10 Woman-Owned Vodka Distilleries in the Midwest
Vodka makes a great summer cocktail. Rather than reach for a giant bottle of the mass-produced stuff, we looked around for woman-owned and woman-operated distilleries producing craft vodka. And guess what: we found 11 just in the midwest!
These 11 distilleries stretch across Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota and Missouri. Each one delivers an interpretation of vodka that represents not only the distillery but the local area or region. It’s worth the investment to taste a small-batch vodka that isn’t feeding a major beverage conglomerate. And they each make an incredible cocktail.
Explore all of these woman-run distilleries throughout the midwest and find even more on our Women in Distilling map. Read on for more!
Kennay Farms Distilling
This family-run distillery has two women at the helm: Doris Kennay and her daughter Aubrey Quinn. Doris, the business co-owner, began farming with her husband in 1982 before they launched the distillery in 2016. That’s when Aubrey returned from college to oversee marketing for the brand.
Together, the family produces rye whiskey, bourbon, gin and, of course, vodka. Crafted using corn grown on the family farm, it’s a true representation of the brand.
The entire lineup is available for tasting when you visit on Fridays between 4pm and 8pm or Saturdays 3pm to 8pm.
416 Lincoln Highway, Rochelle, Illiinois 61068
Boot Hill Distillery
With Stephanie Nestor as head distiller and Julie Miller serving as the special project manager, Boot Hill is certainly led by women. Stephanie calls on her degree in Food Science and Technology to craft fine spirits while Julie wields a degree in Agricultural Business to oversee the business side of the spirits. Together they team up with
At the Boot Hill location – built on the land of the town’s original cemetery, the team produces a wide-range of spirits, particularly the EMAW Vodka. The name stands for “Every Man a Wild Cat,” a nod to the home state of Kansas.
Taste the vodka, the bourbon, the whiskey – and a few canned cocktails – when you drop by the tasting room Wednesday through Saturday, 3pm through 11pm.
501 W. Spruce Street, Dodge City, Kansas 67801
Ethanology Distillation
Leading the Ethanology team, Sierra Bingham has a close relationship with nature. Her expertise as an herbalist allows her to craft gin and many other spirits from locally grown ingredients. Thanks to her time living in nature and becoming familiar with flora and fauna, she understands the plants and crops of Michigan like few others.
It’s that know-how that comes into play when Sierra distills her spirits, including Siligo Vodka. The sipping vodka features aromas of vanilla and locust flower that lead into flavors of Darjeeling and jasmine.
Get the full experience of Ethanology’s spirits when you visit the spirit house and cocktail courtyard at the distillery Tuesday and Wednesday from 1pm to 8pm, Thursday through Saturday from 1pm to 11pm or Sunday from 1pm to 7pm.
Olds St, 127 Ames Street, Elk Rapids, Michigan 49629
Journeyman Distillery
Co-founder Johanna Welter discovered whiskey when everyone around her was still drinking overly sweet cosmos at the bar. In the company of a friend, she sipped the spirit with water and never looked back. Today, she curates the Journeyman brand alongside her husband and keeps the company moving forward.
While the distillery focuses on whiskey, the brand’s Field Vodka is award-winning and crafted with botanicals that celebrate the founding of Chicago’s Field Museum. It’s worth a try.
Get a chance to try this and all the spirits at Journeyman when you drop by The Featherbone Factory, the brand’s Three Oaks, Michigan location, and its restaurant, Staymaker, Monday through Thursday, 8:30am to 7pm, Friday and Saturday, 8:30am to 8pm or Sunday, 7am to 7pm.
109 Generations Drive, Three Oaks, Michigan 49128
Norseman Distillery
Jordan Webb owns and operates Norseman, the first legal distillery in Minneapolis since Prohibition, with her husband Scott Ervin. Production is also managed by distiller Lauren Murphy for an extra dose of female leadership. Located in an historic industrial building, the producer crafts beverages designed to showcase everything its home state has to offer.
Using locally grown ingredients, Lauren and the entire production team at Norseman crafts a wide range of products, including the small-batch vodka. The spirit is smooth with delicate notes of sweet malted barley.
