Newport’s newest distillery

This charming Derby-themed restaurant, bar and distillery is reminiscent of a speakeasy. The dining area is a welcoming combination of rustic and refined elements (old wood and bricks mixed with marble tile and modern windows) with artwork featuring famous racehorses, including the 1944 Derby winner, Pensive, the restaurant’s namesake. A shiny, 105 gallon still sits in a space that once was a single-chair barber shop. If you’re getting the full tour (as you will today), you’ll duck through a door disguised as a bookcase and take the stairs to a second floor gathering space with a cozy roof deck attached. The new building out back is where they bottle their vodka and single barrel bourbon. When you’re done exploring this cool property, order a “Penny on the rocks” to get the full flavor of the Pensive experience.