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The Ultimate Guide to All the Kansas City Distilleries

Dec 10, 2022 | city guides , cocktails , Day Trips from Kansas City , gin , ingredient travel , Kansas City , lists , rum , tequila , vodka , whiskey | 2 comments

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I’ve lived in Kansas City for more than 20 years and have learned a lot about its history since moving here. While Kansas has always had stricter liquor laws than Missouri, they were polar opposites during prohibition. Kansas enacted prohibition voluntarily in 1881, nearly forty years before the Federal government passed the Volstead Act. However, Kansas City continued operating its speakeasies without a single arrest. Jazz music flourished as bars and clubs were open around the clock. Kansans from across the state continued coming across the Missouri border for alcohol. Over the past ten years, several entrepreneurs have reintroduced distilling back to the city with award winning spirits . ( Tom Pendergast would be proud.) Let’s meet the best Kansas City distilleries. Last updated in December 2022.

J. Rieger & Co.

Address: 2700 Guinotte Avenue Hours: Mon-Thur: 11am-10pm, Fri: 11am-midnight; Sat: 9am-midnight, Sun: 9am-10pm Distills: Midwestern Dry Gin, Kansas City Whiskey, Premium Wheat Vodka, Caffè Amaro Separate Bar: The Monogram Lounge and The Hey! Hey! Club (Wed-Sat: 5pm-midnight, reservations encouraged) Food: Yes, small plates Tours: 7 days a week, $15+tax/person (21+), $5+tax/child between 11-20 years old, kids 10 years and younger are free

Perhaps the most interesting thing about J. Rieger & Co. is the fact that it was founded in 1887, operated until 1919, and was brought back to life in 2012. During its initial phase, it served a quarter million customers through its 100-item mail-order catalogue. Throughout the lobby, there’s a full history of the distillery past and present. Between the welcome video and the museum, there’s a lot to learn and appreciate about this brand. Plus, they have one of the best cocktail bars in Kansas City in their basement.

A couple of spiral staircases flank the distilling room to give the distillers a better view into the mash tubs. Once you’ve completed the tour, the slide (on the right) is a fun way to get from the Monogram Lounge back down to the first floor. We saw guests of all ages having fun on it.

We had a tasting of J. Rieger’s four spirits and then had a cocktail to complete the tour. They had four pre-made cocktails on tap to choose from. I had the seasonal gin and tonic with homemade elderflower and rosé strawberry tonic. We relaxed upstairs in the lounge with a cheeseboard and some table shuffleboard.

Mean Mule Distilling Co.

Address: 1733 Locust Hours: Tue-Thur: 4pm-1pm, Fri-Sat: 4pm-midnight | Closed Sunday and Monday Distills: Gold and Silver American Agave Spirits Separate Bar: Yes, the tasting room (which opened in June 2019) offers cocktails Food: No (although there is a vending machine with some snacks) Tours : Yes, Tuesdays from 6-7pm

A newer kid on the block, Mean Mule has the distinction for being the only American Agave Spirit distiller in the Midwest. Steeped in family tradition of distilling, this distillery is a welcome addition to Kansas City. It’s a great place to unwind, and you can grab food a couple doors down at The Parlor . Their menu is updated regularly.

For a rather limited bar, the cocktails are quite impressive. Definitely worth adding to your list. We enjoyed two of their new cocktail menu items. Brian had the drink on the left, the ‘Tis the Season, made with agave spirit, sweet potato, lemon, aquafaba, and bitters. I enjoyed The Mean Mule which is made with agave spirit, jalapenõ syrup, lime, ginger beer, and mezcal. It was spicy and satisfying.

Finding a sunny spot for a cocktail can be hard but Mean Mule has you bathed in light.

Tom’s Town Distilling Co.

Address: 1701 Main Street Hours: Mon: 4pm-10pm, Tue-Thur: 4pm-11:30pm, Fri-Sat: 2pm-midnight, Sun: 2pm-10pm Distills: Gin (Botanical and Barreled), Bourbon (Gold and Double Oaked), Double Grain Vodka Separate Bar: Yes Food: Yes, small plates Tours: Yes, daily tours are given for $10/person at 4:30pm and 6:30pm, additional tours on weekends at 2:30pm and 8:30pm

Named after Tom Pendergast, Tom’s Town holds extra meaning for me as it’s built in the first building I worked in when I moved to Kansas City. It’s fun to walk through the space, which originally was an auto carriage factory before The Pitch bought it. I also love the art deco style of the building and the brand. Look at how beautiful the bar/lounge area is (above)! Watching the distillers work as you sip a cocktail is also a treat.