Check out all of Norseman’s spirits when you visit the tasting room Monday through Thursday, 5pm to 10pm; Friday, 5pm to 11pm; Saturday, 2pm to 11pm; or Sunday, 3pm to 11pm.
451 Taft Street Northeast, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413
Skaalvenn Distillery
Owners Mary and Tyson Schnitker prioritize an environment that’s diverse and welcoming to all. Not only is Skaalvenn woman-owned but it’s also veteran and minority owned. After the couple started making spirits in 2015, a visit to Japan inspired them to open a cocktail lounge as part of their distillery.
Vodka was one of the original spirits Mary and Tyson crafted in the early days. Since then, the team has grown to include about a dozen staff members, working to produce and serve the small-batch vodka, distilled from wheat making a perfect cocktail spirit, as well as many other options.
Get to know Skaalvenn’s spirits lineup when you drop by the cocktail lounge Wednesdays, 5pm to 10pm; Thursdays, 4pm to 10pm; Fridays, 4pm to 11pm; or Saturdays, 3pm to 11pm.
8601 73rd Avenue North #14, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55428
Vikre Distillery
When she’d had enough of her desk job, Emily Vikre and her husband Joel left the east coast and headed home to the Northwoods of Minnesota. That’s where they were inspired to co-found Vikre Distillery, crafting beverages that blend metropolitan styles with the vibe of the woods.
Named for the not-so-little body of water located right outside the distillery, Lake Superior Vodka is just one of the many spirits currently produced by the distillers. The clarity of the spirit honors the fresh water of the Great Lake.
Dive into all of Vikre’s products when you visit the distillery Monday through Thursday, 2pm to 10pm; Friday, 1pm to 11pm; Saturday, 12pm to 11pm; Sunday, 12pm to 8pm.
525 South Lake Avenue, #102, Duluth, Minnesota 55802
Pinckney Bend Distillery
Fearlessly led by CEO Tara Steffens, Pickney Bend was founded by three friends, Jerry, Tom and Ralph, who left their jobs to distill gin from beer they brewed. When they retired, they turned over the business to the next generation, including Tara and the rest of today’s team. With help from distillers, like Briley Howell, expanded the portfolio to include far more options.
Produced in small batches, American Vodka features a velvety smooth texture punctuated by a delicate flavor and a clean finish. The distillers reimagined the distilling process for this one to really nail the right formula.
Explore the distillery’s full line of products by visiting Monday through Saturday, 10am through 5pm.
1101 Miller Street, New Haven, Missouri 63068
R/Farm Distilling Co.
Family is at the core of everything R/Farm does. For generations, the Rosier family has worked the land, farming and growing ingredients. Today, led by Kim Rosier and her husband Kirby co-founded and own the distillery on their family’s land, operating it with their children. Daughter-in-laws Holly and Ashley also oversee different parts of the business.
Dedicated to producing alcohol with the farmer’s spirit, the R/Farm distilling team delivers Community Grown Vodka which exclusively uses corn grown in the Midwest. It’s distilled seven times in the interest of pursuing perfection.
See what perfection tastes like in vodka and get a chance to try the rest of R/Farm’s products when you visit Thursdays, 11am to 5pm or Fridays through Saturdays, 11am to 6pm.
16755 Highway 59, Mound City, Missouri 64470
Restless Spirits
Her time as a science teacher prepared Benay Shannon to take the job of Master Distiller at Restless Spirits. Since she co-founded and co-owns the distillery with Michael Shannon, whose Irish heritage acts as a North Star for the business.
Dedicated to the Irish immigrants who helped build the railroad, Duffy’s Run Vodka delivers a smooth experience that honors the hard work done by the owner’s ancestors. A touch of sweetness sets this spirit apart from the crowd but it also makes it a perfect base for a cocktail.
Find out why they say this vodka is a “hare above the rest” and drop in for the other spirits in the portfolio as well. Visit Tuesdays through Thursdays, 2pm to 7pm or Fridays and Saturdays, 2pm to 9pm.
109 East 18TH Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64116
