer Hotel and Casino and Regency Casino.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 9:00 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours, including about two hours of transportation.

Where does the tour end?

The activity returns to the meeting point in Laughlin.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 12 participants.

What drinks are included?

Alcoholic beverages are included. The route features mead, local wine, rum, vodka, other spirits, and craft beer.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included in the tour price.

Where is lunch served?

Depending on the day of the week, lunch is served at Sirins Cafe or Grand Canyon Brewery.

Is transportation provided?

Yes. The tour uses an air-conditioned vehicle, and bottled water is provided.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.