I have been wanting to try this distillery ever since I saw a segment on them on one of the local TV stations. We stopped in on a Saturday afternoon around lunch time. They have a few parking spaces in the front of the building with a larger lot in the rear. It was not too crowded and we were seated immediately. Our server Michaela was very friendly and suggested a few food items for my wife which were GF. I started with the House Old Fashion and my wife had the Bee's Knees. Both were very good and cost 10.00 each. For lunch I tried their Pecan Whiskey BBQ wings. 5 wings cost 10.00. They were good size and very tasty but I didn't taste any of the Pecan Whiskey flavor. My wife had the Barbacoa Tacos which were filled with braised beef. She could only eat 2 of them so I had the third taco. Flavorful but I would have preferred more salsa or a dipping sauce. I wanted to try their Drop Dead Bourbon separately so I had a small tasting. I loved it so much I bought a bottle to bring home. Cost was 60.00. The history of this distillery dates back to 1857 and is one of Illinois' oldest standing distillerys and was once Al Capones largest bootlegging facility during prohibition. I would love to go back and try a few more of their hand crafted cocktails and one of their signature burgers. read more

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We have had this distillery in Thornton IL on our radar for quite a while and this first full day of spring was perfect for a drive out. The building oozes historic charm going back to 1847. Our server and hostess were friendly and helpful. There is only a few spots to park in the front but a big parking lot in the back marked with a sign. It was lunchtime so we ordered wings and beef barbacoa tacos and both were very flavorful. The server suggested the tacos as they can be made gluten free. Besides the cocktails my husband asked to taste their straight bourbon called Dead Drop. He enjoyed it and bought a bottle to take home. I could feel the ghosts of bootleggers of the past haunting the place. Worth the drive to experience it. read more

Thornton Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Thornton, Illinois

Came by on a weekday. First off it's not immediately clear how to get in from the parking lot and with the senior/ retirement center parking lot close by you're like did we park in the right place?? After that and getting in it's truly beautiful inside. Surrounded by history!! It used to be a brewery long time ago and they've preserved some fascinating memorabilia+ trinkets. Started off with a Gold Rush. Thought it was good but would have preferred it was made with more honey syrup. Girlfriend and I both ordered burgers. Came with cheddar, onion rings, BBQ sauce. She wanted cauliflower so I shared cauliflower with her. It was good tasting cauliflower because it was in some kind of buffalo or BBQ sauce like if you were getting wings. Also got an old fashioned that was pretty good. read more

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We come here for drinks, food and history! Old Fashioned and cocktails are all good. They have the best chicken wings. Do their tours if you want to get a glimpse of the prohibition history and the underground tunnel (well it's now covered). All the staff here are always so nice... we've been coming here for years! Always a great time. read more

Thornton Distilling - Gold Rush cocktail - Distilleries Near Me - Thornton, Illinois

Robin was ABSOLUTELY THE BEST!!!! Service was great!!! She was awesome! So knowledgeable about the brewery and gave us so much insight on the history. We so appreciated it because we love good historical stories! Our bartender Brandon was great too! Friendly and welcoming. They have a wedding space fyi and a nice patio as well to chill out in the summer! Looking forward to that! Next summer! We ordered the margherita pizza. It's a medium size and great to share! It is AMAZING! Filling and the tomato sauce is definitely homemade, best I've ever had! We had the cookie skillet too! OMG! Thee best!!!! It's nice, they have brunch on the weekends and they also do tours on the weekends! This is a 10/10! Highly recommended! read more

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Food was good, but don't count on there being brunch available. They posted on Thursday that they do brunch Saturday and Sunday, but they didn't have it on Sunday. Really was hoping for a good brunch spot in the area since there still isn't. Service was good. Ambiance was good. read more

