A day in Kingman can feel like three trips in one. You’ll mix Arizona wine, rum and whiskey tastings, and classic Route 66 stops, all in a tight 5–6 hour loop. I especially like how the tour builds in time to talk to the people behind the bottles, and the ride comes with real context about what you’re seeing. If you end up with a guide like Sue or Mike, you’ll likely get extra stops made more fun by the little details they share.

Two things I really like: first, the tasting lineup goes beyond the usual one-winery routine, with wine plus samples from Desert Diamond Distillery, and then a brewery finish at Black Bridge Brewery. Second, the food plan is built around your day: lunch is included on select days, and you also get a proper Kingman break at Siren’s Cafe & Custom Catering. One possible drawback: depending on the day, the distillery portion may switch to a brewery substitution, so don’t plan this as a guaranteed distillery-and-only-distillery experience.

Key things to know before you go

• Up to seven tastings: plan on multiple pours across wine and spirits, not just one quick sample
• Desert Diamond Distillery (D3): a tour and tasting at Arizona’s oldest craft distillery, including barrel room time
• Black Bridge Brewery (B3): a downtown stop tied to a local legend around a railroad bridge
• Route 66 time is real: you’ll visit the Arizona Route 66 Museum and Powerhouse Visitor Center
• Lunch can vary by day: it’s included, but the exact lunch location may change
• Small groups: maximum 13 travelers, with pickup available in many cases (check your pickup details)

Kingman in one day: wine, spirits, beer, and Route 66 context

This is the kind of tour I like for a short trip. Instead of bouncing around on your own, you get an air-conditioned vehicle, water, and a driver who focuses on the why behind each stop. Kingman isn’t just a drive-through town. On this route, it feels like a working crossroads of Western history and desert winemaking, with modern small-batch producers right in the middle of it.

The value shows up in what’s included. At $159 per person for roughly 5–6 hours, you’re paying for transportation plus admission being treated as free at the listed stops, with tastings included and all fees and taxes covered. That matters because tasting days can quietly turn expensive once you add entry fees and paid samples.

One more practical note: snacks aren’t included. If you’re sensitive to long gaps between meals, bring a simple snack for the ride. You’ll still have lunch on select days, but it’s smart to be ready.

Stop 1: Little Old Wine Drinkers Winery and the earth-to-bottle feel

Your first tasting is at Little Old Wine Drinkers Winery, a family-owned place on six acres with more than 4,000 vines along Winery Row off Route 66. What I like about this start is that it’s not just about tasting. You’re set up for a relaxed visit where the owners actually talk you through the process, from growing to bottling.

This is the kind of winery stop where outdoor seating matters. The property has a casual outdoor area with mountain views as a backdrop, so you can slow down before the day gets busy. If you like desert temperatures and shaded moments more than you like cramped indoor rooms, you’ll probably appreciate this pacing.

On the tasting menu, you might see their signature Pink Bikini, described as a grape-strawberry blend, along with options like Pinot Grigio, Tempranillo, Rosé of Zinfandel, and red blends. That range is a good sign for mixed groups. You’re not stuck choosing between only sweet, only dry, or only reds.

The one timing detail to plan around: the winery is open daily from 11:00am to 5:00pm MST, so your tour timing should land you there in the open window. Even if you’re not a heavy wine person, this stop sets the tone: friendly, talkable, and built around the people who run it.

Stop 2: Desert Diamond Distillery (D3) and the barrel-room tour

Next up is Desert Diamond Distillery (D3), described as Arizona’s oldest craft distillery, family-owned since 2008 and located at Kingman Airport off historic Route 66. This stop is a big reason this tour works for adults who like variety, because it’s not a quick tasting counter. You get a short tour—about 20–30 minutes—that includes both the production room and the barrel room.

