Touring 17A Stillery: Craft Moonshine, NASCAR Roots, and Eco-Minded Innovation in Las Vegas

Mural in the 17A Lobby

Last week, during a trip to Las Vegas, I had the awesome opportunity to tour 17A Stillery, thanks to a generous setup by my friend Paul Robertson—host of the Drums & Rums and Riffs 'N' Rhythms podcasts. If you’re not familiar, 17A Stillery holds the distinction of being the first and only legal distillery in the history of Las Vegas. They produce their own brand of moonshine, City Light Shine, and also provide bottling and production services for other brands, including our pals at Demon Rum.

The distillery is tucked into an industrial park just off I-15—pretty unassuming from the outside. I was greeted by Rick from Demon Rum, who handles brand development, and we headed inside. The lobby alone was enough to geek out over, packed with distilling memorabilia, awards, and historical artifacts. Soon after, Rick introduced me to Casey, the sales manager at 17A, who kicked off our tour with a quick rundown of the company’s backstory.

Casey explained that the name "17A" comes from co-founder Mike Dolan’s NASCAR roots—he was an official for over 20 years, and 17A was his radio designation. The company name is a nod to that era, and while their recipes and inspiration come from the South, the operation is all Vegas. Brendan Gaughan—yes, the NASCAR driver—is part of the ownership, and his family name has been a trusted one in Las Vegas since the 1940s.

Mike's original still setup

We made our way to the bottling area, where Casey showed me their evolution from basic, manual bottling machines to the faster, more efficient systems they use today. That’s where I noticed a stack of sleek containers called ecoTOTES. These things are a game-changer.

ecoTOTES are part of a system developed by ecoSPIRITS—a company pushing for low-waste, low-carbon spirits distribution. The totes are made to be reused up to 100 times, and just one can eliminate up to 1,000 single-use glass bottles. Resorts, especially in Las Vegas, use massive liquor pump rooms to distribute alcohol throughout their bars and restaurants. Switching to ecoTOTES reduces spillage and breakage thanks to internal shut-off valves, and many places even get tax breaks for cutting their waste weight. There’s some upfront investment to retrofit pump rooms for this system, but the long-term savings—environmental and financial—seem totally worth it. Demon Rum is also embracing sustainability with their 94% recycled paperboard eco-bottle, which uses less water, emits far less carbon, and weighs a fraction of a traditional glass bottle.

The ecoTOTE

The highlight of the tour was the stills themselves. That’s where I met Seth, who walked me through the entire moonshine-making process. He explained how 17A uses a custom-built, direct steam injection still—something you don’t see every day in the moonshine world. Apparently, some purists in the distilling community thought you couldn’t make quality moonshine that way, but 17A has proven otherwise. Their stills were designed by Mike Dolan himself, and Seth explained how the design allows for efficient, evenly-distributed heat without scorching the mash—perfect for the kind of flavorful spirits they’re making.

17A Pot Stills

I got to sample four out of their six core moonshine offerings: The Original (a classic sour mash at 82 proof), Salted Caramel, Cherry Lemon, and Candy Bar (all at 80 proof). Each one was smooth, flavorful, and super versatile—definitely good straight, but I could see them shining in all kinds of cocktails. City Light Shine nails that balance of craft authenticity and modern approachability.

I wrapped up the tour with a huge appreciation for what they’re doing. Everyone I met clearly has a deep passion for the craft. From making moonshine with unconventional methods to bottling eco-conscious rum for other brands, 17A Stillery isn’t just making spirits—they’re shaking up the industry with innovation, collaboration, and a whole lot of heart. If you’re ever in Vegas and want to see what a modern craft distillery looks like, 17A should absolutely be on your list.

Left to Right: Brad, Seth, Rick, & Casey

🔗 Learn More

🏭 17A Stillery / City Lights Shine

• 🌐 Website: http://citylightsshine.com

• 📸 Instagram: @citylightsshine

• 👍 Facebook: City Lights Shine on Facebook

🍹 Demon Rum

• 🌐 Website: https://drinkdemonrum.com

• 🛒 Online Store: https://shop.drinkdemonrum.com

• 📸 Instagram: @drinkdemonrum

• 👍 Facebook: Demon Rum on Facebook

🌱 ecoSPIRITS

• 🌐 Website: https://ecospirits.global

• 📸 Instagram: @ecospirits.global