The Best Two-Way Radios for Distilleries
If you go out and buy the first radio that you see for your team, you might be in for a rude awakening. Static, poor battery life, messages that sound like a drive-through speaker...
That’s why you need a quality radio tailored to your distillery, and we’ve got you covered!
We don't want you to buy any radio just because you like the name or the price. We want you to make an educated decision and purchase the perfect radio within the scope of your needs, staff, and location.
We’ve sold thousands of radios and have compiled all that knowledge right here in this brief guide.
What do you need in a walkie talkie for a distillery?
The fermentation tanks are reading high pressure—again. The distiller flagged it ten minutes ago but no one from maintenance has shown up…Meanwhile, a forklift is sitting idle on the bottling floor because no one can locate the driver…
Upstairs in the tasting room, a group of guests just arrived for a scheduled tour, but the guide is still down in the rickhouse, unaware they’re waiting.
Everyone’s doing their part—but without real-time connection, everything feels out of sync.
These are all common issues in a distillery - and they can easily be solved with clear, quality two-way radios.
Let's walk through some important components when comparing radios.
Coverage Considerations
When choosing two-way radios for your distillery, it is important to match radio power and coverage of your building size and layout.
Selecting a radio that is too powerful for your distillery needs can lead to overpaying, while choosing one with insufficient coverage may result in poor quality and dead zones.
For small distilleries, 1 to 2 watts of power will do the trick - you can get from 100k - 200k sqft of coverage.
Larger distilleries (or multiple buildings), covering up to 350,000 square feet, require more powerful radios in the 3-4 watt range on analog (or 1 watt on digital) that can transmit clearly through walls and across larger distances.
You also need to take obstructions and building materials into account. If you have thick concrete walls, it may be necessary to go 1-watt stronger.
For unlimited coverage, across multiple locations, consider radios that use LTE and Wi-Fi, like the Motorola WAVE PTX series.
Number of Channels Needed
Channels help segment team conversations, to simplify radio chatter.
Recommended groups for a Distillery:
- Production – For the team working the mash tuns, fermentation tanks, and stills. This channel keeps distillers and operators in sync as they manage each phase of the spirit-making process.
- Maintenance – Dedicated to technicians handling equipment checks, repairs, and emergencies. If a valve fails or a pump goes down, this channel keeps the fix fast and focused.
- Bottling & Packaging – For coordinating the bottling line, labeling, and boxing. Helps streamline changeovers, troubleshoot machinery, and keep everything moving to meet daily quotas.
- Warehouse & Inventory – Used by staff managing barrels, raw materials, and finished product storage. Ideal for real-time updates on what’s arriving, what’s leaving, and where it all lives.
- Guest Services – Covers the tasting room, retail shop, and tour guides. Keeps the front-of-house team looped in on visitor flow, large groups, and schedule shifts.
Easy breezy. That’s concise and direct communication.
Channels can also be used to set up private conversations: “Sarah, call Tom on channel two.”
Sarah and Tom can then have an in-depth conversation over the radio without bothering the rest of the staff.
Quality Brands Make a Difference
You need a radio that is not going to fall apart within a year. You need one that will last so you’re not throwing away money.
Motorola and Kenwood two-way Radios are the most quality brands on the market because they are purpose-built for reliable communication with a durable build.
Designed to be easy to use and intuitive their radio series are affordable, cost-effective and eliminate monthly cell phone plans.
Tested for 5 years of field use, Motorola and Kenwood make sure you see a return on your investment.
Not to mention the included manufacturer warranty (1-3 years depending on model).
What features make a great distillery radio?
- Durability and Water Resistance Distilleries are tough environments—heat, humidity, and the occasional spill are part of the job. Radios should be built to withstand drops, resistant to dust, and ideally IP-rated for water resistance.
- Long Battery Life Shifts can run long, especially during peak production. Radios with 12+ hour battery life (or hot-swappable batteries) ensure you don’t lose communication halfway through a bottling run or during a late-night distillation.
- Clear Audio in Noisy Areas Boiling mash, running pumps, clanking bottles—distilleries aren’t quiet. Look for noise-canceling microphones, loud audio output, and digital signal clarity so teams can hear each other clearly, even on the production floor.
- Multiple Channels To separate communication between departments—production, maintenance, packaging, tours—you’ll want radios that support multiple programmable channels. This avoids cross-talk and keeps comms streamlined.