The tastings here focus on their Gold Miner rum collection, which includes white rum, dark rum, and a popular agave rum sweetened with agave nectar. If you like whiskey, there are options too, such as corn whiskey moonshine and aged wheat whiskey. There’s also a Rum & Rye collaboration that gives you a sense of how they blend styles.

One detail I find clever: tastings happen at a vintage bar that’s been rescued from the old Las Vegas strip. Even if you’re not a Rat Pack superfan, that kind of setting makes the tasting feel like you’re stepping into a story, not just measuring alcohol by the ounce.

Important consideration: Desert Diamond Distillery is open daily except Tuesday and Wednesday. On days when it’s not available for your tour, the tour includes a brewery substitute when the distillery can’t be part of the plan. In other words, you’ll still taste, but you shouldn’t assume the distillery portion is guaranteed on every calendar day.

The Route 66 Museum and Powerhouse Visitor Center: more than a photo stop

Between the drink stops, the day includes time at the Arizona Route 66 Museum and the Powerhouse Visitor Center. This part matters because it turns Kingman from a place you pass through into a place you understand.

The museum experience is one of the most consistently praised parts of this tour. It helps you connect the dots between the Route 66 that appears in logos and souvenirs and the actual way communities grew around the route. If you like travel that leaves you with a few lasting mental images—road signs, transportation history, and how the town fits into the wider Route 66 story—this is where you’ll get that.

The Powerhouse Visitor Center adds a more regional flavor. You get context on the area you’re driving through, which is especially useful when you’re seeing desert terrain and want something more than “pretty and hot” as your takeaway.

Stop 3: Black Bridge Brewery (B3) for beer samples and a local-legends vibe

Your brewery stop is Black Bridge Brewery, Kingman’s original craft brewery established in August 2013 on historic Route 66’s Beale Street. Locally, people know it as B3, and it’s named after a railroad bridge that served as a secret gathering spot for locals since the 1960s.

Why this stop works: it gives you a break from wine and spirits without killing the pace. It also gives your day a Kingman heartbeat, with an atmosphere that mixes art, music, and craft beer culture. If you’ve ever found that brewery tours can turn repetitive, this one avoids that. It leans into local character.

You might sample year-round favorites like Evil Red IPA, Wicked Poison, Locomotive Stout, and Scorched Earth (their ghost pepper-infused specialty). That lineup covers hops lovers, stout people, and anyone curious enough to try a spicy beer style.

They can also offer non-drink options like handcrafted ginger beer or cold-brew coffee, which helps if your group has mixed preferences. Also, food isn’t served on-site, but neighboring restaurants can deliver to your table. That keeps the logistics simple during tasting-heavy days.

About lunch: the tour includes lunch and beer as part of the overall plan, and lunch is listed as included on select days, with possible location changes. So expect that you’ll eat, but don’t assume every stop lines up with the exact same menu at the same restaurant every time.

Stop 4: Siren’s Cafe & Custom Catering for a real Kingman meal

This stop is where the tour shifts from tasting to eating in a way that feels genuinely local. Siren’s Cafe & Custom Catering is a family-owned place in historic downtown Kingman, run by mother-daughter duo Carmella Hynes and Denise McMillan. It’s recognized on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the US for 2024.

The big reason to care is the food style. You get artisan sandwiches and Euro-style paninis made from scratch with fresh-baked Italian bread. The menu highlights homemade ricotta, artichoke spreads, and locally-sliced meats, which is a good sign that lunch won’t feel like filler.

Two named favorites include the Curry Tito (curry chicken salad with green apple, craisins, and cashews) and the La Rocco panini. There are also daily specials and homemade soups tied to seasonal ingredients. If you want a lunch that makes a tasting day feel balanced, this is the stop.

It’s open Monday through Friday, so if your day trip lands on a weekend, your lunch situation could be different. That’s where the phrase select days in the tour details matters.

The driver experience: why guides can make or break the day

In a tour packed with tastings, a great driver does two things: they keep the schedule comfortable, and they make the stops make sense. This tour’s reviews put a spotlight on guides who are friendly, patient, and heavy on local context.