I wore a sweatshirt from a rival distillery to the tour and gin class we took, but lucky for me, they had a gift shop. They sell a three-pack of their three main spirits which are perfect for everyone on your holiday gift list.

After learning about their gin botanicals and creating a version of our own, we had a cocktail and a bite to eat. I had the Corpse Reviver #2 made with the barreled gin, Mathilde Orange liqueur, Cocchi Americano, lemon juice, and an absinthe rinse. It was about as perfect as this picture.

Lifted Spirits

Address: 1734 Cherry Street Hours: Wed-Fri: 4pm-11pm, Sat: 2pm-11pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm Distills: Gin (Bright and Bold), Whiskey, Vodka, Absinthe Separate Bar: Yes Food: No Tours: Yes, free, Thursday-Sunday at 5pm, no reservation needed

Lifted Spirits makes their spirits from soft red wheat from a single farm in Wellsville, KS. The owner taught himself how to distill using French distilling manuals he found at the library. For the past three years, they’ve been celebrating the community and ethos of Kansas City through the name of the company. Upstairs from the bar is a good sized community and event space, in case you are looking for a cool spot in the Crossroads.

This was my favorite cocktail on the tour of Kansas City’s distilleries. The Suzy in the Sky is a blend of bold gin, gentian root liqueur, spicy honey syrup, coconut, and lime. I will definitely be recreating this one at home. The barrels on the left are where the spirits are aged and stored. Their barrels are smaller than traditional barrels, due to space constraints, and are made in Kentucky.

Union Horse Distilling Co.

Address: 11740 West 86th Terrace, Lenexa, KS Hours: Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm | Closed Saturday and Sunday Distills: Whiskey (White, Four Grain, Bourbon, Rye), Vodka Separate Bar: Yes, open once a month for Distillery Socials with a food truck (next one is November 21) but going to be open in December (and hopefully continuing) Food: No Tours: Yes, $17/person, scheduled monthly

Owned and operated by four siblings, Union Horse was the first distillery to open in the Kansas City metro area in 2010. The lone distillery on the Kansas side, this operation is worth the trip across the state line. Not only did they pave the way for distilling in the metro area, they also helped change some laws in the state of Kansas (happy hour, tastings at stores/distilleries). The siblings, three brothers and a sister, first considered a brewery, but lucky for all of us, they settled on distilling whiskey.

The current line up of products (above) are available in ten states and in Union Horse’s 25,000 square foot facility. They have three special event rooms big enough for weddings or whatever you might need a unique spot for. They are getting ready to open a lounge. The bar behind the bottles above are surrounded with comfy spots to sit and chat with friends.

I learned a lot from my awesome tour with Damian, including how to read a barrel. In case you didn’t know, you read the date the barrel was sealed (the ‘lot’) as the Year (2014), Month (months are assigned letters, starting with January = A, so April), and Day (30th). Also, I got a sneak peek at the cocktail menu, which I hope to try in person soon. I think you’ll find a drink or two to check out as well.

Restless Spirits Distilling Company

Address: 109 East 18th Avenue Hours: Thur: 5pm-8pm, Fri: 3pm-9pm, Sat: Noon-9pm | Closed Sunday-Wednesday Distills: Botanical Gin, Whiskey (three kinds: KC’s first single malt, an Irish+American blend, and an imported Irish whiskey), Vodka, Poition (Irish moonshine) Separate Bar: Yes Food: No Tours: Yes, $12/person, tours are available Monday-Thursday by appointment, or on the hour on Fridays and Saturdays

Following a tour and tasting at Restless Spirits , it was hard to decide which aspect of the distillery was my favorite. I love that their master distiller is one of six females in the country. The whiskey adheres to the standards for Irish whiskey — distilled twice in a copper still, barrel aged in a used barrel for at least three years and a day, and five percent malted barley. You’ll definitely learn a lot and enjoy the spirits. It’s definitely one of my favorite Kansas City distilleries.

