Stopped in tonight and had one of the worst experiences we've had in a while. Our group of six all ran into the same issue with the bartenders. The brunette bartender wouldn't acknowledge us at all--no eye contact, no response--even when we tried to ask a simple question, just moving on to the next customer. When we finally got to the blonde bartender, the experience didn't improve. She seemed uninterested in helping, rolled her eyes when we asked questions, and was dismissive when my wife asked if her drink could be made less sweet, saying "that's just how it is." I also asked a question about one of their bourbons and was told to go to the store where they could tell me, which didn't make much sense and would have meant starting the whole order process over again. We even overheard another customer mention they'd been dealing with the same attitude all night, so it didn't seem like an isolated incident. This was our second visit. The first time, on a similarly busy Sunday, everything was great--which makes this even more disappointing. Based on this experience, it will likely be our last visit. read more

Visited again today and so enjoyed the delicious drinks and hospitality! We brought snacks to share and cards to play! The place was crowded and everyone there was so fun! Check it out, you won't be disappointed! read more

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I have been to Rush Creek a few times and it never disappoints. The service and drinks are amazing plus on most weekends they have a food truck and entertainment. Prices are very reasonable on both their drinks and bottles to go. Definitely worth visiting in Harvard Illinois. read more

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Back at Rush Creek for a Sunday Funday with friends and this time Cousins Main Lobster food truck was there. A duo called Whiskey and Harmony provided live music and both of them were amazing singers. So many creative and delicious cocktails here that it's hard to choose just one. If you get there between 11am and 1pm for Happy Hour they are $2 off but at $8 regular price they are an epic value. Check out their website or Facebook page for regular updates. read more

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Honestly there's not that much cool in Harvard, but this place may be the coolest. It hardly seems like it when getting here. Rush Creek Distillers is far away from the main parts of town. Basically in the middle of corn fields. The liquors are first class though. Came here from the Metra station and made a walk that got us wondering if we would ever get here. It's on the far northwest side of town, close to only a few manufacturing garages and that kind of stuff. The building is pretty unremarkable from the outside, and you wood have no idea what it was. It's about $8 for the cheapest cocktails. The 943 is a good one. Simple and sweet ass concoction. This is made with Malabar Spiced Liqueur, orange juice, and pineapple juice. Another one is the Whiskey Sour, a classic. This is made with 25% Wheat Bourbon, fresh lemon juice, and homemade simple syrup, garnished with a cherry and orange slice. Even though there's no real food menu, you can make a charcuterie board. They have cheeses, meats, and olives. Great place for getting seriously crafted cocktails. It has bottles for purchase. Try some things here and then get some for wherever. read more

Rush Creek Distilling - 943 - Bars Near Me - Harvard, Illinois

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Rush Creek Distillery in Harvard is a really cool place to visit. They had live music inside and a nice patio to enjoy the pleasant weather after the heat wave. The staff was friendly and crafted some great cocktails with their house-made libations. I started with the Joshua Tree bourbon spiked sweet tea and the Hibiscus Hayes. Both were flavorful and excellent choices that I would definitely recommend. Can't wait to come back and enjoy Rush Creek Distillery and some of their other craft cocktails! read more

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So I never heard of this place and a friend recommended it. We went for a drink after dinner. It was 930 when we arrived. And they close at 10. We just were having one drink. The had several people in it. Thinks it was a really fun atmosphere. The cocktails were delicious. I had the slushy of the week Really yummy. my friend had Stoney creek sipper and that was really good but definitely not my favorite. I prefer vodka probably they had a cute little store where they sold some products and stuff for you to make like a charcuterie board. Would be a lot of fun to come with a couple people hang out. Outside area look nice. I'm thinking they have a tour sure. We plan to come if they have a tour. And try that. Will definitely go back and will use this brand if local places carry it. read more

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Really nice experience. Many tastings offered upon entering. Lively bar scene with fun entertainment. More mature crowd, maybe because of the artist performing. read more

Great cocktails, GREAT bourbon! I can't wait to go back and get more bottles! I wish I was in town this weekend for the Rick Nielsen appearance. read more

Very very cool place. Drinks were fantastic, service was friendly . Their bottled alcohol is very good. There is a gift shop with tshirts nicknacks and of course their bottles. There is no food, but I believe they let you bring in your own. Nice outdoor seating along the side. read more

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The only thing missing here is a full food menu! Excellent bartender Friendly patrons Awesome atmosphere Party space available with ample parking. read more

