Distillery tours
Distillery Tours in Missouri
Plan a distillery tour in Missouri: 10 distilleries to visit, with tastings and experiences you can book directly. Expect Craft Spirits, Bourbon, Gin and more. Highlights include Wood Hat Spirits, Tom's Town Distilling Co., Switchgrass Spirits.
10distilleries
Restless Spirits Distilling Co.
Family-run Irish-style whiskey in Kansas City
About distillery tours in Missouri
Missouri makes a genuinely compelling distillery trail because it spans two strong scenes at opposite ends of the state, plus a scattering of rural makers in between. Kansas City has emerged as a real distilling destination, with historic names revived and Art Deco tasting rooms drawing visitors downtown; Saint Louis answers with its own independent producers and a busy craft culture. The result is a route with range: you can taste bourbon, rye, gin, vodka and uniquely local blends, often in beautifully restored spaces with deep backstories. J. Rieger & Co. traces its roots to 1887, when it was once among the largest mail-order whiskey houses in the country before Prohibition closed it; its modern revival in Kansas City's Electric Park District is a highlight, as is its signature Kansas City Whiskey. Tom's Town Distilling Co., named for the city's notorious political boss, brought legal distilling back to downtown Kansas City. Beyond the metros, makers like Pinckney Bend Distillery and Wood Hat Spirits show off small-town, farm-minded production. Together they make for a road trip with both big-city polish and rural charm.
Following the Missouri trail
Think of Missouri as a barbell: two heavy ends and a lighter middle. The Kansas City end is the most concentrated, with J. Rieger & Co., Tom's Town Distilling Co., Restless Spirits Distilling Co. and others giving you a full afternoon of tasting without long drives. The Saint Louis end offers StilL 630 and Switchgrass Spirits among its independent makers. In between and out in the countryside, Pinckney Bend Distillery, Wood Hat Spirits, Of The Earth Farm Distillery, Blacksmith Distillery and Copper Mule Distillery reward those willing to travel. A sensible plan tackles one metro at a time, then strings together rural stops along the interstate corridor between them if you have a couple of days.
Distilleries worth prioritising
For first-timers, the Kansas City heavyweights are the easy yes. J. Rieger & Co. pairs serious history with a polished modern distillery and its distinctive Kansas City Whiskey, a blend with a touch of sherry. Tom's Town leans into Prohibition-era glamour with an Art Deco tasting room and its own bourbon, gin and vodka. Restless Spirits is worth adding for variety. On the Saint Louis side, StilL 630 has a strong local reputation, and Switchgrass Spirits offers a contrasting style. If you want the farm-distillery experience, prioritise Pinckney Bend and Wood Hat Spirits, both of which lean into small-batch, locally minded production well away from the city bustle.
Where to stay and eat nearby
Kansas City and Saint Louis both make excellent bases, each with abundant hotels, celebrated barbecue and lively bar scenes that complement a day of tastings. In Kansas City, the Crossroads Arts District and the East Bottoms area put you near several distilleries and plenty of food. Saint Louis offers its own neighbourhoods packed with restaurants and breweries. For the rural legs, plan lodging in or near the towns you're visiting, as options thin out quickly once you leave the metros. Always line up a meal before a tasting session so you're not drinking on an empty stomach.
Getting there and around
Missouri is built for the road trip, with Kansas City and Saint Louis linked by interstate and both served by major airports. Within each city, rideshare is the practical way to move between tasting rooms so everyone can sample freely. The cross-state and rural portions are firmly driving territory, so plan a designated driver or split the trip across days with overnight stops. Distances between the two metros are significant, so don't try to do both ends in a single day; treat them as separate chapters of the same trail.
Frequently asked
- Should I focus on Kansas City or Saint Louis for distilleries?
- Both are strong, but Kansas City is the most concentrated, with J. Rieger & Co., Tom's Town and others close together. Saint Louis adds independent makers like StilL 630 and Switchgrass Spirits. If you have two days, do one city per day.
- What is J. Rieger & Co. known for?
- J. Rieger traces back to 1887 and was once a major mail-order whiskey house before Prohibition. Today it crafts bourbon, rye, gin, vodka and its signature Kansas City Whiskey, a blend with a small addition of sherry, at its historic distillery.
- Are Missouri distilleries good for a day trip or a longer tour?
- Either works. A single metro makes a great day trip with several tasting rooms close together. To take in both Kansas City and Saint Louis plus rural makers, plan two or more days with overnight stops, since the cities are far apart.
- Can I tour the production areas, not just taste?
- Many Missouri distilleries offer guided tours of their production floors alongside tastings, especially the larger Kansas City venues. Smaller and rural distilleries may run tours on set times or by appointment, so check ahead and book where possible.
- What styles of spirits will I find on the Missouri trail?
- Plenty of variety: bourbon and rye feature prominently, but you'll also find gin, vodka and distinctive local blends. Tom's Town offers bourbon, gin and vodka, while farm distilleries like Pinckney Bend and Wood Hat Spirits showcase small-batch, locally minded spirits.
- How do I get between distilleries safely?
- Within Kansas City or Saint Louis, use rideshare so no one has to drive after tasting. For the rural and cross-state legs, plan a designated driver and spread the trip across days, since distances are real and the route is car-dependent.