If you’re like us, you can’t get enough education, viewpoints and tasting of whiskey. If you’re looking for a fun, new way to explore the city, there are many distilleries sprinkled throughout Chicago. Here are a few of our favorites for you to discover and enjoy.
Koval Distillery
Website: https://www.koval-distillery.com/newsite/
Location: 4241 N Ravenswood Avenue
Koval was founded in 2008 and it was the first distillery to open in Chicago since the mid-1800s. It is located in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago. They boast over 100 international awards for their whiskey, gin, and specialty spirits. Koval means “blacksmith” or someone who “forages ahead,” and it is an homage to the founders’ grandfathers who came to the United States with their wealth of knowledge in creative distilling. Koval has their products available for purchase from several online and in-store retailers, and you can book a distillery tour through their website or even go on a virtual tour.
Chicago Distilling Company
Website: https://www.chicagodistilling.com/
Location: 2359 N Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago Distilling Company is a family owned and female operated distillery. They specialize in gin, vodka, whiskey, and canned cocktails. Their first spirits were distilled in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, where they are currently located, but their roots come from moonshining ancestors in the backwoods of Wisconsin. According to their website, tours and cocktail classes are on hold for the time being, but their tasting room and store are open and ready for guests. Stop by or order one of their specialty cocktails from their website, like their award-winning Chicago Mule, which is Ceres Vodka with house-made ginger beer.
Maplewood Brewery & Distillery
Website: https://maplewoodbrew.com/
Location: 2717 N Maplewood Avenue
Also located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago is Maplewood Brewery & Distillery. Maplewood houses both a brewery and distillery under one roof, the first of its kind in Illinois. They have a wide variety of spirits, including gin, rum, American and rye malt whiskeys, as well as canned cocktails and liqueurs. On the brewery side of things, they have a slew of year-round beers, including some local favorites like Son of Juice and Charlatan, and a selection of seasonal and small batch brews. The Maplewood lounge is open for guests, serving cocktails, taproom brews, and pizza.
Rhine Hall Distillery
Website: https://www.rhinehall.com/
Location: 2010 W Fulton St
Owned and operated by a father-daughter team, Rhine Hall Distillery is located in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago. The name comes from the name of an Austrian ice rink, Rheinhalle, where the co-founder played professional hockey. Their focus is on fruit brandies, or schnapps. Though each bottle contains 25 lbs of fruit, their spirits embody the essence of the fruit rather than the sweetness. Some of their brandy flavors include apple, pear, mango, plum, cherry, and pineapple. Try some of these flavors at their tasting room, or dive deeper by taking one of their cocktail classes or going on a distillery tour.
Wolf Point Distilling
Website: https://www.wolfpointdistilling.com/
Location: 215 N Laflin Street #1
Wolf Point Distilling is located in Chicago’s West Loop. The name refers to the point at which the North, South, and main branches of the Chicago River meet. They base their craft spirits around stories, which you can read alongside each of their products on their website. They make bourbon whiskey, gin, a variety of vodkas, as well as moonshine. You can try them all with a flight or enjoy a specially made cocktail at their dog-friendly tasting room. They also offer distillery tours where you can learn more about their unique flavor profiles and distilling methods.
If you can’t get out to taste in public, give our video podcast a shot. You can hear from amazing distillers including Few Spirits (Evanston, IL), Boone County Jail Distillery (Lebanon, IL) and Duneland Distillery (Chesterton, IN). If you have a favorite local distillery (Chicagoland Region), then share it with us so we can connect for an interview.
Happy Planting!