The couple that started Restless Spirits came to their venture with a solid set of skills. Benay was a chemistry teacher and Mike was in marketing and sales. Between the two of them, their spirits bring together traditions of distilling with their family history in a celebration of stories and art. As you taste their spirits, including a special edition Cinnamon Whiskey (with nothing fake or sweet added), you learn about their family through the labels on the bottles, all the way back to Mike’s grandfather emigrating from Ireland in 1853.

I enjoyed a Whiskey & Pickle on our tour (for reference, Chicken & Pickle is right next door), which is made with the Stone Breaker Whiskey and bread and butter pickles. It was a pleasant way start to a Saturday afternoon.

West Bottoms Whiskey

Address: 1321 West 13th Street Hours: Fridays & Saturdays 6pm–midnight | Walk-ins for Bottle Shop Pickup on Saturdays 11am–midnight | Closed Monday-Thursday Distills: Signature Kansas City Whiskey; in addition, small batch craft whiskies are coming soon Separate Bar: Yes Food: No Tours: Yes, $15/person with a minimum of two people and a maximum of eight

Opening just a month ago, West Bottoms Whiskey is bringing more reasons to love Kansas City. Their Kansas City Whiskey is a blend of equal parts Bourbon and Rye American Whiskeys with just under 2% 15-year old Oloroso Sherry. The whiskey is smooth and finishes with a hint of sweetness. Alex Lindsey, the owner and Master Distiller, and the rest of the staff, were super friendly and knowledgeable. They have a 10 gallon still named Hephaestus and a rack of mini-barrels that are currently resting with the small batch whiskey blends.

For now, you can purchase West Bottoms Whiskey in Kansas and Missouri. Their small batch whiskey will soon be sold to the public as well. We got to taste a barrel strength wheat whiskey. It was really nice with the perfect kick of spice. They have a cocktail parlor and two seating areas to enjoy a whiskey cocktail. The relatively small space is used well and they’ve especially done a great job with the design and finishings. I enjoyed “The BEST Old Fashioned in Kansas City”. It’d be an absolute blast to travel around the rest of the Kansas City distilleries and try and prove them wrong.

And that wraps up the ultimate tour of the best Kansas City distilleries. If you need something to soak up the alcohol, I suggest you find some BBQ. You can even find BBQ places with vegetarian options . Finally, don’t miss out on the Missouri Spirits Expedition . If you get all 33 stamps, you get a bottle of bourbon that all of the distillers contributed to. A pretty fun game if you ask me. Cheers!

For more great Kansas City spirits, visit these cocktail bars and these themed bars that feature the best products from Kansas City distilleries.

Can’t wait to check some of these out next time we are in Kansas City! I had no idea Builders gin was KC based!

Yes! You’ll have to let me know when you’re here!

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J. Rieger & Co.

Address: 2700 Guinotte Ave., Kansas City, MO 64120

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Phone: (816) 702-7800

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Hours: Mon. & Tues: 11am-6pm, Wed & Thu. 11am - 10pm, Fri. & Sat. 11am - 12am, ‍Sun. 11am - 8pm

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J Rieger Distillery Tour & Tasting (Kansas City’s Original Distillery)

Last updated on March 3rd, 2023 at 06:37 am.

J Rieger & Co. is located in Kansas City’s West Bottoms. This is Kansas City, Missouri’s first distillery since Prohibition, and represents the revival of Kansas City whiskey.

We’ve seen plenty of new breweries opening across Kansas City  in recent years, but the growth of the city’s craft spirits scene has been decidedly slower, especially compared to other cities.

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J Rieger Craft Spirits — Kansas City’s Original Distillery

That is quickly changing thanks in large part to pioneering spirits-maker J Rieger & Co. — which opened its East Bottoms distillery doors in 2014 as the first distillery in Kansas City since the repeal of Prohibition.

History of J Rieger

Here’s the story of how J Rieger & Co. blew down the craft spirits door in KCMO:

Originally established by Jacob Rieger in 1887 in Kansas City’s West Bottoms Livestock Exchange district, J Rieger & Co. was the largest mail-order whiskey house in the united states prior to the onset of federal prohibition in 1920. Its core product line was whiskey, but the distillery was closed due to the onset of Prohibition.