Thornton Distilling - Menu - Distilleries Near Me - Thornton, Illinois

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Thank you to the amazing team of employees they made our experience most memerable. Cocktails were exceptional as were the starters and shared mains. A sincere "tip of the hat" to Andrew and Ari for one of the most historic, educational and gratuitous distillery tours...if you enjoyed a TN or KY bourbon trail adventure you will certainly be missing out if you don't visit Thorton Distilling. The Back Yard Bourbon Boys (BYBB) of Channahon IL say "Cheers"...see you all again soon!!! read more

Thornton Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Thornton, Illinois

Just ok for me. The vibe and history is what makes this place unique. As others have stated, the parking is kinda a drag. (Only a few spots out front and have to walk around the back to a lot.) I tried two of their cocktails, the planters punch and the lazy lemonade. The lazy lemonade was a frozen cocktail. Service was a little rude. Inside felt a little cramped. read more

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Such a great experience! We had Kevin as our spirit guide, and he was absolutely amazing. Fun fact--he's also a SPED teacher and a bit of a historian, which made the tour even better. He gave us a lot of history, not just about the distillery but also about the town and Chicagoland in general. The food and drinks were great, and the tickets were only $15, which included a drink--such a perfect deal. After the tour, we stayed for lunch, and everything was decently priced. The food had that classic bar food taste, which, of course, means it was good! This is definitely a place I'd bring my parents or anyone interested in history, spirits, or beer-making. They have ample parking in the back, and from what I understand, it's also a great venue for parties and weddings. Our food came out quickly, and overall, it was an awesome experience. Highly recommend! read more

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Great burgers. Great atmosphere. Fun night Went with a large crowd. Food was awesome. read more

Thornton Distilling is a nice spot to have a quiet meal and relax or just hang out. I made it last hour of business but I still had a nice time. The drinks and food were cool. I especially liked the burger with bbq sauce and onion rings. Yesssssss!!! I'll definitely be back and next time and get the whole experience. read more

Thornton Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Thornton, Illinois

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Amazing service and drinks! One of the oldest breweries in Illinois and the distillery tour is so much fun!

Came here with a group of friends. It's an interesting place with an interesting history. Supposedly it has a connection to Al Capone. They have a few objects on display. There's an underground tunnel you can tour (we didn't, but others did. The tour was less than 10 minutes so not sure exactly what's down there). To the nitty gritty, parking is horrendous and their staff are rude. The drinks were so so. They have a pecan old fashioned that tastes nothing like pecan. Most drinks are $10. Not sure if they over pour but I was buzzed after 1 drink. read more

My son and daughter in-law picked this place for their wedding reception. Great Place !!!! Very enjoyable. Fantastic service. Highly recommend. You should go just to see it if nothing else read more

Phenomenal venue with great food and excellent drinks. We're definitely coming back. The staff was friendly and accommodating. Well worth the drive. read more

The Well is my favorite craft cocktail spot. Doesn't matter what time, day of the week, time of the year- Michaela will make the best cocktail to match the occasion. I always make sure I'm there when she's working, she really does make the whole experience special. Can't wait to be back soon. read more

The drinks are yummy, the atmosphere and service were amazing. We only got mild apps (fries, chips and salsa) but will def return.

Great food, comes out quickly! Delicious handcrafted drinks always a good time at TDC!

Confusing but a good place for drinks and food. It isn't really a brewery but rather a distillery with a food menu. Thornton Distilling is listed on the Dixie Ale Trail. Even though it doesn't actually brew any beers, they have plenty from other local breweries. You can also get some pretty good food that's better than typical greasy bar stuff. After seeing this place was in the area, we came here. It's located in one of the older Chicago area buildings, made of old bricks and it feels like you went back in time. This place used to be a brewery ironically enough, even though now it's just spirits like whiskey. It's about $12 for the cheapest. We had a few of these. All good. Pecan Whiskey was the best of these. As for food, each of us got a Veggie Burger. It's $12 for a pretty big one. About the only thing as far as vegetarian choices. The rest of the menu is meats like barbecue, wings, and that. Good place to get some distilled spirits made on site, a lot fresher. It's more of a distillery than a restaurant. There's still a food menu of course, with meats such as barbecue and wings, along with a few choices like burgers for vegetarians. read more

