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Such a cute place!! Looking for a new place to try, I discovered Whiskey Acres by other Yelpers. We were greeted as soon as we walked inside the building. All staff that we encountered were super friendly. Their drinks are very reasonably priced from regular $7.95 to seasonal $8.95. They also sell merch and bottles to go. On day of my visit they had live music too. I know Dekalb can be a hike, but worth the drive.
Came out to Whiskey Acres on a Fall Sunday to enjoy a Tour and Tasting. We arrived early and got a round of drinks before the tour. An Old Fashioned and Tipsy Apple. The Old Fashioned, while small, had great flavor! The Tipsy Apple was my favorite though. Pairing with the local apple orchard to mix bourbon with apple cider. Delicious! The bar staff were extremely kind, turned drinks over quick, and had some great recommendations. The grounds itself were also beautiful. The inside and outdoor patio had plenty of seating. Everything was very clean and kept up nicely. The tour itself is $10 a person which included about 45 minutes of distillery background and whiskey making process followed by 15 minutes ti taste (3) spirits. Our tour guide, Jen, was very nice but had to reference her notes quite a bit. We wished we got more out of the distilling processes and less about the smells. Seeing the equipment was cool but it was barely touched on how they work. We ended with a sampling of the Bourbon, Rye, and Bottled-in-Bonded 7 year old Bourbon. Both of our favorites were the standard Bourbon. The tour concludes and you get to keep your shot glass; fun touch! While we didn't learn much new information, we still had fun and loved visiting IL's first estate distillery!
We had a work meeting here in their conference room followed by a tasting and tour - Trish was an absolute joy to work with! Book your event here! Plenty of parking, awesome country setting, and good people to work with - they make you feel at home. Tons of events! Even if you aren't a whiskey drinker, something for everyone. And I suggest a slushy for those first timers who aren't sure about bourbon - it's a gateway drink ;)
I heard about Whiskey Acres from a friend who lives nearby. When my husband's cousins were visiting from out-of-town and someone suggested meeting here for drinks before dinner, we jumped at the opportunity. Nestled in beautiful farm acreage, the building itself was lovely and had a perfect midwestern summer evening view across the fields during sunset. There was live music and a food pop-up on the patio. We ultimately decided to sit inside due to our group, but I would come back for the outdoor experience. Among our group, we had quite a few of the drinks listed on the menu. I started with the bourbon slush, a refreshing icy drink that has bright citrus balancing out the bourbon. My husband had a Manhattan and then an Old Fashioned, both of which I snuck sips of. I finished up with a Bourbon and Blues, a blueberry-forward drink. While we were sitting around chatting, one of the staff brought us samples of a bourbon they found a few bottles of in the back. The staff were excellent - very friendly and helpful in picking out drinks based on our preferences. I didn't catch everyone's names but Zac was especially personable and kind. There were great seating options, including a couple of couches near a fireplace that we took over. I'll make a point of coming back here in the future!
Neat place- the whiskey/bourbon/rye is good, and bought a bottle to take home. We took the tour, which was informative, but could have been better organized. There were way too many people, so it was difficult to hear at times. The tour should really be limited to only adults (our group included about 5 kids, all under the age of 10- though all well behaved, just seems an inappropriate kid activity). A food truck and live music was there which was a nice addition. Would be cool if this place had a kitchen, even if just a small menu.
It's been a few years since I've been to Whiskey Acres and I've always been meaning to come back. I purchased their hand sanitizer from them in 2020 but haven't been back since they built their new structure. Wow is it beautiful and so charming inside. I came in with my family for a few drinks and to enjoy the live music. The atmosphere is so unique, and the drinks are incredible. It's impossible to leave without buying a bottle on the way out. The staff is also incredibly friendly and welcoming. I highly recommended checking this place out and making a day out of it by signing up for one of their tours.
