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. Make plans to visit one – or all of them – to take a tour, enjoy a tasting and take home your favorite spirit to mix and mingle with friends. Here are some spirited spots to try:
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. Tours include the Heritage Tour highlighting the distillery itself, while the Whiskey Tour dives deep into the making of the spirit and the Signature Tour sees a senior team member offering a more in-depth tour and plenty of curated takeaways. J.Rieger’s cocktail selection includes the Pendergast, named for Kansas City’s infamous political boss during the Prohibition years. It’s made with Kansas City bourbon 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. Book a tour led by the head distiller and walk through the process behind whiskey, vodka and moonshine: The events are capped off by complimentary tastings or food. Check out in-house cocktails including 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. The classic Gin and Tonic makes for a refreshing sample of the distillery’s work: Sample it in a souvenir glass during a tasting experience that walks guests through the history and science of Pickney Bend’s spirits, or make your own concoction during a class or workshop.
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 plenty of whiskey, gin and rum cocktails during Cocktail Fridays. Recent additions include Calling You, mixing gin, stone pine liquor and cranberry juice. There’s always the classics, too: an Old Fashioned, or a sweet vermouth Negroni, and there are endless recipes to discover at one of its regular cocktail classes. Or join a tour to learn all about the distilling process, from grain to glass.
There are many such spots to get into the spirit and try a Missouri-sourced cocktail, including:
- Lobby Bar in Hotel Kansas City – Kansas City
- The Golden Girl Rum Club – Springfield
- UPBAR – St. Louis
- Barrel 131 – Jackson
- Lazy Tiger – St. Louis
For information about more distilleries in Missouri, visit MissouriCraftDistillersGuild.com.