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Create Cocktails at Home with Missouri-Made Spirits

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J. Rieger & Co.

Celebrate “Missouri-style” with cocktails featuring spirits made in the Show-Me State. More than two dozen distilleries across the state produce a variety of spirits, including whiskey, gin and vodka. Many of the distilleries also offer recipes for creating cocktails with their spirits. From the tried-and-true to innovative flavor combinations, you’re sure to find a favorite. Here’s a selection to help you get started:

J. Rieger & Co.

Founded in 1887 in Kansas City, the J. Rieger distillery met its demise in 1919 with the onset of Prohibition. Ninety-five years later, it reopened. J. Rieger’s great-great-great grandson and a partner revived the brand, and today, the distillery produces whiskey, gin, vodka and a coffee liqueur. J.Rieger’s recipes include the Pendergast, named for Kansas City’s infamous political boss during the Prohibition years. It’s made with Kansas City whiskey and sweet vermouth.

Ozark Distillery

Using time-honored methods, Ozark Distillery, located at the Lake of the Ozarks, makes corn whiskey moonshine, vodka and bourbon whiskey. The distillery also creates flavored moonshine infused with apples, blackberries, vanilla beans and butterscotch. Recipes include the Ozark Moonberry, Ozark Moon-A-Rita and Moontini.

Pinckney Bend Distillery

Founded by three long-time beer-brewing buddies, Pinckney Bend Distillery, located in New Haven, sold its first bottle of gin in 2011. For many years, the friends dreamed of opening a brewery, but then decided to try their hand at distilling. Pinckney Bend’s recipes feature signature cocktails and favorites from friends. The Flora Dora is made with gin, lime juice, raspberry liqueur and ginger ale.

Copper Run Distillery

Home of Ozark Mountain Moonshine, whiskey and rum, the Copper Run Distillery is located in Walnut Shade. The business lays claim to being the first legal distillery in the Ozark Mountains since Prohibition ended in 1933. The distillery’s recipes include the Copperhead Cocktail – a combination of rum, lemon juice, lime juice, grenadine and club soda.

StilL 630

Named for the 630-foot height and width of the Gateway Arch, StilL 630 in St. Louis handcrafts an array of spirits. The distillery opened in 2012 just blocks from the iconic Arch. StilL 630 offers dozens of recipes for whiskey, gin and rum cocktails as well as recipes for rye cocktails. The Expedition Rum Punch combines rum with pineapple juice, lime juice and grenadine. The Queen Bee features rye, strawberry honey syrup and ginger beer.

If you’re not ready to put your mixologist skills to the test, you can always enjoy a masterfully mixed drink at a Missouri distillery or cocktail bar. Here are some suggestions:

For information about more distilleries in Missouri, visit MissouriCraftDistillersGuild.com.