Wine & Mead Tasting, Distillery and Brewery Tour with Lunch

The most unusual part of this day is the chance to taste mead, an ancient honey-based drink, alongside Kingman wine, Arizona rum and vodka, and small-batch beer. From Laughlin, you ride in an air-conditioned vehicle to three family-run stops in Kingman, with lunch included and plenty of time to ask questions.

I like the mix of drinks: this is not just a winery visit with a token tasting at the end. I also like the small maximum of 12 people, which makes it easier to hear the guide and chat with the people behind each business. The main drawback is the two hours set aside for driving, plus the fact that the lunch stop and exact order can change by day.

Quick takeaways for planning your Kingman tasting day

• Mead comes first at Hive Five, Mohave County’s first and only meadery, with fruit, chocolate, and vanilla flavors alongside local wine.
• Desert Diamond includes a behind-the-scenes distillery tour, not just a tasting of rum and vodka.
• Black Bridge Brewery keeps the final tasting local, with the option to sample several beers and, on some days, eat nearby.
• Lunch is included, but the restaurant can be Sirins Cafe or Grand Canyon Brewery depending on the day.
• Wil, Michael, and Kevin have led this outing, with Wil and Michael receiving especially strong praise for their local stories and easygoing hosting.
• The $230 price includes transportation, tastings, lunch, and water, making it most useful if you want a full day without arranging a designated driver.

From Laughlin to Kingman, a full day built around local drinks

This tour leaves at 9:00 a.m. from Laughlin, with pickup listed at The New Pioneer Hotel and Casino and Regency Casino. It returns to the same meeting area after about seven hours.

The route takes you from the casino-centered atmosphere of Laughlin into Kingman, Arizona, where the focus shifts to small producers, Route 66 connections, and hands-on food and drink. That change of setting is part of the appeal. You are not simply moving between polished tasting rooms. You are seeing how modest local businesses make and serve their products.

The van ride accounts for about two hours of the day. That is worth keeping in mind when comparing this outing with a shorter tasting experience. Still, the air-conditioning, bottled water, and pickup service remove the need to drive yourself across state lines or worry about drinking and driving.

The group limit is 12 people. That is a useful size for this kind of outing. At a small distillery, you can ask about barrels, ingredients, and production without trying to speak over a large coach group.

Hive Five Meadery, where honey becomes something much more

Your first stop is Hive Five Meadery on Route 66. It is described as the first and only meadery in Mohave County, so this is the most distinctive stop of the day.

Mead is made from fermented honey, but do not expect every glass to taste like sweet liquid honey. Hive Five gives the old drink a modern spin with flavors such as mango, black cherry vanilla, and chocolate-covered strawberry. The menu also includes cider, according to the tasting experience described by visitors.

You can sample the meads and up to four wines made by Cella Winery & Vineyard. Cella grows seven grape varieties on more than four acres in Kingman, using traditional oak barrels for the wines. That local connection gives the tasting more interest than a generic selection poured from bottles made somewhere else.

I would pay attention to how the fruit-flavored meads compare with the wines. Mead can surprise people who expect it to taste like either beer or ordinary table wine. The tasting is a good fit if you enjoy trying something unfamiliar, but less ideal if you only drink dry, classic wine and do not like sweet or flavored drinks.

The wine portion is also worth putting in context. Kingman is not the first place most people associate with vineyards, so tasting wine made from local vines adds a small but memorable detail to a Route 66 day. You may find that the selection favors variety and curiosity over a formal wine education.

One practical point: the experience offers tastings, but it does not specify the exact number of meads or the precise wine lineup on every date. The phrase up to four wines means the selection may vary. If you find a bottle you like, you can ask about buying it, since the tasting room offers products for sale.

Desert Diamond Distillery, the tour’s most hands-on stop

At Desert Diamond Distillery, you get more than a sample glass. The business is identified as Arizona’s oldest craft distillery, and the visit includes a behind-the-scenes look at how the spirits are made.

