Duneland Distillery sits in downtown Chesterton, Indiana, about a mile from the shores of Lake Michigan and the towering dunes of Indiana Dunes National Park. Founded by Kevin Zellers, a former homebrewer turned craft distiller, the operation opened in 2019 after Zellers spent years perfecting his recipes and navigating Indiana’s craft distilling regulations. The distillery occupies a converted building on North 8th Street, transforming what was once commercial space into a working distillery and tasting room that reflects the industrial heritage of northwest Indiana. Zellers didn’t stumble into distilling by accident. After years of homebrewing and experimenting with different grains and techniques, he decided to take the leap into commercial production, drawn by the idea of creating spirits that captured something distinctly Hoosier. The journey from concept to opening took several years, involving everything from securing proper licensing to installing custom equipment designed for small-batch production. The result is a distillery that produces bourbon, rye, and vodka using locally-sourced grains when possible, with Zellers overseeing production from mash to bottle. Visitors find a straightforward operation focused on the craft rather than flashy marketing. The tasting room maintains an unpretentious atmosphere where you can sample spirits while watching the production process through large windows. Zellers and his small team are usually on hand to explain their methods, from the specific mash bills they use to the aging process in their rickhouse. It’s the kind of place where you learn about distilling through conversation rather than polished presentations, and where the focus stays firmly on what’s in the glass.