Present-day co-founders Andy Rieger, the great-great-great grandson of Jacob Rieger and Ryan Maybee, Kansas City bartender & entrepreneur, reestablished the brand in 2014. They have successfully opened the first legal distillery in Kansas City, Missouri since Prohibition and feature the flavors of Kansas City Whiskey as well as craft spirits favorites like vodka and gin.

Fun Fact: J. Rieger & Co. was the largest mail-order whiskey house in the united states prior to the onset of federal prohibition in 1920.

J Rieger & Co. is a state-of-the-art facility that includes a museum, on-site distillery, store with J Rieger & Co. merchandise, lounge, bar, restaurant, and a really fun indoor slide.

The building has been included on the National Register of Historic Places in Kansas City, MO.

Enjoy a guided tour around Kansas City’s first distillery. Enjoy tastings of whiskey, vodka, gin, and more on the tour or in the Monogram Lounge with their impressive array of craft cocktail samplings.

A first-time visit to J Rieger & Co. should include a tour and tasting, a visit to the museum, and then heading upstairs to the Monogram Lounge to enjoy a cocktail and food. Plan for at least 3 hours if you want the full experience!

Kansas City Whiskey History

In 1881, the state of Kansas became the first state to outlaw the sale and consumption of alcohol. Jacob Rieger opened the J. Rieger & Co. whiskey distributorship in 1887 in Kansas City’s West Bottoms (just blocks from the Kansas border).

The West Bottoms neighborhood, which is located on the Missouri side of the state line, quickly became known as “The Wettest Block in the World”. In the late 1800s, Kansas City’s West Bottoms livestock exchange district was also located here. Kansas citizens would cross the state line to drink, dance, and gamble. This is one of the reasons J. Rieger & Co. became one of the largest whiskey distributors in the country.

Of course, Federal Prohibition caused all distilleries to close their doors in or around 1920.

Fun Fact: Advent of Prohibition — The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution banned the manufacture, transportation, and sale of intoxicating liquors.

J Rieger & Co. distillery Tour

The J Rieger & Co. tour starts with a 10-minute movie that shares an overview of the 150-year history of J. Rieger, Kansas City whiskey history as well as an overview of Kansas City, Missouri pre-prohibition.

Before prohibition, the West Bottoms neighborhood of Kansas City was known as the “Wettest block in the world”. During this time, twenty-five saloons and liquor retailers occupied most of this area.

The tour continues to the distillery production floor where a guide shares all kinds of interesting information about the process of making spirits, which in many ways is similar to how beer is made.

Whole grain & hot boiling water is put into a hopper, later cooled with a cool coil mechanism, then yeast is added. There is a day for it to mill, a day to mash, and then off it goes to the fermentation tank and finally two copper distillations.

During the tour, I learned that it takes four years to make whiskey and five years to make rye and bourbon. It’s not a quick process like vodka or gin, that only takes a few weeks.

Barrel Rickhouse

After visiting the distillery floor, the tour continues in the barrel room. Very reminiscent of a wine barrel room, the Rickhouse space is stacked with more than 3,000 aging barrels of whiskey.

Within the barrel warehouse, is an event space called Jacob’s Barrel Room. The room’s glass walls look out onto a 360-degree view of hundreds of whiskey barrels.

Rieger Whiskey

What sets J Rieger & Co. apart as Kansas City whiskey is the use of American white oak barrels that are charred inside and used for the aging process as well as the addition of Sherry.

Nathan Perry is the head distiller at J Rieger & Co. Previously he was a microbiologist at Boulevard Brewing Co. He has chosen to make Rieger Whiskey the way they did pre-prohibition.

Because of the length of time it takes whiskey to age, they began by using sourced Whiskey and added Sherry. This was quite common pre-Prohibition when J. Rieger & Co. first opened.

J Rieger Kansas City Whiskey contains straight Rye, light corn, and a blend of straight bourbon whiskey, in addition to the Sherry, which truly makes it unlike anything else out there.

2021 Edition Monogram Straight Rye Whiskey Oloroso Bota

The 2021 Monogram whiskey release is 100% Straight Rye Whiskey finished for nearly 6 years in an old Oloroso sherry Solera Botas from the WiIliams & Humbert Solera Especial. 