The distillery sits near Kingman Airport in an unassuming location. That setting fits the character of the stop: this is a working local operation rather than a grand visitor complex. You taste award-winning hand-crafted rum and vodka, then see part of the production process and the barrels used for aging.

The spirits selection can include flavored or specialty choices. One particularly interesting option mentioned from the visit is agave rum. The distillery also offers flavored olive oils and vinegar, which gives you something to explore beyond alcohol. Some people may find these pantry items as appealing as the spirits, especially if they enjoy cooking.

You may also see pieces of old oak barrels for sale, intended for charcoal grilling or smoking. Small souvenirs are part of the experience too. Shot glasses have been given out, and purchases can be wrapped in bubble wrap for air travel.

That last detail matters if you are visiting from outside the area. Bottles and glassware are awkward to pack, so ask about packing help before you buy. The tour provides a better sense of what you are tasting because you can connect the finished drink with the equipment and aging process behind it.

This was the stop most consistently praised in the supplied comments, but it still may not suit everyone. If you prefer wine or beer, a spirits-focused tasting can feel strong and technical. The guide makes a difference here. Michael, Wil, and Kevin have all been associated with the outing, and the strongest praise centers on guides who explain the process clearly and answer questions without making the learning feel like a lecture.

Lunch in Kingman, with the restaurant changing by the day

Lunch is included, which helps justify the price and keeps you from having to plan another stop. The exact venue depends on the day.

You may eat at Sirins Cafe, a sandwich and salad spot that has received attention for fresh-made meals. One menu description includes a choice of sandwiches and salads, along with lemon pasta salad. Another schedule places lunch at Grand Canyon Brewery, Arizona’s famous brewery, instead.

This flexibility can be useful, but it also means you should not book the outing for one restaurant alone. If Sirins Cafe is your stop, expect a straightforward, filling meal rather than a long restaurant experience. If lunch is at Grand Canyon Brewery, the setting may tie the meal more closely to the drink-focused theme.

The meal takes about an hour and a half in the stated itinerary. That gives you time to eat without rushing through the next tasting. It also creates a pause between the distillery and brewery, which is sensible on a day with several alcoholic samples.

The tour includes alcoholic beverages, but it does not state that every possible tasting, beer flight, or bottle is covered. At Black Bridge, one visitor chose a flight of six beers, so extra tasting formats may cost more. I would treat the included samples as part of the package and confirm any add-on flight or purchase with the guide or venue.

Black Bridge Brewery, a small finish with room for personal taste

Black Bridge Micro Brewery is the final main tasting stop. It is known for beers with recipes that go beyond basic lagers and ales.

The stop lasts about an hour. That is enough time to sample a few choices and talk about the brewery, though the exact pour format is not listed. A six-beer flight has been available, giving you a way to compare the range rather than choosing only one pint.

This is the most variable stop in terms of personal taste. One person may enjoy the unusual recipes and small-brewery setting, while another may find the beer less appealing than the mead or spirits. One piece of direct feedback was lukewarm about both the wine and brewery portions, so I would not book this tour expecting every stop to be your favorite.

Its value lies in the contrast. After sweet or fruit-forward mead, oak-aged wine, and distilled spirits, beer gives you a final category to compare. If you like tasting menus, that sequence makes the day feel varied. If you want a serious brewery tour, this outing may provide too little time and too little detail.

Lunch may be served next door at Sirins Cafe, depending on the schedule. That arrangement can make the middle of the day simple, with little extra driving between food and beer.

What the guide adds to the day

The guide is a major part of this experience because the route is not only about tasting. You are also crossing from Nevada into Arizona, learning about Kingman, and visiting small businesses that do not have the scale of major tourist attractions.

Michael is described as organized, friendly, and good at answering questions. Wil is praised for strong energy, local information, and making the day feel personal. Kevin is also singled out as an excellent host, especially for the distillery and lunch portion.

The guide may add an unplanned stop if time and local connections allow. One outing included a visit to a place selling postcards and plants after a guest mentioned those interests. That is not a guaranteed part of the itinerary, but it shows why a small group can feel more flexible than a large bus tour.

