Wine & Mead Tasting, Distillery and Brewery Tour with Lunch

Kingman’s best drinks arrive in a tidy seven-hour package: ancient-style mead, local wine, Arizona spirits, craft beer, and lunch. The real draw is the mix of small family-run producers and Route 66 flavor, not a grand winery setting.

I like the chance to taste up to four wines made from Kingman grapes alongside unusual meads such as mango and chocolate-covered strawberry. I also like the behind-the-scenes distillery visit, where you see how rum and vodka are made. The main catch is the drive from Laughlin and the changing lunch stop, so this is best for people who enjoy a full day out rather than a quick tasting.

Key points to know before you book

• Hive Five Meadery combines mead and Kingman wine: Taste Arizona’s first and only meadery in Mohave County, plus up to four wines from Cella Winery & Vineyard.
• Desert Diamond includes a distillery tour: Sample rum and vodka, look at the production area, and learn about the operation from the people who run it.
• Lunch changes by day: You may eat at Sirens Cafe, known for sandwiches and salads, or at Grand Canyon Brewery.
• The group is capped at 12 people: That makes the day more personal than a large coach tour.
• Guides can shape the experience: Wil, Michael, and Kevin have each led this outing, with particular praise for their friendly hosting and local knowledge.
• The $230 price covers the main costs: Transportation, tastings, lunch, water, and the guided distillery visit are included.

A drink-focused day trip from Laughlin to Kingman

This outing makes sense if you are staying in Laughlin and want a break from casino floors, slot machines, and hotel corridors. You leave at 9:00 a.m. and spend roughly two hours of the day in an air-conditioned vehicle, traveling between Laughlin and Kingman and then between the tasting stops.

The route is not built around famous monuments. Its appeal is more local and hands-on. You visit small beverage businesses, meet the people behind them, and taste products that are not common on a standard Las Vegas or Laughlin excursion.

The price is $230 per person. That is not cheap, but it covers round-trip transport, alcoholic drinks, lunch, bottled water, and a distillery tour. You also avoid the need to find a sober driver, arrange parking, or pay separately for each tasting. For a seven-hour day with several stops, the cost is reasonable if you plan to sample generously and value the guided transport.

The group limit is 12. That matters here because the experience depends on questions and conversation. A small group also makes it easier for the guide to keep the day moving without turning each stop into a rigid, hurried process.

Hive Five Meadery and the wines of Kingman

The first tasting stop introduces two Arizona drinks in one place. Hive Five Meadery is described as Mohave County’s first and only meadery, located on Route 66 in Kingman. Mead is wine made from honey, an old drink style that can taste very different from grape wine.

Hive Five gives you a chance to try flavored meads rather than only a plain traditional version. Flavors include mango, black cherry vanilla, and chocolate-covered strawberry. That range makes the tasting approachable if you have never tried mead before. You can compare fruit, sweet, and dessert-like styles and decide if the drink works for your taste.

The stop also includes up to four wines from Cella Winery & Vineyard. Cella grows seven grape varieties across more than four acres in Kingman, and the wines are made locally in traditional oak barrels. That local production is part of the appeal: you are tasting wine made in the same area you are visiting, not a generic bottle brought in from elsewhere.

Expect about 90 minutes here. That is enough time to sample several drinks without reducing the stop to a quick sip and move-on routine. If you are especially interested in mead, wine, or how flavor changes between honey and grapes, this is likely the most varied tasting of the day.

There is one fair warning. A few people have found the wine and mead portion less impressive than the distillery stop, and taste is personal. Some of Hive Five’s meads may be sweet or strongly flavored, so this is not a sure match for someone who prefers dry wine or classic spirits.

You can purchase many of the products at the tasting locations. If you are flying home, pack purchases carefully and ask about wrapping. The distillery has been willing to bubble-wrap bottles for air travel, and that sort of help is useful when you are buying local products far from home.

Desert Diamond Distillery, Arizona spirits with a working operation

Desert Diamond Distillery is the most hands-on stop. It is presented as Arizona’s oldest craft distillery, located near Kingman Airport. The setting is not a polished resort tasting room. That is part of its charm. You get a look at a working small-scale operation and hear how the spirits are produced.

The tasting focuses on premium hand-crafted rum and vodka, with agave rum receiving particular praise. You may also encounter whiskeys or bourbons depending on the tasting setup, along with flavored olive oils and vinegars sold at the distillery.

The tour gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the production area and aging barrels. You are not simply handed a flight and left to guess what you are drinking. The process is explained, and the small operation allows room for questions.

This stop lasts about an hour. It is enough time for a tasting and a short tour, but it is not a full technical course in distilling. You should expect an accessible introduction rather than a long production seminar.

I see this as the strongest part of the day for anyone curious about how spirits are made. The meadery offers variety, and the brewery offers beer, but Desert Diamond adds the machinery, barrels, ingredients, and production story that make the tasting feel more complete.

You may receive a small shot glass as a souvenir. The distillery also sells pieces of old oak barrels for charcoal grilling or smoking, which is a fun option if you cook at home and want a useful reminder of the visit.

Lunch at Sirens Cafe or Grand Canyon Brewery

Lunch is included, but the location depends on the day of the week. You may eat at Sirens Cafe, a sandwich and salad spot near Black Bridge Brewery, or at Grand Canyon Brewery.