Whiskey Acres is a truly special place! If you haven't been here before you simply must go! Walking up, you'd think that it was nothing more than a farm. But, Whiskey Acres is a licensed Farm distillery. What does that mean? It means that they grow, distill, age, and bottle all of their spirts. "From seed to Spirt" A unique concept and experience that you'll never forget! I chose to go on the tour and let me tell you. It was incredible! I would suggest it to anyone. Our guide was very funny and was unbelievably passionate about Whiskey Acres. They tell you all about Whiskey Acres and what makes them special. They also let us taste three different spirts. We got walked through how to taste whiskey properly, different grades, how they earned double gold, what the base grains are for each one, and the aging requirements. They walked us through everything! These were the three that we tasted. 1. Straight Rye Whisky Bottled-In-Bond Double Gold 2.Straight Bourbon Whisky Bottled-In-Bond Double Gold 3.Bourbon Whisky Finished in Moscatel Casks Farm crafted. They also gave us a free tasting glass. The store was super rustic and very cute! They had lots of indoor and outdoor seating seating. Inside you can sit at a table or at the bar. At the bar they have plenty of drinks and tastings to choose from. They also had a local artist who came in. It was really nice to listen to a local musician. If you want to sit outside, they had a lot of seating outside which was fun and festive! Everything is very fair priced all around! They also have lots of Bourbon, Whiskey, and Vodka all made in house to purchase and take home to share. If you want a cute shirt, sweatshirt, candle, cheese board, or something special! They have that too! I was surprised how much local merchandise they had. I can't wait to go back! If you haven't been, you have to make a special trip here.
Down home family run distillery that grows all ingredients for their whiskey and makes everything on site. Gold awards at most prestigious whiskey competition in the world. Really great family story about how a farming business went a different direction and has taken whiskey business by storm. Friendly staff, clean facilities, family members giving tours, it's all connected to goodness. If you like bourbon, go. Get a tour and tasting. Stay for live music. No food, however they allow and partner with many local places. We had Dough Brothers take out pizza and it was delicious.
All I can say is WOW! What an amazing place. We went on a Friday night and they had live music & a BBQ food truck. We went specifically for the distillery tour and it was exceptional. Honestly, I am not a fan of whiskey (my boyfriend is) but I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and the mixed cocktails. You can absolutely see the passion Nick (one of the co-owners and our tour guide) has for the place. He went into detail on the distilling process, made it easy to follow and was funny. I loved the "seed to spirit" concept - especially seeing the actual corn fields the whiskey comes from. The hospitality was great too, our sever Ana was so helpful and eager to talk to us. If I am ever back in the area, I will absolutely return!
2 months ago
First time here with the wife and a few friends. Had a food truck Uncle Cam's . Very good panini sandwiches . Live music outside . Very chill vibe. Inside was like a wood cabin.very relaxing also.. Drinks were very good All bourbon & Vodka,Whiskey based drinks . Bourbon slushi is awesome and the old fashioned is also delicious! Servers were Friendly and Great knowledge on All drinks. read more
1 month ago
1 year ago
We came out for the Grain and Gather Fall Artisan Market held Friday. They had live music, cold drinks, a beautiful setting, 40 craft vendors and food trucks. It was a lovely way to spend a late afternoon. Would have stayed longer but the bugs were biting bad. read more
Such a cute place!! Looking for a new place to try, I discovered Whiskey Acres by other Yelpers. We were greeted as soon as we walked inside the building. All staff that we encountered were super friendly. Their drinks are very reasonably priced from regular $7.95 to seasonal $8.95. They also sell merch and bottles to go. On day of my visit they had live music too. I know Dekalb can be a hike, but worth the drive. read more
3 months ago
5 months ago
10 months ago
2 years ago
Came out to Whiskey Acres on a Fall Sunday to enjoy a Tour and Tasting. We arrived early and got a round of drinks before the tour. An Old Fashioned and Tipsy Apple. The Old Fashioned, while small, had great flavor! The Tipsy Apple was my favorite though. Pairing with the local apple orchard to mix bourbon with apple cider. Delicious! The bar staff were extremely kind, turned drinks over quick, and had some great recommendations. The grounds itself were also beautiful. The inside and outdoor patio had plenty of seating. Everything was very clean and kept up nicely. The tour itself is $10 a person which included about 45 minutes of distillery background and whiskey making process followed by 15 minutes ti taste (3) spirits. Our tour guide, Jen, was very nice but had to reference her notes quite a bit. We wished we got more out of the distilling processes and less about the smells. Seeing the equipment was cool but it was barely touched on how they work. We ended with a sampling of the Bourbon, Rye, and Bottled-in-Bonded 7 year old Bourbon. Both of our favorites were the standard Bourbon. The tour concludes and you get to keep your shot glass; fun touch! While we didn't learn much new information, we still had fun and loved visiting IL's first estate distillery! read more
