How far is the distillery from Louisville?

Neeley Family Distillery is about 45 minutes northeast of Louisville in Sparta, Kentucky. It's in Gallatin County, off the main Bourbon Trail routes, so plan for a bit of a drive through rural Kentucky.

What makes their bourbon different from larger distilleries?

The Neeleys grow some of their own corn right on the property and handle most of the production themselves as a family operation. You're tasting spirits made in small batches with direct family involvement from grain to bottle, rather than mass-produced bourbon.

CRAFT DISTILLERY

Iowa

173° Craft Distillery

Clear Lake,

Iowa

— Bourbon, Vodka, Gin

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

🔧

Engineering Approach

Custom fermentation controllers maintain precise temperatures

🌾

Local Sourcing

Corn from farms within fifty miles

🥃

High Rye

Seventy percent corn, twenty-five percent rye

🛢️

Small Barrels

Fifteen gallon barrels create faster maturation

🍸

Prairie Gin

Locally foraged sumac and elderflower botanicals

👫

Hands On

Randy and Kim run tastings themselves

🌐 http://www.173craftdistillery.com/

📍 306 1st Ave N, Clear Lake, IA 50428, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Engineering Meets Craft Bourbon In Small Town Iowa

173° Craft Distillery sits on Clear Lake’s main drag in northern Iowa, founded by husband-and-wife team Randy and Kim Weishaar in 2018. The name comes from the precise temperature at which ethanol vaporizes during distillation—a nod to the scientific precision Randy brings from his background in manufacturing engineering. They converted a former retail space into their 2,000-square-foot production facility and tasting room, complete with a custom 500-gallon copper still they imported from Germany. The Weishaars produce vodka, gin, bourbon, and flavored spirits, focusing on small-batch runs that let them experiment with local ingredients and unique flavor profiles. Randy handles the distillation while Kim manages the business side, and they’ve built a reputation for being hands-on with every visitor who walks through their doors. The operation reflects their methodical approach—everything from fermentation temperatures to aging schedules gets tracked with the same attention to detail Randy applied in his previous career. You’ll find them working the production floor most days, happy to explain why they chose specific yeasts or how Iowa’s climate affects their aging process.

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WHAT SETS THEM APART

Custom Equipment Changes Everything

The Weishaars bring an engineering mindset to craft distilling that shows up in unexpected ways. Randy designed custom fermentation controllers that maintain precise temperatures year-round, something most small distilleries can’t achieve consistently. They source corn from farms within 50 miles of the distillery and work directly with local grain elevators to get specific varieties rather than commodity corn. Their bourbon uses a high-rye mash bill that’s aged in 15-gallon barrels instead of standard 53-gallon ones, creating more wood contact and faster maturation in Iowa’s temperature swings. The location gives them an advantage most don’t talk about—Clear Lake’s proximity to the Mason City airport means they get consistent barometric pressure changes that help their spirits interact with the wood.

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

FOOD AVAILABLE

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

The Owners Pour Every Single Taste

You’ll walk into a compact space where the still dominates the room and the smell of fermenting grain hits immediately. Randy or Kim usually run tastings themselves, explaining their process while pouring samples of their vodka, gin, and whatever bourbon batches are ready. The tasting room feels more like visiting someone’s well-organized garage workshop than a polished tourist destination. You can watch them work if you visit during production days, and they’re genuinely excited to show how their custom equipment works. The whole experience takes about 45 minutes if you’re interested in the technical details, less if you just want to taste and buy bottles.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

For Science Lovers Absolutely Worth It

This appeals to people who want to understand how distilling actually works rather than just sample pretty cocktails. Randy’s engineering background means you’ll learn more about the science behind fermentation and distillation than at most craft distilleries. If you’re driving through northern Iowa or spending time at Clear Lake, it’s worth the stop for their unique approach and hands-on owners. Don’t expect a polished tourist experience or elaborate cocktail program—this is about craft production and direct interaction with the people making the spirits. Their bourbon shows real promise despite being relatively young, and their gin has some interesting botanical choices that reflect local foraging.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead since they’re often running production and might not be available for impromptu tastings. They’re usually there Thursday through Saturday afternoons, but Randy’s happy to accommodate other times if you’re making a special trip. The GPS coordinates can be tricky since First Avenue has some numbering quirks—look for the building between the antique shop and the insurance office. Try their high-rye bourbon if it’s available, and ask Randy about his barrel char experiments. They sell bottles on-site at prices that reflect their small-batch production costs. Parking is easy right on the street, and the whole visit works well as part of a Clear Lake weekend.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

173° Craft Distillery — Visitor FAQ

Do I need to make an appointment to visit?

Yes, definitely call ahead. Randy and Kim are often running production or might be away from the distillery, so they prefer to schedule tastings to ensure someone’s available to show you around properly.

Why do you use smaller barrels for aging bourbon?

The 15-gallon barrels give us more surface area contact with the wood relative to the volume of whiskey, which accelerates the aging process. In Iowa’s climate with big temperature swings, we can get good barrel character in 18-24 months instead of waiting four years.

Can I watch the distillation process?

If you visit on a production day, absolutely. Randy loves showing how the still works and explaining why they chose their specific equipment configuration. Just call ahead to see when they’re running.

GETTING THERE

Find 173° Craft Distillery

📍306 1st Ave N, Clear Lake, IA 50428, USA

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