- Hands-Free or VOX Capability When someone’s operating a forklift, managing a transfer line, or guiding a tour, hands-free options like VOX (voice-activated transmission) or accessories like earpieces and speaker mics are a game changer.
- Compact and Lightweight Design Bulky radios slow people down. Look for models that are lightweight but rugged, especially for front-of-house staff who need mobility and discretion.
- Range and Coverage Large distilleries with multiple buildings or thick walls need radios that offer strong indoor coverage or repeater compatibility to ensure no dead zones—especially in warehouses or barrel aging areas.
- Emergency Features Some radios offer emergency alert buttons, man down detection, or lone worker settings, which can be vital for safety when someone’s working alone in the warehouse or late in the still room.
Our Top Two-Way Radio Picks for Distilleries
To help you with your selection, we've highlighted several different models below that are perfect for distilleries of every size.
These recommendations come from our own experience working with thousands of these radios. Each one has a rock-solid history and great reputation.
Given the structural (physical and team) nature of a distillery, we recommend higher watt radios with a reasonable number of channels.
Small Distilleries
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The Motorola RMU2040 would be a perfect radio for your distillery if you...
- Have users who are rough with their radios
- Work in an area less than 250,000 square feet
- Need to send a signal around steel and concrete
- Require hands-free operation
This is a UHF radio with four channels. You can segment your staff into four different groups for more effective communication.
The RMU2040 is a machine that pushes out the sound with two watts of power and an outdoor range of up to two miles.
It also has an indoor range of 20 floors or up to 250,000 square feet.
The device uses lithium-ion batteries. So you’re going to have power throughout the day. It also comes with a standing charging tray, a wall charger that plugs into power outlets, and a belt clip.
This is a radio that performs under harsh or stressful conditions with a strength of signal which easily gets around concrete and steel.
Make no mistake about it; this is one sturdy radio.
Its military-grade hardware is composed of materials that meet the MIL-STD 810 and IP-55 standards. That means it can take a licking and keep on ticking.
It comes with 219 different privacy codes that protect against interference and crosstalk. You won’t have to worry about hobbyists or any competitors interfering with your signal.
The customized channel announcement feature also allows you to operate the device hands-free.
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Advanced digital technology for clear audio and extended coverage.
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The Motorola Curve is very popular option for distilleries.
This is a radio that will work well with a larger staff. It has 10 channels to choose from.
The Curve will also save you money in the long run. Because it operates on a digital band, you won't have to worry about paying any pesky FCC licensing fees.
While larger than the CLPe series, this device is still lightweight at only 4.2 ounces. It covers up to 20 floors or 300,000 square feet of range.
The Call Button compatibility can improve customer service with quick response times.
When it comes to protecting confidential information, the Curve has you covered with Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum technology and 10,000 different privacy codes.
Another great and beneficial feature of this device is its Page All and Call All Available functions. This allows you to reach out to the entire staff at once, and it is ideal in an emergency.
On the other side of the coin, there is also a Direct Call feature that allows you to contact just one person with sensitive information.
This device is going to be able to handle even the longest shift with a 14-Hour battery life. That's all thanks to the rechargeable lithium-ion battery that it comes with.
This is another two-way radio that has an anti-microbial coating to curb the spread of bacteria.
Larger Distilleries - Multiple Buildings
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Ultra-slim, durable, and superior audio clarity for larger coverage needs.
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Looking for a powerful yet sleek and lightweight radio? Say hello to the Motorola SL300 radio!
Weighing in at only 5.96 ounces and measuring at under an inch thick, the Motorola SL300 operates at 3 watts of power providing up to 350,000 square feet of coverage. That includes up to 35 floors made of steel or concrete!
Ideal for medium to heavy-duty business use, the SL300 radio withstands tough working environments and accidental drops - protecting your investment. Not to mention the 3-year manufacturer warranty!
Honorable Mention
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Best Nationwide Coverage (LTE & Wi-Fi Enabled)
Need to keep an eye on and dispatch deliveries? Consider an LTE enabled radio…
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Ideal for operations across multiple locations, cities or states.
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Request a Quote for Bulk Purchases
Need to equip your team? We want to help!
Make sure to request a quote for our best possible pricing.
We are here for you!
If you have any questions on which radio is right for your distillery – do not hesitate to reach out to our support team.
We have a very knowledgeable staff with over 25 years of experience in the two-way radio industry that can answer all your questions.
You can’t get rid of us that easily after purchase - we include lifetime tech support to be there for you every step of the way!