We had a work meeting here in their conference room followed by a tasting and tour - Trish was an absolute joy to work with! Book your event here! Plenty of parking, awesome country setting, and good people to work with - they make you feel at home. Tons of events! Even if you aren't a whiskey drinker, something for everyone. And I suggest a slushy for those first timers who aren't sure about bourbon - it's a gateway drink ;) read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
I heard about Whiskey Acres from a friend who lives nearby. When my husband's cousins were visiting from out-of-town and someone suggested meeting here for drinks before dinner, we jumped at the opportunity. Nestled in beautiful farm acreage, the building itself was lovely and had a perfect midwestern summer evening view across the fields during sunset. There was live music and a food pop-up on the patio. We ultimately decided to sit inside due to our group, but I would come back for the outdoor experience. Among our group, we had quite a few of the drinks listed on the menu. I started with the bourbon slush, a refreshing icy drink that has bright citrus balancing out the bourbon. My husband had a Manhattan and then an Old Fashioned, both of which I snuck sips of. I finished up with a Bourbon and Blues, a blueberry-forward drink. While we were sitting around chatting, one of the staff brought us samples of a bourbon they found a few bottles of in the back. The staff were excellent - very friendly and helpful in picking out drinks based on our preferences. I didn't catch everyone's names but Zac was especially personable and kind. There were great seating options, including a couple of couches near a fireplace that we took over. I'll make a point of coming back here in the future! read more
Neat place- the whiskey/bourbon/rye is good, and bought a bottle to take home. We took the tour, which was informative, but could have been better organized. There were way too many people, so it was difficult to hear at times. The tour should really be limited to only adults (our group included about 5 kids, all under the age of 10- though all well behaved, just seems an inappropriate kid activity). A food truck and live music was there which was a nice addition. Would be cool if this place had a kitchen, even if just a small menu. read more
It's been a few years since I've been to Whiskey Acres and I've always been meaning to come back. I purchased their hand sanitizer from them in 2020 but haven't been back since they built their new structure. Wow is it beautiful and so charming inside. I came in with my family for a few drinks and to enjoy the live music. The atmosphere is so unique, and the drinks are incredible. It's impossible to leave without buying a bottle on the way out. The staff is also incredibly friendly and welcoming. I highly recommended checking this place out and making a day out of it by signing up for one of their tours. read more
Whiskey Acres is a truly special place! If you haven't been here before you simply must go! Walking up, you'd think that it was nothing more than a farm. But, Whiskey Acres is a licensed Farm distillery. What does that mean? It means that they grow, distill, age, and bottle all of their spirts. "From seed to Spirt" A unique concept and experience that you'll never forget! I chose to go on the tour and let me tell you. It was incredible! I would suggest it to anyone. Our guide was very funny and was unbelievably passionate about Whiskey Acres. They tell you all about Whiskey Acres and what makes them special. They also let us taste three different spirts. We got walked through how to taste whiskey properly, different grades, how they earned double gold, what the base grains are for each one, and the aging requirements. They walked us through everything! These were the three that we tasted. 1. Straight Rye Whisky Bottled-In-Bond Double Gold 2.Straight Bourbon Whisky Bottled-In-Bond Double Gold 3.Bourbon Whisky Finished in Moscatel Casks Farm crafted. They also gave us a free tasting glass. The store was super rustic and very cute! They had lots of indoor and outdoor seating seating. Inside you can sit at a table or at the bar. At the bar they have plenty of drinks and tastings to choose from. They also had a local artist who came in. It was really nice to listen to a local musician. If you want to sit outside, they had a lot of seating outside which was fun and festive! Everything is very fair priced all around! They also have lots of Bourbon, Whiskey, and Vodka all made in house to purchase and take home to share. If you want a cute shirt, sweatshirt, candle, cheese board, or something special! They have that too! I was surprised how much local merchandise they had. I can't wait to go back! If you haven't been, you have to make a special trip here. