Distillery tours
Distillery Tours in Illinois
Plan a distillery tour in Illinois: 8 distilleries to visit, with tastings and experiences you can book directly. Expect Craft Spirits, Gin, Bourbon and more. Highlights include Thornton Distilling Company, North Shore Distillery, Copper Fiddle Distillery.
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About distillery tours in Illinois
Illinois distilling is centred firmly on Chicago, where a wave of makers has emerged since the city's distilling laws loosened, but it reaches out into the surrounding farmland too. KOVAL Distillery is the flagship name: established in 2008 as Chicago's first distillery since Prohibition, it is a fully independent, woman-owned operation known for organic whiskey, gin and liqueurs, and for the 'heart cut' philosophy behind its spirits. Around it, the city's craft scene has filled in with the likes of Chicago Distilling Company and Rhine Hall, a father-and-daughter distillery in the West Loop devoted to fruit brandy in the eau-de-vie tradition. Beyond the city limits the story turns agricultural: Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. distils whiskey from grain grown on its own DeKalb farm, while Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. in Galena, Copper Fiddle Distillery, North Shore Distillery, Quincy Street Distillery and Thornton Distilling Company spread the trail across the wider state. Together they make an approachable circuit, easily anchored on a Chicago base with day trips out to the farm distilleries when the mood for a drive strikes.
Following the Illinois trail
The Illinois trail is at its densest in and around Chicago. KOVAL, Chicago Distilling Company and Rhine Hall sit within the city, letting you string together a tasting itinerary without ever needing a car. From there, the trail unspools into the surrounding countryside: Whiskey Acres near DeKalb and Whiskey-adjacent stops like Quincy Street Distillery in Riverside and Copper Fiddle in Lake Zurich make easy half-day excursions, while Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. rewards a longer drive out to the historic town of Galena in the state's north-west corner. Thornton Distilling Company to the south and North Shore Distillery to the north round out the wider circuit. Base yourself in Chicago and radiate outward as time allows.
Distilleries worth prioritising
KOVAL Distillery is the essential first stop, both for its place in Chicago history and for its organic, grain-forward approach to whiskey and gin. Rhine Hall is a charming counterpoint, a small West Loop operation focused on handcrafted fruit brandies. For a taste of Illinois agriculture, Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. is the standout, distilling from grain it grows on its own DeKalb farm and offering a genuine field-to-glass story. If you have time for the drive, Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. pairs nicely with a weekend in Galena, and Chicago Distilling Company keeps a city-tasting itinerary lively.
Where to stay & eat nearby
Chicago is the obvious base, and a good one: the in-city distilleries are reachable by public transport or short rides, and the surrounding neighbourhoods, particularly Ravenswood's so-called Malt Row and the West Loop, are packed with restaurants and bars to build an evening around. For the farm distilleries, DeKalb and the towns near Whiskey Acres offer simple, friendly dining, while Galena, home to Blaum Bros., is a destination in its own right with historic inns and a walkable main street that justifies an overnight stay.
Frequently asked
- Why is KOVAL significant to Illinois distilling?
- KOVAL, founded in 2008, was Chicago's first distillery since Prohibition. It is a fully independent, woman-owned operation known for organic grain whiskey, gin and liqueurs, and helped catalyse the city's modern craft scene.
- Can I visit Illinois distilleries without a car?
- Within Chicago, yes. KOVAL, Chicago Distilling Company and Rhine Hall are reachable by public transport or short rides. The farm distilleries outside the city, such as Whiskey Acres and Blaum Bros., need a car.
- What makes Whiskey Acres unusual?
- Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. distils whiskey from grain grown on its own DeKalb farm, offering a true estate-to-bottle story that is rare even among craft distillers.
- Is there more than just whiskey to taste?
- Plenty. Rhine Hall specialises in fruit brandies, KOVAL makes gin and liqueurs alongside whiskey, and other makers offer vodka and rum, so a trail can be quite varied.
- Is Blaum Bros. worth the drive to Galena?
- If you enjoy combining a distillery visit with a weekend away, yes. Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. sits in the historic town of Galena, which makes a pleasant overnight destination in its own right.
- When is the best time to do the Illinois trail?
- Late spring through autumn offers the most comfortable conditions for both city walking and drives out to the farm distilleries. Chicago winters are cold, though the in-city tasting rooms remain a cosy option year-round.