Rush Creek Distilling - a bloody drink - Bars Near Me - Harvard, Illinois

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Happy fourth anniversary to Rush Creek! We came a few months ago but forgot to update here. They have live music outside with line dancing and fans galore. Taco food truck in the parking lot for food on site. We came inside and sat at bar. Hubby had a bourbon and Coke; Manhattan. Enjoyed both. I had the Pineapple Island Punch; Gimlet (with vodka). Enjoyed both. Not a fan of the paper straws. Come on, there are no sea turtles in the corn fields! Haha. But not, oh boy, when the vodka hits. Whew! Gotta take a water break. Be sure to visit their store and try the free samples of all their alcohol. They have a new rye. Fun night watching the sun set behind the clouds and listening to live music. read more

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Rush Creek Distillery is a wonderful contemporary venue, offering comfort both inside and out. I enjoyed a "vodka, strawberry slush" that was both tasty and refreshing. My husband tried the "Joshua tree bourbon spiked sweet tea" and a "Hibiscus Hayes," both of which he enjoyed. The venue featured a great band, enhancing the experience. Additionally, the distillery has a private party area upstairs. A cute store as well! read more

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I love this place! The decor and vibe is fun! The severs are always friendly and knowledgeable. The drinks are unique or just get your usual. I like all of the spirits they make there! Vodka, whiskey and bourbon! Yummy! They have a nice gift shop and you can buy the fixings for a charcuterie board. A lot of times they have music or events with a food truck. You should check it out! read more

Why would someone drive 30+ minutes to come here? A simple answer, quality and atmosphere. Sure, there are places nearer who have good product but the quality of RCD is hard to beat. Their Trophy Whisky is my favorite; get a glass, an ice ball and the night is set. The flavor of their trophy whisky is excellent and you will be a fan, I promise you. I also own their Gin, which is great. Try their Botanical Gin for a special treat. Today I bought their Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Vanilla Vodka. My wife loves their Vodkas and their bourbon is delicious. This is KSB (3 year), and they will release a 4 year next year. This visit I had a Diet Coke and bourbon, then we split a Apple Cider Slush (Edwards Apple Cider, lime, honey, and their Gin); it was delicious! Every time I come it is a great time and I leave with another set of glasses and more of their amazing distilled spirits. read more

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Great service! Delicious drinks! Nice atmosphere. Lively, fun crowd. We will be back.

My new favorite hang out spot! We came here on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and they had a wood fire pizza truck, live music and plenty of outdoor seating. The bartenders were so friendly and fun!! We also met the owners who were awesome and let us take a peek at their barrel room! Their drinks are soooo good especially the slushees!!! They also had a store attached where they sell their bottles of whiskey and vodka, clothes, whiskey boxes for gifts and more. Cannot wait to come back!! read more

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Great place for drinks and music! The owners are very friendly and the place is really nice inside. Food trucks are a nice touch when they are there. Definitely a fun place for a few friends to visit and check out their tasting room and liquor read more

My wife and I decided to pop down to Harvard to have a cocktail and relax for an hour or so at this establishment. They had a food truck there, which looked like they had excellent food, but unfortunately at inflated resort area prices. So we passed on an appetizer. Now that has nothing to do with the distillery. It is a very cool place, clean, attractive, and their product is above average. Their drink prices and menu are very good, it is just a customer service. That is very questionable. There were two young ladies working the bar, and the only time they seemed interested in the customer was when they first got to the bar to ask for a drink. They had two televisions one had the US women's final for tennis, the other had the NFL network showing the Packers game from the night before my wife and I were curious to see if they could turn on the Wisconsin game or the Notre Dame game, but I would swear that the two of them were actively avoiding any eye contact with the patrons seated at the bar. as my wife and I were watching the Wisconsin game on the phone, we noticed that NIU was driving for a game-winning field goal to upset Notre Dame. It seems that one needs to utter a loud "excuse me " is the only way to get their attention away from their personal conversations or their cell phones. I did not hear one common nicety when people came to the bar other than what would you like to drink? It seems like the phrases hello, how are you and goodbye, thanks for coming are not in their vocabulary. The place was busy, but not overly so, there were plenty of extra seats. It seems like people come in here in groups because they know that they're not going to be made to feel special or welcome unless they're with their friends. If I was the owner/manager of this place, I would head up to Fontana and check out Kimkasi pub to see how they treat their customers. There they will see the reason why customers like us are regulars at Kimkasi, and rarely frequent their establishment. read more

