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

Minnesota

Flying Dutchman Spirits

Eden Prairie,

Minnesota

— Vodka, Gin, Bourbon

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

⚙️

Engineering Precision

Custom stills built for consistency

🥃

Vapor Basket Gin

Delicate botanical extraction, not maceration

🏭

Eden Prairie First

City’s pioneer distillery since 2015

🔬

Science-Based

Temperature controls over whiskey folklore

👨‍🔬

Founder-Led Tours

Oskey and Loehr explain their methods

🌾

Local Ingredients

Minnesota grain, garage-to-warehouse story

📞 (952) 406-8286

🌐 http://www.fdspirits.com/

📍 6801 Flying Cloud Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Industrial Park Pioneer Making Real Craft Spirits

Flying Dutchman Spirits sits in an industrial park in Eden Prairie, where founders Dan Oskey and Brian Loehr turned their homebrewing passion into a full-scale distillery in 2015. These two engineers-turned-distillers started the operation after years of perfecting recipes in their garages, eventually convincing the city to approve Eden Prairie’s first distillery. They operate out of a converted warehouse space that houses their custom-built stills and production equipment. The distillery focuses on vodka, gin, and bourbon, with everything made from scratch using locally sourced ingredients when possible. What began as weekend experiments has grown into a legitimate craft spirits operation that’s become a quiet fixture in the Twin Cities craft spirits scene. You’ll find this isn’t your typical rustic barn distillery—it’s clean, modern, and feels more like visiting a high-tech brewery than a traditional whiskey maker. The space reflects the founders’ engineering backgrounds, with precise temperature controls and methodical processes that prioritize consistency over romance.

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WHAT SETS THEM APART

Engineers Turned Distillers Science Over Romance

The engineering backgrounds of Oskey and Loehr show up everywhere in their operation. They built custom stills designed for maximum efficiency and consistency, treating distillation like the precise science it is rather than relying purely on tradition. Their approach to gin production stands out particularly—they use a vapor basket system that allows for more delicate extraction of botanicals compared to traditional maceration methods. The location itself makes them unique as Eden Prairie’s pioneer distillery, requiring them to navigate city regulations that had never dealt with craft spirits production before.

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

FOOD AVAILABLE

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Technical Tours That Actually Teach Something

Tours here feel more like a technical demonstration than a romantic whiskey journey, which works if you’re genuinely curious about the science behind spirits. The founders often lead tours themselves, explaining their equipment choices and production philosophy with the precision you’d expect from engineers. The tasting room is clean and modern, focusing attention on the spirits rather than creating atmosphere through décor. You’ll taste through their core lineup while learning about their vapor distillation techniques and quality control processes. It’s educational and straightforward, though not particularly atmospheric.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

Substance Over Style Worth the Hunt

If you’re interested in the technical side of distilling and prefer substance over style, Flying Dutchman delivers. The founders’ engineering approach results in clean, well-made spirits, and their tours offer genuine insights into craft distilling processes. However, this isn’t the place for romantic whiskey folklore or Instagram-worthy barrel rooms. It appeals most to spirits enthusiasts who appreciate precision and innovation over tradition and ambiance. Their gin particularly showcases their technical skills, making it worth trying even if you’re not typically a gin drinker.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead or check their website for current tour availability, as they don’t always have regular public hours due to production schedules. The location in an industrial park can be tricky to find—look for the Flying Cloud Drive address and don’t expect obvious signage from the street. Ask about their vapor basket gin distillation process during tours, as it’s one of their most interesting technical innovations. If you’re buying bottles, their gin tends to be their strongest offering and showcases their technical approach best.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Flying Dutchman Spirits — Visitor FAQ

Do I need to make a reservation for tours?

Yes, tours are typically by appointment only since this is an active production facility. Call ahead or check their website to schedule a visit, as they don’t always have set public hours.

What makes their gin different from other craft distilleries?

They use a vapor basket distillation system that allows botanicals to be extracted through vapor rather than direct contact, resulting in cleaner, more precise flavors. It’s a more technical approach that reflects the founders’ engineering backgrounds.

Is this suitable for people new to craft spirits?

Absolutely, though the focus is more educational than atmospheric. You’ll learn about the actual science of distillation in straightforward terms, making it great for anyone curious about how spirits are actually made rather than just the romantic stories.

GETTING THERE

Find Flying Dutchman Spirits

📍6801 Flying Cloud Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344, USA

—

📞 (952) 406-8286

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