There is an art to craft distilling—a connection between the care and quality of days gone by and the innovation of tomorrow. Because a drink is often synonymous with friendship, with community, it makes sense that many craft distilleries call larger towns and cities home. If we allow ourselves, we can learn a lot from these trailblazers. Here are four you can visit for a quick taste and maybe a lesson.
Duneland Distillery
In the tasting room at Duneland Distillery, you’ll learn a lot about each of the spirits you try. An expert leads guests through ten different options, starting with how each is made. To deepen the experience, you’ll then learn what makes each different from the rest. Now, a few of the liquors are brown, but you’ll learn that even more are clear. That’s because Duneland specializes in moonshine.
What you might not expect to learn while you’re there—but you’ll most certainly experience—is the deep and abiding appreciation Duneland Distillery has for veterans and emergency services workers. The company was founded by veterans, and they don’t let a day go by without showing the respect to those who have served in some form.
Taconic Distillery
The Taconic Distillery in Stanfordville, NY, is as true a representation of a family-owned business as one might find in the distilling world. Husband, wife, and three daughters run the day-to-day, with some assistance from industry veteran Sean O’Donnell, and, of course, the family pup, Copper.
One thing the Taconic Distillery staff wants you to know before you leave is why they choose not to chill filter. It’s all about keeping as much flavor as possible, even if that means sacrificing some of the clarity you might find with other whiskeys and bourbons. But, hey, if it tastes better, what’s a little cloudiness?
Boone County Jail Distillery
Located about half an hour outside of Indianapolis, the Boone County Jail Distillery is home to an outstanding variety of liquors…and a lot of history. As you may have guessed by the name, the distillery calls an old jailhouse home. When you visit, you’ll likely learn a lot about the architecture and history of the building—an imposing brick and stone structure spanning more than three levels.
You’ll also learn that the owners are brother and sister Sean and Nicki Stoller, who come from three generations of liquor distillers. You’ll also learn they’ve won several tasting awards across all spirits.
Two Eagles Distillery
In Mount Prospect, IL, the Two Eagles Distillery crafts vodka, gin, whiskey, and their own Holiday Old Fashioned blend. They’ve been around since 2017, with a team of three highly qualified managers—the master distiller with degrees in chemistry and biochemistry, the operations manager with an MBA from Loyola, and the business manager with several years of experience in risk management, underwriting, and compliance.
One thing the Two Eagles team is very proud of is their mixology experience and how well their cocktails work with the spirits they create. You don’t have to visit to gain access to the cocktail recipes, but you’ll really want to try them in person.
You’re not likely to get to two or more of these distilleries in one weekend, so plan accordingly. Grab some friends, set four dates on your calendar for the near future, and hit the road together to try these innovative distilleries together.