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Iowa has it all. We have the corn, barley, wheat and rye; we have the cattle who love a good meal of post-fermented mash; we have the Iowans who work hard and savor good things. Raise a glass and cheers to the finer things in life.
Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery
1441 Marak Rd NW, Swisher
It doesn’t get much better than a glass of whiskey after a long day, and Cedar Ridge Distillery is making this little luxury all the harder to resist. Using Midwest-grown corn and seasoned barrels, their crafted whiskeys range from a gold medal Reserve Bourbon Whiskey, which has been aged five years, to a gold medal Single Malt Whiskey. Whiskey not your thing? Gin, rum, vodka and brandy are all part of the family too — not to mention the lineup of seriously diverse Midwestern wines using Iowa-grown grapes.
When looking for something just a little off the beaten path, check out their Pear Brandy — its only subtly sweet and provides an indulgent aroma with every sip. Be sure to visit their tasting room to sample their selection of wine and spirits.
Mississippi River Distilling Company
303 N Cody Rd, LeClaire
What goes around comes around when Iowans support local distilleries, and Mississippi River Distilling is a perfect example of this. All their grains are sourced within 25 miles, local artists are featured on rotation in the tasting room, even the labels are created by a local graphics company. And those grains they source locally? After they’re spent, they get loaded up and sent out to a local farm to help feed some very happy cattle.
For everyone who loves Fridays, the first Friday of every month is even sweeter at Mississippi River Distilling since you can stop into the tasting room to help taste-test new recipes; an honorable contribution to the common good. Most of all, you don’t want to miss their Iowish Cream Liqueur, nor the Cody Road whiskey series — an ode to Buffalo Bill and his hometown of Le Claire, Iowa.
Broadbent Distillery
6175 50th Ave, Norwalk
Down a short and winding gravel country road lies Broadbent Distillery, Iowa’s smallest legal distillery. What started as a family-owned vineyard morphed into a passion for whiskey and spirits after the inability to sell the vineyard’s grape harvest in 2009. Broadbent’s Two Jay’s Iowa Whiskey Country Style is a testament to this passion, as they age their clear whiskey, made from 100 percent local Iowa corn, in toasted oak barrels for a stunningly smooth and fragrant result.
Broadbent produces small batches only and distills each batch twice to ensure high-quality results. Don’t leave without trying their Hot Lil’ Hooch, which packs a subtle one-two punch of cinnamon and cherry, while their Bella Limoncello is a harmonious union of whiskey and freshly squeezed lemons.
Iowa Distilling Company
4349 Cumming Ave, Cumming
In Cumming, Iowa you’ll find cornfield after cornfield, and the Iowa Distilling Company. This small-batch distillery is built on a rich family history of farmers, with corn sourced locally from friends and neighbors. Created in small batches, bottles are filled by hand and monitored to ensure quality and consistent characteristics.
The showstopper from this distillery is the two-year aged Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a “high rye” bourbon with plenty of spice. When on the lookout for something different, don’t underestimate their Prairie Fire, bottled with a medley of twice-distilled whiskey and cinnamon leaf oil. The result is a unique aroma and subtle cinnamon kick to a delightfully smooth whiskey.
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