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    Barnstormer Distillery

    4.7 (24 reviews)
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    Updated 3 months ago

    Barnstormer Distillery Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Barnstormer Distillery

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    John M.

    This might be my favorite local Illinois distillery. Located in a country-like setting on the outskirts of Rockford,they produce whiskey,bourbon,vodka,rum as well as specialty spirits. Located on a 22 acre farm that grows vegetables,fruits and herbs that are all used at the distillery. Open Fri-Sun with food available but check their website for specific hours. Live music most of the time as well. My wife had a Lavender Lemon Martini which was very refreshing but she said she would have liked to taste more lavender. I had a Bourbon Old Fashion instead of their Whiskey Old Fashion and it was absolutely delicious. I would like to try one of their Whiskey flights on my next visit as they do sell bottles to go A real hidden gem just outside of Chicago!

    Live music.  "That Gurl."
    Gary G.

    Very nice location for this venue. Distillery on premises. They make Vodka, Rum, Bourbon, and Gin. Everything they distill is 100% natural. Open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Live music on some evenings. Check their website. Inside bar available. Outdoor seating during nice weather. Sandwiches and nachos are available if you're hankering for something to eat. Prices are very reasonable .... plenty of parking. It's back in the woods, so it's very secluded.

    Susan S.

    We had a wonderful time at our class reunion that was held at Barnstormer Distillery! A couple of years before the event, our classmates voted on a spirit. We toured the distillery and helped fill the barrel with rum. At our reunion, we sampled and bottled the rum. We got to place the labels and sign them. It was a fun and unique reunion! Owners Tim and Addie Ford went above and beyond to make this a memorable event. When our caterer backed out several days before the reunion, Tim and Addie pulled together a terrific buffet with plenty of delicious food for everyone. Barnstormer Distillery is a great place to grab a bite to eat (from food trucks), relax and enjoy the weather. They've lined up some music for the summer months, too.

    Distillery
    Mitch J.

    Can't say enough good things about this place!! What a hidden gem. Formerly known as Grant View Distillery, Barnstormer Distillery is a farm to bottle distillery, growing a lot of their ingredients on site as well as getting them from a local farm in the neighboring town of Byron. I believe they are about 3 years old right now. We were given a tour by Addy, one of the owners. I've been to many brewery and distillery tours in my life, given by many talented and knowledgeable people. I can confidently say this was my favorite tour so far, and that's mostly because of how personable and knowledgeable Addy was at making us feel like we were family! She made us mixed drinks during the tour, showed us their "small but mighty" distillery and explained how their process works (they do many things different than the industry standard, in a good way!). We were then able to see a little bit of their gorgeous 22-acre property, as well as finish the tour off with a very extensive tasting of all of their spirits (and some snacks too). During the tasting, we were taught the best practices when sampling spirits and some of these tips and tricks I had never heard about before. After tasting all the spirits, I would personally recommend their RFD vodka and 40 winks barrel strength whiskey, but they also have a great offering for those who like rum, too. All their spirits are available for sale in Rockford at woodmans, artale, and cork keg & spirits. While they are not fully open to the public yet as of July 2020, they will be very soon and I would highly recommend booking your spot for a tour, as well as checking out the events that they will be hosting soon. It will definitely be an experience you'll remember for a long time--I know we will!

    An empty whiskey flight and some cribbage was a perfect way to spend a chilly Saturday afternoon.
    Christina E.

    What a wonderfully quaint spot. I wasn't expecting much, but the whiskey was amazing. And the owners are sweet as can be. Can't wait to go back to sit by the fire pits or stroll through the twinkle lights.

    a tent set up for a party
    Preston B.

    What a fun place! Awesome husband/wife duo running this quirky yet classy distillery. Come for a great cocktail and some award winning spirits. Be sure to say yes to the farm/distillery tour to hear more of their story. Catch this place while it's still a hidden gem and beat the crowds (because they're sure to come once the secret gets out). Gotta be the most peaceful, unique place to get a drink in the rock river valley!

    a glass of milkshake on a bar

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Nice ambience tasty drinks, but clean up the junkyard I can't see having any event outside there with all the debris everywhere

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    1 year ago

    The ambiance is so cute! The service was awesome and made us "custom" cocktails. We had a great time.

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    3 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Amazing venue! Warm, welcoming and rustic! Owners are present and there to share their stories with the customers.

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    Photo of Kathy F.
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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Off beaten path along Rt 2 near Rockford, nice outdoor and indoor seating , nice cocktail menu

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Such a fun space. Amazing drinks. Simple ambience and fun people! It doesn't get any better than this!

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    4 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Barnstormer Distillery

    Review Highlights - Barnstormer Distillery

    We lean to whiskey as our preferred drink but the Kailua like rum, cucumber vodka, and others are also great options.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Spirit Water - Spirit Water Brewery

    Spirit Water

    (48 reviews)

    It was our first time coming to Spirit Water for a Friday night Funnier By The Lake Comedy show…read more The atmosphere is very laid back, but festive with the lights and layout, and I love the comfy couch corner area. I appreciate that the place is dog friendly too. The owners and staff here are fantastic and make you feel immediately welcomed. They take time to educate you on their selections and share some of the unique history of this place. I enjoyed the bourbon, on ice, very much, and also tried a shot of amaretto and a tequila. I will definitely be back to try more of their spirits, as everything I tried was smooth, flavor filled, and just left me wanting more! Thank you, Spirit Water, and Funnier By The Lake Comedy, for a memorable Friday night experience.

    Thought we'd check this place out before heading to dinner. Great idea! Bartender Kevin was very…read moreknowledgeable and had great suggestions. Loved the fact that he asked if we had ever been - he gave us the low down and explained the drink menu. They have lots of different choices for beer & spirits. The Amaretto Stone Sour (receipt said 10 oz for $12 - it was more like 5 ounces) & Vodka Elderflower ($6) were both very good. They also sell spirits by the bottle, hats & other items. Great place to pick up something local! The place doesn't appear to serve food and they have a couple seating areas away from the bar both inside & outside where you congregate with friends. I will admit I had a tough time picking just one drink to have so I will be back!

    Copper Fiddle Distillery - Blood orange martini and pecan old fashioned (YUM)

    Copper Fiddle Distillery

    (101 reviews)

    $$

    We came in for the tour on a Sunday and it turned out to be a private tour with Amanda. The tour…read morewas more of a conversation and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Amanda's energy and passion was outstanding. The tour was about 45 minutes and includes a tasting flight. Since I do not drink bourbon, they allowed my to substitute a drink. There were so many options that I was interested in trying, but after discussing what I like with Amanda, she suggested the Lavender Haze. The lavender syrup is made in house and was sweet, with a floral taste . The drink was excellent. They have open mic nights and live music. They are expanding into the adjacent space in the next few months. It was interesting to hear all of the logistics involved in moving equipment into the new space. We will be back !

    Located in a small strip center ,this distillery is a real gem located in Lake Zurich…read more Staff and owners are super friendly that serves great cocktails and has live music . Unfortunately they do not offer food options but you can bring your own. They make their own Bourbon,Gin ,Vodka and Rum which pairs well with their huge selection of crafted cocktails. The prices for the cocktails are slightly more than one would expect but then again you are not paying any cover charge to hear live music and frankly,they are sooo delicious. We tried the Blood Orange Mai Tai which was a daily special,Banana Rum Old Fashion and a Classic Old Fashion. Can't pick a favorite because they were all our favorites! Tastings and Tours are available. Support local business and check out Copper Fiddle Distillery.

    Barnstormer Distillery - distilleries - Updated May 2026

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