You should still expect the basic schedule to matter. There are three tasting stops, lunch, and long transportation segments, so the day cannot change completely for individual requests. The best approach is to tell the guide early if you have a particular interest, then enjoy any extra stop as a bonus rather than an expectation.

Is $230 a fair price?

At $230 per person, this is not a cheap tasting afternoon. It is a full-day excursion with pickup, transportation, water, lunch, and alcoholic beverages included.

The price makes more sense if you are staying in Laughlin and do not have a car, a designated driver, or a simple way to visit Kingman. You are paying for the vehicle, the route, the guide, and access to several businesses in one organized day. You also avoid having to decide who drives after tasting spirits, wine, mead, and beer.

The value is weaker if you already have a car and only want to visit one venue. In that case, buying separate tastings may cost less and give you more control over how long you stay. You also need to be comfortable with the two-hour transportation allocation.

The small group helps support the price. A maximum of 12 people is intimate for a commercial excursion, and the guide can keep conversation moving during the ride. The 4.9 rating from 16 posted ratings and a 94 percent recommendation figure suggest strong overall satisfaction, but the sample is small. I would use those numbers as a positive sign, not a promise that every drink or stop will match your taste.

Who should book this Kingman excursion?

I would choose this tour if you enjoy trying local products and want someone else to handle the driving. It suits couples, friends, and solo visitors who like a social day with a mix of tasting rooms, local food, and regional stories.

It is especially good for people curious about mead or craft distilling. Hive Five and Desert Diamond offer experiences you are less likely to find on a standard winery tour. The distillery visit is the strongest choice for anyone interested in how spirits are produced, while the meadery is the best stop for something new.

This is less suited to people who do not drink, dislike sweet or flavored beverages, or want a quiet sightseeing day with very little time in a vehicle. The itinerary is drink-centered, and lunch is a pause within that theme rather than a separate food tour.

You should also plan for a relaxed pace. Seven hours is a large block of a vacation day. The reward is variety and convenience, not speed.

Practical details before you reserve

The tour is offered in English and uses mobile tickets. Confirmation is sent at booking, and most people can participate.

Pickup is offered from the listed Laughlin meeting locations: The New Pioneer Hotel and Casino at 2200 South Casino Drive and Regency Casino at 1950 South Casino Drive. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start time. Changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, and the amount paid is not refunded for a late cancellation. The tour also needs a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not met, you can choose another date or experience, or receive a full refund.

This outing is booked an average of 59 days ahead, so I would reserve early if your Laughlin dates are fixed. That lead time does not guarantee every departure will sell out, but it signals that advance planning is wise.

Should you book the Wine and Mead Tasting Tour?

Book it if you want a guided day beyond the casinos, with local drinks, a real distillery visit, lunch, and a small group. Desert Diamond Distillery is the strongest anchor, while Hive Five gives the tour its most unusual flavor.

Go in with flexible expectations. The restaurant, tasting lineup, and order can change by day, and the brewery may appeal to you less than the meadery or distillery. At $230, this is best treated as a convenient, hosted Kingman excursion rather than a bargain tasting crawl.

If that balance sounds right, it is a worthwhile break from Laughlin’s casino floor and a practical way to get your kicks along Route 66.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts in Laughlin, Nevada, at 9:00 a.m. Pickup locations listed are The New Pioneer Hotel and Casino and Regency Casino.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in Laughlin.

How long is the experience?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours. About two hours are allocated for transportation.

What is included in the $230 price?

The price includes an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, alcoholic beverages, and lunch.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum group size of 12 people.

Which places are visited?

The itinerary includes Hive Five Meadery, Desert Diamond Distillery, and Black Bridge Brewery in Kingman. Lunch may be at Sirins Cafe or Grand Canyon Brewery, depending on the day.

Is lunch always at the same restaurant?

No. The lunch location can vary by day. The options listed are Sirins Cafe and Grand Canyon Brewery.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.