Distilleries in Illinois

HV's Food & Spirits

Olney, Illinois

• Distillery offers thicker 1/2 pound burgers.
• Breaded tenderloin is a standout menu item.

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery

Chicago, Illinois

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery in Chicago sits between the city’s industrial grit and a pretentious attempt at artisanal flair. It claims tradition and invention, yet the real triumphs lie in the glass.

• Unique food options with free sides
• Distillery on site offering special beers

Old Herald Brewery & Distillery

Collinsville, Illinois

• Unique beer flavors, not generic
• Smokey ketchup on menu items sets them apart

Blaum Bros. Distilling Co.

Galena, Illinois

Blaum Bros Distilling Co., Galena, Illinois – it’s the sort of place that will convince even the most cynical whisky snob that craftsmanship can be both art and science. Their mash bill is a clever blend of tradition and innovation: you’ll taste the raw, smoky punch of a single-malt still on the first sip, and the second will unveil subtle honey-and-oak nuances that would make a Michelin-star chef blush.

• Distillery tour with knowledgeable guides.
• Unique glassware designs inspired by history.

Spanky's Food & Spirits

Mattoon, Illinois

• Distillery's square bar area offers seating.
• Bartenders also serve food, providing convenient service.

E L Flanagan's Sports/Spirits

Highland, Illinois

• Unique bistro-style cafe food options
• Variety of draught beers offered

Copper Fiddle Distillery

Lake Zurich, Illinois

Lake Zurich, Illinois – the Midwest refuses to hide its genius about its booze. The Copper Fiddle Distillery fancies itself a rebel, slapping tradition on a plank and walking out with a bourbon-aged, spiced rum that has gone to bat about its own taste. They’ve taken gin and turned it into a charred Serrano pepper splash, a twist that makes your tongue think it’s doing a stunt routine.

• Offers unique, handcrafted spirits like Bourbon, Gin, Vodka, and Rum.
• Live music events with a passion for spirits and entertainment.

Whiskey Acres Distilling Co.

DeKalb, Illinois

• Whiskey Acres has a great tour guide selection process.
• The bourbon slushy is a fan favorite treat.

Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling Company - St Charles

St. Charles, Illinois

Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling, in St. Charles, Illinois, pretends to revolutionise craft beer while only offering a dependable array of hoppy, malty, light and dark brews that any serious enthusiast would recognise. Master brewers juggle old-school mash in a kettle with new-school foam, delivering a blend of tradition and invention that rarely falls flat. Sustainability is a talking point: local grain, zero waste, each bottle’s story treated like a best-seller. The real allure is the venue’s live-music nights. A semi-outdoor stage lets patrons sip a house-made amber while sidestepping the usual pretence of a five-star experience. Indoor and outdoor seating, a mock-tail menu for the diet-sensitive, and an “always-changing” seasonal rotation keep guests intrigued. Staff are helpful enough not to put their tongues in the beer you buy, and they actually serve today.

• Unique outdoor space with live music events
• Variety of house-made beers available

Anvil & Forge Brewing and Distilling Company

Springfield, Illinois

Anvil & Forge Brewing and Distilling, Springfield, Illinois, is where a good pint meets a better community spirit. The premises are not some pretentious art-gallery – it’s a genuine family-friendly taproom with long tables that invite you to sit with the locals and make memories over a glass of something properly crafted.

• Unique gourmet food offerings with subtle details.
• Efficient staff and beer selection with excellent service.

Thornton Distilling Co.

Thornton, Illinois

Thornton, Illinois: a 19th-century distillery resurrected in 2015 after 150 years of dormancy, proving old-school technique plus modern audacity still produces something that doesn't taste like a chemistry experiment gone wrong.

• Unique underground tunnels and hidden spaces
• History of gang affiliations and Prohibition era details

Spirit WATER Brewery, Distillery, Taproom

Cary, Illinois

• Unique spirit flavors inspired by Willy Wonka
• Brewery produces beer that tastes like its ingredients

28 Mile Distilling Company

Highwood, Illinois

In Highwood, Illinois, 28 Mile Distilling Company proves that a distillery can punch well above its weight. Their bourbon, gin and vodka have all earned the sort of awards that make you stop and take notice – a badge of honour in a scene that can become embarrassingly pretentious.