Names that come up include Mike, Sue, Brandon, and Bob. Their approach is described as informative without rushing. You get the sense that you’re not being herded from door to door. In practical terms, that means longer moments at the winery patio or the brewery tables, where you can actually taste and talk instead of just collecting stamps.

For you, that translates into a day that feels more like a guided road day with stops, not a strict tasting factory. If you prefer a laid-back pace with helpful safety talk about plants and desert conditions, you’ll probably feel right at home.

Price and value: what $159 really buys

Let’s talk value in plain terms. For $159, you’re not just paying for transportation. You’re also covering bottled water, included tastings/samples, and all fees and taxes. Admission is listed as free at each stop, which is important because some tasting tours quietly charge you for every component.

Where the value gets strongest is when you consider the variety: wine plus distillery time plus brewery samples, and then a full lunch plan on select days. That mix is hard to replicate if you’re building your own day from scratch, especially in a place like Kingman where you’d have to line up reservations, drives between sites, and entry fees.

The one place to be realistic is the “tastings” portion. This is not unlimited pouring. You’ll taste, you’ll enjoy, and you’ll likely leave with favorites. But if you’re expecting tasting amounts that feel like a private party, you might leave a bit short on alcohol volume relative to what you wanted. Still, for most people, the balance of different producers is the point.

Who this tour suits best (and who might want to skip it)

This tour is a good fit if you want:

• A Route 66 day that includes more than one type of local drink
• A structured way to try wine, rum, and beer without planning each stop
• A small group atmosphere (max 13) where you can ask questions and take your time

It may not be ideal if:

• You want only one style of alcohol and don’t care about the rest
• You’re highly sensitive to schedule changes based on which businesses are open on your specific weekday
• You don’t want a day built around tastings and prefer a food-focused or sightseeing-only plan

If your group includes non-drinkers, you have options at the brewery stop (ginger beer or cold-brew coffee), and you’ll still get a full day of sights and museum time.

My booking verdict: should you sign up?

I’d book this tour if you’re spending time near Kingman or using Kingman as a break from a bigger road-trip. It’s a compact way to experience desert wineries, a true small craft distillery setup, and a Kingman brewery tied to local lore, all with Route 66 context built into the itinerary.

I would pause and double-check availability if you’re doing this on a Tuesday or Wednesday, since Desert Diamond Distillery is closed those days. Also, confirm your expectations for lunch on your date, because lunch is included on select days and the exact lunch location can vary.

If you like guided days where the pace is comfortable and the stops feel human—where the owners and staff can actually explain what you’re drinking—this is one of the stronger ways to spend a 5–6 hour window in Kingman.

FAQ

How long is the Scenic Desert Wine Distillery Brewery Route 66 Tour?

It runs about 5 to 6 hours.

What does the tour cost?

The price is $159.00 per person.

What’s included in the price?

The tour includes air-conditioned transportation, the driver, bottled water, wine tasting and distillery samples (and brewery substitute when the distillery is not available), lunch on select days, and all fees and taxes.

Is pickup available?

Pickup is offered, and you need a minimum of 2 guests for the tour. You’ll be asked for your pickup location when booking.

Does the tour include wine tastings?

Yes. The day includes wine tastings from Little Old Wine Drinkers Winery and also tasting samples tied to the distillery stop, with a brewery substitute when needed.

Is lunch guaranteed?

Lunch is included on select days, and the lunch location may vary to give you the best dining experience.

Which Route 66 sites are part of the day?

You visit the Arizona Route 66 Museum and the Powerhouse Visitor Center.

When is the distillery closed?

Desert Diamond Distillery is open daily except Tuesday and Wednesday.

How big are the groups?

The maximum group size is 13 travelers.

Is there a cancellation policy?

Yes—free cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and weather can affect whether the tour runs.

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