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Down home family run distillery that grows all ingredients for their whiskey and makes everything on site. Gold awards at most prestigious whiskey competition in the world. Really great family story about how a farming business went a different direction and has taken whiskey business by storm. Friendly staff, clean facilities, family members giving tours, it's all connected to goodness. If you like bourbon, go. Get a tour and tasting. Stay for live music. No food, however they allow and partner with many local places. We had Dough Brothers take out pizza and it was delicious. read more
5 years ago
All I can say is WOW! What an amazing place. We went on a Friday night and they had live music & a BBQ food truck. We went specifically for the distillery tour and it was exceptional. Honestly, I am not a fan of whiskey (my boyfriend is) but I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and the mixed cocktails. You can absolutely see the passion Nick (one of the co-owners and our tour guide) has for the place. He went into detail on the distilling process, made it easy to follow and was funny. I loved the "seed to spirit" concept - especially seeing the actual corn fields the whiskey comes from. The hospitality was great too, our sever Ana was so helpful and eager to talk to us. If I am ever back in the area, I will absolutely return! read more
As a whiskey lover I'm surprised I haven't visited a whiskey distillery so after a little research we found Whiskey Acres not far from our Airbnb. They had live music playing outside, a BBQ food truck and their own distilled whiskey rye, bourdon and vodka. My girlfriend and I signed ourselves up for the Whiskey Acres tour, fortunately for us we had one of the co-owners, Nick host the tour. During the tour Nick was interactive, funny and detailed. You can tell he takes pride in their seed to spirit distillery because everything is grown and harvested in their very own land. In addition they use renewable energy to sustain their production, such as solar panels. I can definitely say I left knowing more than what I came in with. The food was flavorsome and the hospitality was amazing. I want to thank Nick and Anna for treating us with such delight, although we're not from Illinois they truly made us feel accepted. Definitely recommend! read more
2 years ago
We had an amazing time visiting the farm. From drinks at the bar to the tour to the employees. Everything was top notch. Have been recommending Whiskey Acres to everyone. read more
first visit: the hours are regrettably few and the lack of high proof and/or special bottles for purchase was a bit of a bummer. but i'm already familiar with their bourbon and have bought a few cask strength single barrels at binny's. they're excellent! for my money, wa is the best distillery in illinois. we served it at our wedding. anyway, it wasn't a huge deal and the bartender was able to find a couple pours of something higher proof, which was delicious and very much appreciated. be patient, because the bar is understaffed. but isn't everyplace, right now? the food is catered-in and purchased separately. we had smoked wings, pulled pork and fresh-cut fries. everything was hot and delicious and everyone was very friendly. they also have live music on certain evenings and the patio is a nice place to unwind, if you can get a table. all-in-all a fun date. we didn't take the tour, but it looked like A LOT of people did. (we thought a bus had unloaded when the guided tour walked past the patio.) seemed like a lot of people were out, enjoying the weather, at a nice little spot in the middle of an illinois cornfield. it's only an hour-and-a-half from chicago (with just a few bumpy gravel roads), so we'll definitely be back. join their email list, to find out when their new releases (blue popcorn, cask proof, etc.) drop. read more
I heard about this distillery from my in-laws who live in the area so on our most recent trip to visit, we had to check it out! What a fun place to visit! The weather was beautiful so we just sat out on the patio in some shade (of which there was plenty. We were quickly advised that a tour was starting soon if we wanted to join it (for free) and we declined. Our server, Phoebe, was extremely personable and did not seem at all flustered that she was serving half of the ample patio. She remembered all of our names and got our drinks as quickly as possible. She let us know that there was live music starting soon and that we could enjoy food from the nearby food truck on their patio. Drinks were delicious! Being a big fan of bourbon and rye I had to check out their house flight (Normally $8) but I upgraded the third option on the board to their seasonal Golden Gem high corn bourbon which Phoebe was kind enough to recommend and warned us that the bottles were already sold out. After enjoying my flight the group ordered a second round of drinks which were also delicious and then I had to buy a bottle to bring home to Indiana! I am excited to do a side by side tasting with bourbon from my favorite distillery here in Indy and I can't wait to return to Whiskey Acres this winter and enjoy their fire pits! read more