Thornton Distilling - Pecan Whiskey And Veggie Burger - Distilleries Near Me - Thornton, Illinois

I recently went with a group of 20 people, and we utilized the back room for a meeting space. The space was comfortable, but the music was way too loud. Despite that, our service was Supreme! Attentive service, quick orders, and accurate bills. My Old Fashioned was delicious, and my Bourbon Wings were cooked to my specifications. The parking situation is a little confusing. There are only like 4 or 5 spaces at the front, near the door. Instead, the main parking lot is in the back of the restaurant, so be prepared to walk around front. Finally, the bathroom is single-user and gender neutral. read more

The night I went, seems they had personal friends sitting at the bar. I was hungry, but we both ordered a drink and left. It really didntvseem like they wanted to be bothered. read more

This place is so cool. I haven't had a chance to do a tour yet, but, I definitely will sometime in the near future. I'd love to hear the history behind this place. All I know is that it has some connection to Al Capone, there are tunnels/dungeons and it's haunted! This venue also does events. I'd love to get married here! read more

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Delicious food. Great drinks. Oh, wait. Do I have that backwards?? No. I. Don't!! The staff is also wonderful and accommodatingly friendly as can be. read more

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Came for a trivia night, lots of fun, great theme and great food and drinks, with super fun hosts!

Great food, amazing drinks, and perfect ambience. Service is very friendly and accommodating.

Fantastic tour! Kevin has a great grasp on not only the local history but the distilling process here at Thornton.

I went to a Krampus Market here and has a nice time. The inside of the building is beautiful. The service was really good and people were super friendly. I had a cocktail and it was delicious. My husband and I decided to get some food so I got an egg sandwich either bacon and he got a breakfast burrito. I liked my sandwich and ate half. I was curious about the burrito because it smelled amazing. I took a bite and hubby let me have his other half and ate my other half of my egg sandwich. Delicious!! read more

Thornton Distilling - Egg sandwich - Distilleries Near Me - Thornton, Illinois

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The tour was incredibly interesting! Kevin, the guide, was wonderful and informative. This place is SO rich with history. The drinks are excellent. I 100% will go back. I so highly recommend visiting and the tour is a must!! read more

The food was ok ,service was bad bad bad ...we ordered the pizza when the guy working in the back not a waiter or waitress brought it out he just about hit my wife in the head with the tray the guy seemed pissed off didn't say a word looked like he had a big attitude , then service was slow after two beers we literally had to wave our waitress down .One of us at our table ordered ice cream and the same guy came out of the kitchen and gave it to her with no spoon , we asked for a spoon never got it , we had to go get our own......I ,we told our waitress and she did say sorry, that was it , I told some guy also that looked like a manager but was not , he looked like he was then looking but no manager was found I believe , as we left , three wait bartender staff were all outside smoking ...cool you get a break , but when I told them also I will never be back because the guy in the back , one lady said he don't speak English and that's ok .......oh and the she said your the only one that ever complained about him .....WOW ok I'll spread the word to all ..... read more

The tour was nice. Unfortunately the server took it upon herself attempting to charge a 25% tip. That is theft. Management took care of it. That was a classless move by the server. Still a decent place to go just be aware. read more

Was okay. Got the flight of old fashions, and a burger, not great but not bad. Booth we sat in was uneven and was very dark in the room could hardly see the menu without the light from our phones read more

Drinks were delicious and food was good. A relaxing place for a drink. My favorite appetizer is the pretzel bread!