• Offers bespoke cocktails experience
• Focus on community-building atmosphere

Kennay Farms Distilling

Rochelle, Illinois

Kennay Farms Distilling, based in Rochelle, Illinois, takes farm-grown grains and turns them into spirits that feel more like a family tradition than a marketing gimmick. The whole thing sits inside a 1931 Art Deco theatre – you’d expect a silent film to start when a still cracks. Six generations of farmers have made vodka and gin that actually win awards, while an agave spirit and classic whiskeys prove you don’t need the Highlands to get it right.

• Distillery is family-owned and operated.
• Limited hours due to private events.

BLACK BAND Distillery

Peoria, Illinois

Located in Peoria, Illinois, Black Band Distillery is the latest attempt to revive the city’s claim as the “Whiskey Capital of the World.” Opened in 2016, it pretends to be the pinnacle of modern craft, insisting that every grain is chosen by hand from the Midwest’s finest organic fields.

• Distillery produces farm-to-table organic spirits.
• Unique, industrial-chic atmosphere with a focus on local ingredients.

Star Union Spirits

Peru, Illinois

If you’re fed up with the same whiskeys and want a lesson in artisanal craft, head to Peru, Illinois. There’s a former Westclox clock factory now reborn as distillery that treats quality as religion.

• Unique historic building setting.
• Extensive cocktail menu with handcrafted options.

Barnstormer Distillery

Rockford, Illinois

Barnstormer Distillery sits on a 22-acre patch of Illinois farmland that, if you ask the locals, is better than any of the high-end speakeasies out there.

• Unique use of farm-grown ingredients in spirits
• Beautiful 22-acre outdoor space for events and relaxation

Witness Distillery

Vandalia, Illinois

• Warm and welcoming atmosphere in the building
• Delicious drinks in Tje Underground, including tasty samples for non-drinkers

Katy Lynn Distillery LLC

Carbondale, Illinois

• Offers tasting and photography experience together.
• Uses local ingredients in spirits production.

Bluestem Distillery

Bethalto, Illinois

Bluestem Distillery sits in Bethalto, Illinois, and it’s where a good dose of heritage collides with a splash of audacity. The team, seasoned from brewing and winemaking, has swapped the old-fashioned pot-still for a “submarine process” – a fancy-sounding method that literally submerges the spirit in water, keeping contaminants out and flavour clean. It’s not bragging; the result is a liquid that could practically toast the palate on its own.

• Unique blending of food trucks and live entertainment
• Hand sanitizer is effective and has spritzer caps

Great food&spirits

Mattoon, Illinois

• Distillery not mentioned at all
• No specific distillery-related information provided

Historic Red Rooster Brew Werks and Distilling

Hillsboro, Illinois

Historic Red Rooster Brew Werks & Distilling in Hillsboro, Illinois, is an unpretentious tribute to old-fashioned distilling that actually tastes good. They’ve turned a former inn into a craft plant, mixing time-honoured recipes with a stubborn dose of modern technique — a bit like a proper engineer who insists his machine works before he’s ready to show it off. Their ‘unaged white-dog’ whisky is a surprisingly sharp shot, proof that they don’t just fling alcohol in a pot and call it a day. The place is laid-back to a fault, with heated outdoor decking and an absurd collection of free games: pinball, pool, you name it — as if the distillery also ran a public house for people who prefer not to drink. Staff are friendly, not snippy, and the service is almost as efficient as a well-tuned engine. A charming spot if you dislike pretentiousness but relish a pint that works.

• Distillery features a laid back atmosphere.
• Unaged white dog whiskey is surprisingly good.

Schomaker distillery LLC

Nashville, Illinois

• Unique small batch spirits offered.
• High-quality 95 proof bourbon with distinctive flavors.