It is worthy to note, that the Monogram Whiskey label has been created in collaboration with the Rieger distillery team and sherry expert Steve Olson.

Fun Fact: Sherry is fortified wine of Spanish origin that typically has a distinctive nutty flavor. It takes its name from the province of Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia, Spain, which is the oldest producers of sherry.

Previous releases of Rieger iconic Monogram Whiskey are 2017, 2018 & 2020. Both the 2017 and 2018 editions of the Rieger’s Monogram were named in the top ten Global Best New Spirit in the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Spirited Awards.

Rieger and Co also make a few additional spirits beyond their famous whiskey. They distill a Midwestern Dry Gin. They describe it as London dry style gin that is Juniper forward.

But, it’s really about what’s behind the gin that makes it most interesting and delicious. That is Tom Nichol, who was Master Distiller of Tanqueray for the bulk of his career before he began consulting for Rieger.

It takes between two to three weeks to make a batch of gin or vodka. 

Whiskey, Vodka, & Gin Tasting

After a visit to the barrel warehouse, it’s time to head to the tasting room and try the J. Rieger spirits. The tasting takes place in a beautiful bright room with Reiger Whiskey memorabilia.

The tasting consists of four spirits.

From left to right, the tasting starts with vodka, then moves to gin, then the iconic American whiskey, and finally, Caffe Amaro.

• Vodka is silky creamy, smooth
• Gin is a Midwest dry gin. Musty earthy with citrus & licorice. Highest proof liquor. 
• Kansas City Whiskey has sherry on the nose. Spice notes from rye.
• Caffe Amaro has a bitter taste with coffee & chocolate notes. It also has hints of star anise & spearmint and finishes with a hint of ginger.  

After tasting the four spirits, we then mixed the whiskey and Caffe amaro to make a black Manhattan. If you make it at home, just add a bit of sweet vermouth! 

Stages of Tasting a Spirit

• Close your eyes
• Sip & coat entire mouth
• Breath out you nose. 

J. Rieger, to the best of my knowledge, was the first time I’ve ever tasted whiskey. I am allergic to gluten and always thought that because whiskey is often made with gluten-containing grains that I would have an allergic reaction.

So, Can celiacs Drink Whiskey?

According to beyondceliac.org , distilled whiskey, even if made with wheat, barley, or rye is considered gluten-free. They say that most whiskeys are safe for people with celiac disease because of the distillation process.

J Rieger Museum

The museum and the historical exhibit is on the main floor of the distillery and is free to visit. The space shares the 130+ year history of the distillery as well as the history of distilling and brewing in Kansas City with displays, memorabilia, and placards sharing all details about each exhibit.

Monogram Lounge

The Monogram Lounge is located on the second floor and includes a bar, restaurant, and shuffleboard. The lounge serves cocktails, beer, wine, and food.

Above I said the lounge serves food. That is an understatement. The reality is that the Monogram Lounge, led by Executive Chef Jordan Hayes is putting out deliciously complex flavors with approachable shareable plates.

The bar offers classic cocktails like a martini, mule, and old fashioned as well as clever only at J. Rieger creations. Of course, all cocktails are made with J. Rieger spirits! Also available are beer, wine, sodas, and seltzer.

J. Rieger Distillery Kansas City Tours & Tastings Info

Everything about J. Rieger is fun, tasty and filled with history!

Address: The distillery is located in the Electric Park neighborhood of the East Bottoms in Kansas City, Missouri at 2700 Guinotte Avenue.

Hours: Wed-Thurs 12pm – 10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm – 12am, ‍Sunday 12pm – 8pm

J Rieger Happy Hour: Wednesday-Friday 3-5pm

Distills: Midwestern Dry Gin, Kansas City Whiskey, Premium Wheat Vodka, Caffè Amaro.

Tours: 45-minute guided tours of J. Rieger & Co., distillery are offered Wednesday-Sunday.. $5 per person for tour & $15 per person for tour and tasting. Please bring a valid photo ID.