Food was good in a unique old distillery. Local Beers from around the area are served too. read more

Ambiance is amazing, drinks are second to none and the food is outstanding....HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Ok. I know I cannot say enough good things about this place. I am so happy we found it! It was a FANTASTIC afternoon. Came home after work and decided to "go somewhere different" for lunch. And we used Yelp to help. Voilà! This is where we ended up. And I cannot be happier that we did! The building is old. And warm. And full of surprises. Didn't know they offered tours, but I'm glad they do! Lots of history here. The building looks small on the outside. But it definite isn't small inside. It's not a brewery. It's a distillery. They make and use their own stuff. From vodka to bourbon to gin and rum. I'm not the drinker, husband is. And he enjoyed every single drink made for him. I did have a drink made for me and it was delish! I had TWO! Their food menu is SMALL. But, to me, that means it's easier to focus on the quality of the food served. I'm not complaining. Except, there's no dessert. Which is okay, if you enjoy a drink for dessert ;) it won't deter me from returning. We ordered the Bielfeldt burger, Baja guac burger and mango habanero wings. The wings were sweet and then BAM you got the spice. My oh my. What a delightful surprise. Could've been a tad more crispy, I'll order like that next time. The Bielfeldt burger was spot on. And so was the guac burger. Their fries were perfect and the spicy ketchup to go with... made the fries even better. Wowza. Perfection in a little ketchup cup. We were offered a quick tour of the place. It's beautiful. And amazing. It's an event venue, too. The bridal and groom spaces are warm and inviting and perfect for the special day. The distillery was nice to see and it was nice to talk to their still guy, Ari. It was nice to get a little insight to what he does and how he does it. Philly the bartender was super chill and kind. The manger of the place (sorry, I can't remember her name) was THE BEST!!! Down to earth and kind and funny. She made our visit that much more fun! Husband was so excited to find this spot, he texted some friends and is already making plans to return! I can definitely see us being regulars here. Now about that dessert menu.... read more

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What a fun tour. Found it by accident. A lot of history there. Tour lasts about an hour with a tasting at the end. Also has a restaurant. read more

Good service and good food. Small menu but everything is delicious. Very friendly service. Saturday evenings are lovely there.

Food and drinks were delicious and staff was great! Friendly, warm, and relaxed restaurant. Will definitely be back!

My friend wanted to try this place. It's different so I said sure! It's okay. Parking is horrible, only a few spaces up front and a lot around the corner to use. It has serious ambiance with a courtyard and garage type eating area. There is a small bar room and another enclosed dining space. I use the term dining however know that it is limited. The bar seats are not comfortable. I had the pretzels with spicy mustard which were warm and delicious. They also have pizzas (which they call flatbreads) and meatless options. People next to us enjoyed their pie. The draw was the distillery for sure. It has specialty cocktails with homemade juices. They make and sell a pecan whisky and will feature beer in the near future. It's a nice place to bring a date as you will not get tipsy as the drinks were not strong. Or if you just want the ambiance that it gives and a drink and a snack. They do events with catering the bartender said and that seemed like a good place for a party. Rent out the whole place or a large area. Plenty of seating, smoking area, variety of drinks and places to sit. read more

Thornton Distilling - Cocktail menu seasonal. - Distilleries Near Me - Thornton, Illinois

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Food & Drinks are always good here however the customer service just isn't there. The last 2 times I visited I was disappointed. I follow on socials and saw a new holiday cocktails and wanted to try. Sadly, I couldn't even get sat as the hostess was too busy. Made me wait 5 min before even acknowledging me as I stood face to face with her at the stand. She said she had to finish something before seating us. Restaurant side is completely empty... wait 10 min.. my husband asks again.. still won't seat is. Then an argument between server and hostess about who ordered what, where they are sitting.. just mass confusion as I'm just standing there for over 10 min. I thought wow.. how unprofessional...we ended up leaving. Last time we came several months back.. our server also seemed annoyed and was not friendly. Good food & drinks are important but if you don't have good customer service with all these extra fees and inflated prices, it's not worth it. read more