4 years ago
First time at Whiskey Acres. Won't be our last. Did the tour. A must. John was our tour host. He was amazing. Thanks Whiskey Acres!!!! read more
7 years ago
I have been to Whiskey Acres a few times. Most recently I went on a rainy Sunday with a few friends. One of the friends I was with has ALS and is in a wheel chair. Whiskey Acres is more than welcoming to those needing assistance. They were kind and checked to see if we needed anything and were enjoying our visit. We were. We were able to sample their seasonal applewood whiskey which prompted me to buy a bottle and we sampled their award winning bourbon which was also delicious. The drinks are CHEAP! It's incredible. While they don't really have food, they do have a cheese platter you can get and they offer these crispy corn snacks at the table. There are also games available to play and a fire place. I highly recommend taking the trip. I am very loyal to businesses that go out of their way to welcome everyone. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
2 years ago
About 70 miles west of Chicago, in the middle of corn country, exists a little 2,000-acre seed-to-spirit outfit called Whiskey Acres Distilling Company. This was the first estate distillery in Illinois and the second in the nation, meaning the distillery uses only grains grown on its own land, grown by farmers Jim and Jamie Walter and Nick Nagele. It even uses limestone water from the ground beneath those fields. They've been distilling, on and off, and farming for five generations going back to (at least) 1897. I've visited a lot of distilleries in my life, and I've seen some very unusual warehouses. Never have I seen one inside a grain silo! But, this is where the magic happens. I appreciate their Bourbon so much, Mrs. Whiskeyfellow and I drove down to the distillery to see it in person and discover what Whiskey Acres was all about. We were shown around by Colby, who did an amazing job as our guide. The tasting room is about a year old and is inviting. While you're visiting (or waiting for the tour to begin), you can buy a few cocktails. For what it is worth, I highly recommend the Bourbon & Blues. In all, this was a fun visit and I'm glad we made the drive. Sipping whiskey is great (obviously), but visiting distilleries and meeting some of the folks involved is always a blast. Do it whenever you can. Cheers! read more
3 years ago
Great mixed drinks! The whiskey slush was my favorite (frozen lemonade, OJ and whiskey) a lot of options on where to sit either inside, outside with tables that had umbrellas or under the largw trees or on their deck. Live music. If you get there before 2 pm, there is a tour ($10) with samples and a souvenir shot glass. Dog friendly, too. You can bring your own food from home, but they do have food trucks that come too. Sad they are only open Friday Saturday and Sunday read more
5 years ago
Every time I fly to chicago, I make the drive here. Go on a Sunday and you'll find music n a bomb food truck. The slush is so good!!! Blueberry n whiskey or Midwest mule... with house-made hibiscus syrup. Yum. But the Whiskey n Vodka... omg... so good! The location is gorgeous, the log cabin feel... on a farm is just picturesque. read more
7 years ago
Great spot! But most importantly the whiskey is good I personally became a fan of the Rye! I normally am not but loved it!! The man himself came out talked with our group during the tasting and assisted in the pouring. The tour was great as well. Kid friendly and the merch is on point. read more
9 years ago
This is a hidden gem in Dekalb Illinois. In the middle of corn and soy bean fields is a farm to still distillery that is a must stop for any micro distillery lover. Be sure to take the tour and learn how they grow all of the grains used in their whiskey, bourbon, and vodka. Then be sure to belly up to the bar for a Bourbon Slush, Midwest Mule, or a delicious Mud Pie. The team is friendly, and brings that small town love to what will for sure one day be a big time distillery. read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
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More info about Whiskey Acres Distilling
11504 Keslinger Rd
Dekalb, IL 60115
Directions
(844) 494-4753
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http://www.whiskeyacres.com
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