National Craft Distillery Day | Exploring Chicagoland’s Distilleries
Chicago is a city that knows how to have a good time—and you can, too. Our brewery boom turned us into the country's craft beer capital, and now our distilleries are carving out their own niche in the local drinking scene. The city is now home to a handful of producers that craft high-quality spirits in small batches, often using local Midwestern ingredients. Here are just a few Chicago distilleries where you can sample locally made spirits, get a taste of luxury, and celebrate National Craft Distillery Day. Cheers!
Letherbee
With a unique line-up of spirits, this Belmont Gardens distillery continues to grow in popularity. The company started from Founder Brent Engel’s hobby as a moonshiner and is now distributing to Europe. They offer two seasonal gins, in addition to their uncommon spirits like absinthe, fernet, and bësk, a Swedish liquor dominated by wormwood flavors.
Rhine Hall
Rhine Hall is known for their fruit brandies, a European-style brandy otherwise known as eau de vie or schnapps. A majority of their fruit is sourced from the Great Lakes Region, with no flavorings, sweeteners, or neutral spirits added to any of the brandies. Learn more about their distillation process at their production space and tasting room, where they offer public tours, tastings, cocktails, events, and more.
PlayPen Vodka
PlayPen Vodka, inspired by Chicago's brief, yet beautiful summers, is a delicate and exceptionally smooth spirit. Meant to be enjoyed wherever your “playpen” is located, PlayPen is sure to be one of your favorite warm-weather spirits.
Apologue Spirited Liqueurs
Inspired by years spent behind the bar, Apologue creates spirited liqueurs crafted from entirely natural, non-GMO ingredients. Their signature expressions include Aronia Berry, Persimmon, and Celery Root. Apologue’s liqueurs can be sipped straight up or used as the base of a cocktail.
FEW Spirits
Located just north of the city in Evanston, FEW Spirits makes small-batch, artisanal whiskeys and gins. All their products are made from locally sourced grains and bottled in American-made glass and can be sampled on one of their distillery tours.
FINO
The name FINO comes from the Spanish meaning of 'fine' and 'high quality', and this woman-opened tequila is just that. All three expressions are made from agaves grown in Jalisco’s highlands and crafted in small batches, to ensure each is perfected and unique.