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Friday, 9/20, join us at the Electric Park Garden Bar, Atrium, Tasting Room, and Hey! Hey! Club; the Monogram Lounge is reserved for a private event. Saturday, 9/21, the Monogram Lounge and Hey! Hey! Club are reserved for a private event; all other spaces are open. Interested in hosting your next event at the distillery? Learn More

welcome to j. rieger & Co.

Jacob Rieger & Company was founded in 1887 in Kansas City’s West Bottoms Livestock Exchange district. The brand offered over 100 alcoholic products and took pride in maintaining a quarter of a million unique customers by offering mail-order delivery services. In 1919, Prohibition was enacted by the federal government and wasn’t reversed until 1933. J. Rieger & Co. was a casualty at the time, but was not destined to be lost forever. Now, a century after Prohibition, we are proud once again to call Kansas City home.

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2700 Guinotte Ave. Kansas City, MO 64120 Just 2 miles East of the River Market!

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Sunday - Tuesday: 11AM - 8PM Wednesday - Thursday: 11AM - 10PM Friday - Saturday: 11AM - 12AM

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Tours and tastings are offered 7 days a week. Please check below for availability and booking.

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UPCOMING EVENTS AT J. RIEGER & CO.

September 19, 2024 7:00 PM

September 22, 2024 12:00 AM

September 29, 2024 2:00 PM

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Join us in The Hey! Hey! Club where you and your group can enjoy crafted cocktails and small plates in a comfortable lounge style setting. Live music every Thursday. More info here.

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At the St. Augustine Distillery, you can take a free self-guided tour any day of the week. For something more in depth, try the distillery's unique Fill Your Own Bottling Experience, where you can fill, hand-cork, seal, and craft your own personalized bottle of cask-strength bourbon. Another option is the Spirit of Florida Bourbon Experience, where a certified...   Read More

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Jeff Morgenthaler

Jeffrey Morgenthaler is an award-winning bartender...   Read More

Jeffrey Morgenthaler is an award-winning bartender and author from Portland, Oregon. He's been behind the bar since 1996, crafting cocktails at all kinds of venues. He is the co-owner of Portland’s Pacific Standard and previously managed the seven-time James Beard Award-nominated bar program at Clyde Common, and the highly celebrated Pepe Le Moko. He is the head judge of the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and regularly judges cocktail competitions such as the Heaven Hill Bartender of the Year competition and Diageo World Class. His recipes and wisdom have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Wine Enthusiast and Wired magazines, and immortalized in classic cookbooks such as The New York Times Cookbook and The Joy of Cooking.

Lisa Costello

Lisa Costello is co-founder of  Casual Mixologist, ...   Read More

Lisa Costello is co-founder of  Casual Mixologist, a website for hobbyists to up their mixology game with actionable guides and cocktail recipes. She believes that like artisan food, mixology is an art form meant to be shared socially. Through Casual Mixologist, Lisa has worked with craft and national spirit brands from all over the world, featuring unique recipes anyone can make from home. Follow Casual Mixologist on  Instagram  and  Facebook .      

Sean Costello

Sean Costello is co-founder of  Casual Mixologist ,...   Read More

Sean Costello is co-founder of  Casual Mixologist , a website for hobbyists to up their mixology game with actionable guides and cocktail recipes. Casual Mixologist is a collection of his learnings after studying the experts and perfecting techniques of his own. Through Casual Mixologist, Sean has worked with craft and national spirit brands from all over the world, featuring unique recipes anyone can make from home. Follow Casual Mixologist on  Instagram  and  Facebook . 

10Best Editors

USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,...   Read More

USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.

Leaderboard

• 1. Hemingway Distillery, Key West - Makers of Papa's Pilar Rum - Key West, Florida
• 2. Starlight Distillery - Borden, Indiana
• 3. St. Augustine Distillery - St. Augustine, Florida
• 4. Angel's Envy Distillery - Louisville, Kentucky
• 5. Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. - Louisville, Kentucky
• 6. Castle & Key Distillery - Frankfort, Kentucky
• 7. Rabbit Hole Distillery - Louisville, Kentucky
• 8. Buffalo Trace Distillery - Frankfort, Kentucky
• 9. Woodinville Whiskey Co. - Woodinville, Washington
• 10. Ko Hana Distillers - Kunia, Hawaii
• -- Check the Full Leaderboard --