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

Cedar Ridge Distillery

Swisher,

Iowa

— Bourbon, Rye, Rum, Vodka, Gin, Other

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

🌽

Local Grain

Iowa corn milled on-site daily

🥃

Wheated Bourbon

Softer profile than rye-heavy whiskeys

👨‍🌾

Family Operation

Quints still run every aspect personally

🏭

First Legal

Iowa’s first distillery since Prohibition

🛢️

Barrel Tastings

Sample directly from aging barrels

🌾

Malted Barley

Rare 100% malted barley whiskey

📞 (319) 857-4300

🌐 https://cedarridgedistillery.com/

📍 1441 Marak Rd NW, Swisher, IA 52338, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Iowa Farm That Makes Award-Winning Whiskey

Cedar Ridge Distillery sits on a 40-acre farm in Swisher, Iowa, about 20 minutes northeast of Cedar Rapids. Jeff and Laurie Quint founded this operation in 2005, transforming their family farm into Iowa’s first legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition. Jeff, a former restaurateur, and Laurie, who ran the business side, started with a vision to create authentic American spirits using Iowa corn and other local grains. The distillery operates out of a 12,000-square-foot facility that houses everything from fermentation tanks to barrel aging rooms, producing bourbon, rye whiskey, rum, vodka, and gin. The Quints didn’t just want to make spirits—they wanted to prove that Iowa could produce whiskey that competed with Kentucky and Tennessee. After years of planning and navigating regulatory hurdles, they installed their copper pot stills and began distilling in 2010. Jeff serves as head distiller while Laurie manages operations, and they’ve built a team that includes their children, making this truly a family operation. You’ll find them using Iowa corn for their mash bills, sourcing grains locally when possible, and aging their whiskey in new charred oak barrels in on-site rickhouses. The visitor experience includes tours of the production facility, tastings in their welcoming tasting room, and bottle sales of their full lineup. What started as a leap of faith on a rural Iowa farm has become a legitimate whiskey destination that’s earned national recognition for their bourbon and rye.

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WHAT SETS THEM APART

Wheated Bourbon From Local Iowa Corn

Cedar Ridge holds the distinction of being Iowa’s first legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition ended, making it a genuine pioneer in the state’s modern craft spirits movement. The Quints use a grain bill that’s heavy on Iowa corn, often sourcing directly from local farmers within a few miles of the distillery, creating a true farm-to-bottle operation. Their bourbon uses a wheated mash bill rather than rye as the flavoring grain, which produces a softer, rounder profile that’s become their signature. The family operates their own grain mill on-site, giving them complete control over the process from grain to glass. Jeff Quint’s background as a restaurateur influences their approach—they focus on creating spirits that pair well with food rather than just sipping neat. The distillery also produces malted barley whiskey, which is relatively rare among American craft distilleries, and they’ve experimented with finishing their whiskeys in wine barrels from Iowa wineries.

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

FOOD AVAILABLE

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Meet the Distillers In Their Working Distillery

Tours at Cedar Ridge take you through their working distillery where you’ll see the grain mill, fermentation tanks, and copper pot stills in action. Jeff or one of his team members leads most tours, explaining their grain-to-glass process and the differences between their various mash bills. The tasting room has a warm, farmhouse feel with wood floors and displays of their bottles, and you can sample their full range of spirits including their signature wheated bourbon, rye whiskey, and seasonal releases. The space smells like grain and aging whiskey, especially near the barrel storage areas. Tours last about 45 minutes and include tastings of four to five spirits, with knowledgeable guides who can explain the technical aspects of distillation and aging. You’ll taste directly from barrels during tours, which gives you a sense of how the whiskey develops over time.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

Iowa's Hidden Whiskey Gem Worth Finding

This is worth the drive if you’re interested in the story of craft distilling and want to meet the actual people making the spirits. The Quints are usually around and genuinely enjoy talking about their process and the challenges of starting a distillery from scratch in Iowa. You’re not getting the polished, corporate tour experience—this feels more like visiting friends who happen to make excellent whiskey. Their wheated bourbon is legitimately good, not just good “for a craft distillery,” and you’ll learn about techniques and approaches that differ from larger producers. The rural location means you’re committed to the visit, but that also means it’s not crowded and you get personal attention. If you prefer slick presentations and large-scale operations, this might feel too small-scale, but that’s exactly what makes it special for people who want to understand craft distilling.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead to book tours, especially during weekends and summer months when they get busy. The distillery is about a 20-minute drive from Cedar Rapids on rural roads, so use GPS and expect a country setting. Tours run on weekends year-round and some weekdays during busy seasons, but check their website for current schedules. Ask about their barrel-aged rum if you’re a rum drinker—it’s one of their less-known products but really well-made. The tasting room sells bottles of everything they produce, often including limited releases that aren’t distributed widely. If Jeff is giving your tour, ask him about the early days of getting the distillery licensed—he’s got great stories about navigating Iowa bureaucracy. Plan to spend about an hour total for tour and tasting, and don’t rush if they’re not busy—the Quints enjoy talking shop.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Cedar Ridge Distillery — Visitor FAQ

Do I need to book tours in advance?

Yes, tours require reservations especially on weekends. Call ahead or book through their website since they’re a smaller operation and want to ensure someone’s available to give you the full experience. Walk-ins sometimes work on slower days, but don’t count on it.

How long does a visit typically take?

Plan about an hour for the complete tour and tasting experience. The tour itself is 45 minutes, plus time in the tasting room if you want to browse or purchase bottles. If it’s not busy and Jeff’s around, conversations often run longer because he enjoys talking about the distilling process.

What makes their bourbon different from Kentucky bourbon?

Cedar Ridge uses a wheated mash bill instead of rye, which creates a softer, smoother profile. They also use Iowa corn exclusively and control the entire process on-site from milling grain to bottling. The result is a distinctly Midwestern style that’s less spicy than typical rye-heavy bourbons.

GETTING THERE

Find Cedar Ridge Distillery

📍1441 Marak Rd NW, Swisher, IA 52338, USA

—

📞 (319) 857-4300

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