This place is great! Such a fun and welcoming atmosphere. This was our second time here with our pups. They allow dogs on the patio/grass area and have a good amount of space inside as well. Bring a lawn chair or blanket in case you'd like to find a shady spot for you and the dogs. The service is friendly and helpful. The only negative I would say is that there's usually a pretty good sized line, but I suppose they keep real busy! They have events such as music and food trucks, which just adds to the atmosphere of the place. My favorite drink is the Island Pineapple Punch and my husband's is the American Gold Fashioned. They're always happy to let your sample and the owners are very engaging. Family and dog friendly! read more

Rush Creek Distilling - Grassy space for lawn chairs and blankets! - Bars Near Me - Harvard, Illinois

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I was super impressed to find a place like this in my hometown of Harvard, IL! I was going to stop in no matter what, since I am a huge fan of distilleries, but when I came through for their pre-opening event during Balloon Fest, and could not believe my eyes. I've been to many distilleries, and this one was my favorite, aesthetically, by FAR...just wow. When you walk in, there's a cool desk and area for purchasing spirits and merchandise. As you walk through to the main area, the first thing you notice is how big it is! This place was packed, but the high ceilings, industrial chandelier, and glass where you can see through to the stills made it feel very spacious. The bar is super cool, and stays in the theme of the industrial decor. Seriously so so amazed by the look and feel of Rush Creek Distilling, and this was a phenomenal event. As for the spirits...I tasted four while here. I enjoyed the flavor of the vodka and gin; the vodka wasn't over-distilled so it still had some solid grain flavor (much appreciated), and the gin's botanicals were good but not overpowering. They had another sweet and spiced liqueur that was a tad too sweet and spicy for me, but someone I brought to the event liked it so much she bought a bottle, so to each their own :) As for the whiskey, I'm going to need to try it again. I wasn't able to fully appreciate it after taking the sweet / spicy sample, so didn't feel like I loved it. I'll be back to sip and discern a bit more and update my review. They were serving a few cocktails and I tried the Whiskey Black and Gold, which was phenomenal, and the Gin Rush, which was also great. Since the event, they've done a great job keeping in touch via emails with promotions but not being overbearing. Highly recommend, definitely come through if you're stopping through, or make the trip out to drop in...great job with this place! read more

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Very nice distillery and bar area. Gift shop is cute. I almost bought a bottle of the 10 year aged Trophy whiskey when my dad started asking questions about the in-house made American whiskey vs. Trophy whiskey. The woman in the shop (who was very nice!) pretty much told us that the Trophy whiskey is not made in house and is a product that comes from another supplier in Kentucky and she mentioned some stuff about recycled barrels too. Sorry, but if I want to support a local distillery that only offers about 5 products, I want them to be made on-site. Not some unknown product from an outside source. Pretty disappointing. I ended up switching the bottle for the made in-house, 5 year aged American whiskey. read more

The drinks are absolutely amazing. The Distillery is constantly putting on events with live music and having food trucks! Great place to visit for fun, or to relax on the patio with friends and family. They do have limited hours so make sure you check before you make the drive. read more

I wish I could have given a better review. The place looks cool probably has some great ambiance before 9. But when you pop in an hour before closing to try the place and the bartender is more interested in texting on their phone or closing than serving a couple of drinks, doesn't make you want to come back. read more

These people couldn't be more friendly! Thanks, Rachel & Todd for your hospitality. The Double Oak Bourbon, Barrel Rested Gin, & Trophy Whiskey was exceptional. Even their hand sanitizer was unique. Jim. read more

Rush Creek Distilling - Two really good offerings from Rush Creek. I have to go back for some of the "Trophy" whiskey. - Bars Near Me - Harvard, Illinois

New little hidden gem in Harvard, IL. I was pleasantly surprised on how great this place was. Our bartender Cassandra was so knowledgeable and extremely helpful with all of our questions about their drinks. They have current drink specials to match the season, and even slushees! They have a wide variety of food you can purchase and have your own charcuterie board, or you can order food from any local restaurant and have it delivered. Great outdoor seating, such a chic bar area and even a private room upstairs for parties and events. They typically offer a tasting and tour, but currently the tour is out on hold due to COVID. However, the tasting was really neat to hear and taste all the different things they have to offer. Loved this place, cannot wait to go back ! read more

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This place was terrific and I can't wait to go back! It is such a great space. When you enter you walk into a small store where you can buy spirits, T-shirts, hats and other merchandise. Everything was very cool! After walking thru the store you enter the bar area. The decor in the bar is very unique . Huge chandeliers and awesome wood tables. Very clean and glass doors so you can see the distillery in the next room. They also appear to have loft area. It would be a great place to throw a party. I ordered the mule and it was delicious. I plan to go back and buy a bottle of vodka! I'll try the gin and whiskey next time. Lastly, I love the name and logo with trout on it . My kids and I have spent many hours fishing at Rush Creek in Harvard and now I plan to spend some hours visiting Rush Creek distilling!! read more

