As one of the largest cities in Missouri, Kansas City is a hotspot of fun. Perhaps the city is even known to be one of the most underrated places for nightlife in the country because there really are a lot of great and interesting places to hang out here. The city is also known for its tradition of jazz culture and live music — not to mention, it was a very popular place in the 1920s for Vaudeville performances. Combine their history for nightlife and fun with modern ideas and practices of brewing and you’ll get a really amazing local brewing scene. If you’re in town and you’re looking for a little something different than your average bar, scroll down for some of the best distilleries in Kansas City, Missouri.
1. Tom's Town Distilling Co.
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Tom’s Town Distilling Co. is taking those 1920’s vibes of prohibition-era America and bringing it to the modern age. The distillery is named after the local politician Tom Pendergast who is said to have blatantly ignored the rules of prohibition and turned Kansas City into the “Paris of the Plains”. Pendergast opened a saloon and founded a wholesale liquor company. When he was caught, he simply told the authorities “the people are thirsty”. Nowadays, Tom’s Town Distilling Co. honors this man with their own distillery and bar serving homemade cocktails and spirits in their 1920s-inspired tasting room and restaurant.
Tom's Town Distilling Co.
Address: 1701 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
Website: Tom’s Town Distilling Co.
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 11:30am - 4pm; Fri - Sat: 2pm - 12am; Sun: 2pm - 10pm; Mon: 4pm - 10pm
Price: 10 USD
2. Restless Spirits Distilling Company
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
With everything made and bottled on site, Restless Spirits Distilling Company is a great place with a lot of atmosphere in Kansas City. They have a wide variety of spirits made from Irish-style whiskey to botanically infused gins and artisanal vodka. The Restless Spirits Distilling Company offers tours of the ground so people can learn what goes into making some of Kansas City’s favorite spirits and the small tour groups allow it to be more of a personal and intimate experience.
Restless Spirits Distilling Company
Address: 109 E 18th Ave, North Kansas City, MO 64116, United States
Website: Restless Spirits Distilling Company
Opening hours: Mon - Thur: 12pm - 5pm; Fri - Sat: 12pm - 9pm (closed on Sun)
Price: 12 USD
3. Mean Mule Distilling Co.
Mean Mule Distilling Co. is a local distillery specializing in agave-based spirits. They have a particularly interesting history to back them up. The story goes that during the prohibition era, the grandparents of the owners of Mean Mule Distilling Co. had a secret still and a production facility on their farm hidden underground. The father bought the meanest mule money could buy to stand on the location of where their equipment was hidden. So, when the government came searching for illegal still, the mule would refuse to move; thus, successfully hiding the family secret. These days, the distillery is home to a great tasting room that offers amazing cocktails.
Mean Mule Distilling Co.
Address: 1733 Locust St, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
Website: Mean Mule Distilling Co.
Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 4pm - 12am (closed from Sun - Tue)
Price: 15USD
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4. Lifted Spirits - Kansas City Distillery
Located in an old warehouse that was once stables built in the 1800s, Lifted Spirits - Kansas City Distillery brought some new life to this part of town when they brought their recipes for spirits with them. The people here specialize in gin and vodka but there are also a ton of other options here as well as a menu using spirits made right on site. The interior pays homage to the old stables with a rustic atmosphere and vintage turn-of-the-century aesthetics.
Lifted Spirits- Kansas City Distillery
Address: 1734 Cherry St, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
Website: Lifted Spirits- Kansas City Distillery
Opening hours: Wed - Fri: 4pm - 11pm; Sat: 2pm -11pm; Sun: 2pm - 8pm (closed on Mon & Tue)
Price: 15 USD
5. West Bottoms Whiskey Co.
With a name like West Bottoms Whiskey Co., you can bet the specialty here is some good old-fashioned whiskey. The inspiration for the people at West Bottoms Whiskey Co. is from their friends over at J. Rieger & Co., as well as the traditions of distilling American-style rye and bourbon. West Bottoms Whiskey Co. offers a unique blend giving their whiskey products a distinct taste that definitely sets them apart from their Kansas City counterparts.
West Bottoms Whiskey Co.
Address: 1321 W 13 St, Kansas City, MO 64102, United States
Website: West Bottoms Whiskey Co.
Price: 10-20 USD
6. J. Rieger & Co. (from USD 20.0)
If you’re going to check out one of the many distilleries in Kansas City, make sure you stop by J. Rieger & Co. What makes this place so great is that it is essentially the grandfather of all the distilleries in the city. Established in 1887 and located in the Livestock Exchange District, J. Rieger & Co. hosts a myriad of events from upcoming St. Patrick’s Day parties to wine and cheese events and even pet-friendly gatherings. The distillery specializes in spirits — especially whiskey and gin — and they have tours inside offered every day of the week. Book a tour and see what kept this distillery in business for over 100 years.
Kansas City Distillery Tour
Duration: 1 hour
Drink Kansas City
Kansas City is an absolutely great place for those aficionados and connoisseurs of good spirits. The city is known for its nightlife and its fun times. The city has always been historically fond of distilling their own alcohol — so even despite prohibition and competition, there are plenty of amazing local distilleries in Kansas City that have stood the test of time.
History
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