Sirens Cafe has been especially well received for fresh sandwiches and lemon pasta salad. The menu includes sandwiches and salads, making it easier to find a filling midday meal without adding another tasting-style snack to the day. Several people have found the portions satisfying, which matters when alcohol tastings are spread across a full afternoon.

On other days, lunch takes place at Grand Canyon Brewery. The supplied details do not give a fixed menu or a precise food selection there, so do not book this expecting one guaranteed dish or restaurant experience.

The changing lunch venue is a small uncertainty, but the upside is that food is already built into the plan. You do not need to search for a restaurant in an unfamiliar town while trying to stay with the group.

Black Bridge Brewery and the final tasting

Black Bridge Micro Brewery is the final beverage stop. It is known for creative recipes that go beyond basic lagers and ales. If the tasting setup includes a flight, you may sample several beers rather than committing to a full glass of one style.

One account describes a six-beer flight, a useful way to compare the brewery’s range. Exact pours and available beers can change, so treat that as a possible format rather than a guarantee.

This is a good final stop because beer gives you a different taste after wine, mead, rum, and vodka. It also creates a more relaxed finish to the day. The brewery is small and local, not a large production complex designed for mass tours.

The brewery was the least popular stop for at least one person on the outing. That does not make it a poor stop, but it is worth keeping expectations sensible. If you are passionate about beer, you may enjoy the range of recipes. If beer is not your main interest, the distillery or meadery may be more memorable.

The guide makes a real difference

The guide is not just a driver here. The day includes local history, production explanations, timing between stops, and help with questions. Wil, Michael, and Kevin have all led this tour, and the most consistent praise centers on friendly hosting, clear explanations, and good conversation during the drive.

Wil is especially associated with local context and a willingness to make the day personal. One group had an interest in postcards and plants, and he contacted a place normally used for another outing to help them find both. That is the kind of small effort that can turn a fixed itinerary into a more pleasant day.

Michael has been praised for keeping the group organized and explaining the drinks in a way that stays fun. Kevin received particular praise for the distillery portion, especially from someone who preferred that stop to the wine and brewery tastings.

You cannot guarantee a specific guide unless the operator confirms it. Still, the repeated names give you a useful sense of the team and the style to expect: social, informative, and involved rather than silent transportation from place to place.

Transport, timing, and the practical details

Pickup begins in Laughlin at 9:00 a.m. The listed pickup points include The New Pioneer Hotel and Casino at 2200 South Casino Drive and Regency Casino at 1950 South Casino Drive. Pickup is offered, but you should confirm your exact meeting point when booking.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and bottled water is included. The day allocates about two hours to transportation, so bring water and dress for a long outing. The vehicle has been described as clean and comfortable, but you should still be ready for a full day of sitting between stops.

The tour returns to the original meeting point. The overall duration is about seven hours, with roughly 90 minutes at Hive Five, one hour at Desert Diamond, one hour at Black Bridge, and about 90 minutes for lunch and the final schedule. Exact timing can shift with traffic, tasting pace, and the day’s lunch location.

Most people can participate, but the activity centers on alcohol. You should not plan to drive afterward. The tour’s included transport is one of its practical strengths, especially for anyone who wants to taste at all three beverage stops.

Is $230 a fair price?

The price makes the most sense when you count what is included rather than comparing it with the cost of a single tasting room visit. You receive round-trip transport from Laughlin, drinks at a meadery, winery, distillery, and brewery, lunch, bottled water, and a guided distillery tour.

The group size also supports the price. With no more than 12 people, you are not paying for a large bus operation with limited contact at each stop. You are paying for a full-day regional outing with a guide managing the route and tastings.

The value is weaker if you do not drink alcohol, dislike sweet mead, or only want one type of beverage. You might also find the cost high if your main goal is a short brewery visit. This is a varied tasting day, not a focused wine tour or a luxury food excursion.

If you are staying in Laughlin and would otherwise spend the day indoors, the package offers a clear change of pace. The small producers, local products, and Route 66 setting give you a stronger connection to Kingman than a quick stop at a chain restaurant or bar.

Who should book this Kingman tasting tour?

I would recommend it to couples, friends, and solo visitors who like trying unusual drinks and talking with local producers. It is also a good choice if you want a planned day outside Laughlin without renting a car.

You will get the most from it if you are curious about how beverages are made, not just interested in drinking them. The distillery tour, barrel storage, mead production, grape growing, and small-batch beer all add useful context.

Families with young children may not find this a natural fit because the entire outing revolves around alcohol tastings. The activity is also less suitable for anyone who wants a slow, luxurious winery day, since it covers several different businesses and includes driving between them.

Book it if you want variety, a small group, included lunch, and a guide who can connect the stops. Skip it if you prefer to control your own pace or already know that mead, spirits, and beer are not your thing.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made 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 or experience, or a full refund.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts in Laughlin, Nevada, at the listed meeting point. Additional pickup locations include The New Pioneer Hotel and Casino and Regency Casino.

What time does the tour begin?

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

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup is offered, with listed pickup points at The New Pioneer Hotel and Casino and Regency Casino in Laughlin.

What drinks are included?

The tour includes alcoholic beverages at the tasting stops, including mead, wine, rum, vodka, and beer. Specific selections can vary.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included. Depending on the day, it may be served at Sirens Cafe or Grand Canyon Brewery.

What businesses does the tour visit?

The stops include Hive Five Meadery, Desert Diamond Distillery, and Black Bridge Brewery, all in the Kingman area.

Is transportation provided?

Yes. Transportation is provided in an air-conditioned vehicle, and bottled water is included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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