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This place was a blast! Todd..Carrie and Emily were awesome. The drinks...amazing! Wish we lived closer cuz we would be here often! read more

Rush Creek Distilling - Bars Near Me - Harvard, Illinois

Visited Rush Creek Distillery for the first time when visiting family in Illinois. Not only is the bar styled perfectly and incredibly clean and organized, but the house-made cocktails phenomenal. I participated in the distillery tour (with owner, Jay) which was very informative and fun. Even took home a bottle of their Gin out of the gift shop. Highly recommend! read more

Rush Creek Distilling - Bars Near Me - Harvard, Illinois

Today a group of friends/family descended upon this this establishment for an afternoon tour that turned into a few rounds while we caught up and watched the sunset. I have to agree with the other reviewers--the interior is lovely. We all loved the inviting warmth of soft fabrics and smart lighting counterbalanced with industrial structure and polished, rough-hewn wood. All designed by one of the partners, If I recall. He also designed this genius contraption that turns a large cube of ice into a sphere, to be enjoyed with a fine whiskey. But this is a distillery, and they want folks to come to their establishment to enjoy the results of their labor first and foremost. During our tour, conducted by one of the four (I believe it's four) partners, we learned much about their processes and their passion for local ingredients and resources. Jeff told us how they get grain from nearby farms and transform the mash into vodka, gin and whiskey or bourbon. He is actively involved in the distilling process, and I for one learned a fair amount about proofing and temperatures. The tour includes a tasting selection at the end and Jeff expounded upon the flavors and offered suggestions for tasting technique. I found their vodka to be quite smooth. It's certainly one of the finest I've had. Corn-based, it has an initial burst of sweet and a clear, clean finish. Their gin has all the flavor notes you'd expect in a delicate balance. I'd love more herbs and citrus involved, but perhaps they'll offer more varieties in the future. They are so new that their bourbon is not yet ready, but based on a taste of the raw spirit, I'd say it's going to be great, providing their barrel selection goes well. I wish this place much success. They are relatively new, and are still learning about how to be both a distillery and a fine destination for lovely drinks with friends, and are off to an impressive start. They have music, and they also do parties where you can help bottle or label. They are friendly, welcoming people and we had a lovely time. They are grounded in their home town and want to celebrate it while also giving the town something to be proud of. read more

Rush Creek Distilling - Bars Near Me - Harvard, Illinois

Love Rush Creek. Never disappointed Going tomorrow. Been awhile. Usually an owner on site. All great people. Wish they were closer read more

Great ambiance and creative drink menu. Many options with live music and food trucks. Check Facebook for details!

My dad brought us here while we were visiting from out of town and we had such a phenomenal experience! The energy was great, there was live music (which was excellent), and we enjoyed the drinks. Clean bathrooms, a beautifully designed space, and friendly servers -- a definite 10/10 experience. Can't wait to go back next time we're in town! read more

Great place to visit if your in the Harvard Community, great staff and unique insight to distillery if you've never been to one. The have a great cocktail menu with several drinks to try out! They have outdoor seating to enjoy the summer evening and a refreshing drink! I loved it! read more

Great place and great owners! Good place to stop whether its quick or taking a night on the town

Super awesome place!! Will be coming there frequently! Owners are very accommodating

Very cool spot. On a Sunday they had a dude playing great music out on the front patio, people chilling under the shade trees, people inside at tables, oh and a wood fired pizza wagon. Solid samples of their products all of which were very tasty. Looking forward to the next time. It's out in the country but not difficult to get to at all. read more

I've lived in Harvard my whole, and it's nice to see something nice for change! Compared to many businesses who have opened and closed over the years this is a great addition! Locally Distilled makes it even better. The interior is elegant and really well designed. It appears they also offer tours of the distilling processes which is cool. Upstairs lounging area is available for event rentals . Cool environment read more

Rush Creek Distilling - Interiors Entrance side - Bars Near Me - Harvard, Illinois

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We have come to rush creek since it opened first time we did NOT feel welcome! bartender and owner could not offer a smile or a kind feel! Doesnt take much in this crazy world to be happy to see patrons! read more

Great location to congratulate. Their special in house liquor is fantastic. If your in Harvard, IL 60033, stop by. Great place.