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

Illinois

Copper Fiddle Distillery

Lake Zurich,

Illinois

— Vodka, Gin, Liqueur

TASTINGS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

📞 (847) 847-7609

🌐 https://copperfiddledistillery.com/

📍 532 W State Rte 22 Ste 110, Lake Zurich, IL 60047, USA

Last Updated: 2026-02-16

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Copper Fiddle Distillery sits in a Lake Zurich strip mall at 532 W State Route 22, bringing craft spirits to the northwest Chicago suburbs since 2016. Founded by John Bohlender and his wife Katie, this micro-distillery started as a retirement project after John’s career in engineering and Katie’s work in healthcare. The 2,400-square-foot space houses a 26-gallon still where they craft vodka, gin, and various flavored spirits in small batches. John Bohlender serves as head distiller, applying his engineering background to the precision required in distillation. The operation reflects their philosophy of quality over quantity, producing spirits they’d want to drink themselves rather than chasing market trends. The distillery’s name pays homage to John’s fiddle-playing hobby and the copper still that anchors their production. You’ll find a tasting room attached to the production space, where visitors can sample their lineup while watching the distillation process through large windows. The Bohlenders built this as a neighborhood distillery, focusing on connecting with their local community rather than massive distribution.

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WHAT SETS THEM APART

Copper Fiddle operates as one of Illinois’ smallest licensed distilleries, with their 26-gallon copper still producing roughly 40-50 bottles per batch. John Bohlender’s engineering background shows in his methodical approach to distillation, keeping detailed logs of every batch and making incremental adjustments to perfect each recipe. They focus heavily on flavored spirits, creating unique infusions like their Cherry Bourbon and various seasonal offerings that reflect their willingness to experiment. The strip mall location might seem unconventional, but it keeps their overhead low and makes craft spirits accessible to suburban customers who might not venture into industrial districts. They source corn from local Illinois farms when possible and use a traditional pot still method rather than rushing production with column stills.

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

You’ll walk into a cozy tasting room where Katie or John often pour samples themselves, explaining their process and the story behind each spirit. The production area sits right behind large windows, so you can watch the still in operation during production days. Tastings include their core lineup of vodka and gin plus whatever seasonal or experimental batches they have available. The atmosphere feels more like visiting friends than a formal distillery tour. John enjoys talking about the technical aspects of distillation if you’re interested, while Katie focuses on the flavor profiles and cocktail applications. The space smells like whatever’s currently fermenting or distilling, giving you a real sense of active production.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

This appeals to spirits enthusiasts who enjoy meeting the actual distillers and learning about small-batch production methods. You won’t find elaborate tours or fancy gift shops, but you’ll get genuine interaction with passionate craftspeople who know every bottle they’ve made. It’s perfect for northwest suburban residents who want to support local business and try something different from mass-market spirits. Don’t expect a destination experience like larger distilleries offer. The value here lies in the personal connection and the chance to try spirits you can’t find elsewhere. Whiskey purists might be disappointed since their focus leans toward vodka, gin, and flavored spirits rather than aged brown liquor.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead since they’re often closed for production or may be attending local farmers markets. Their hours can be irregular, especially during winter months. Ask about their current experimental batches since they often have limited releases available only at the distillery. Bring cash since they sometimes have issues with card readers. The strip mall location means easy parking but can be tricky to find the first time. Look for the distillery sign rather than relying solely on GPS. If John’s distilling when you visit, ask him about his process since he loves talking shop with anyone genuinely interested in the craft.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Copper Fiddle Distillery — Visitor FAQ

Do I need to make an appointment to visit?

It’s strongly recommended to call ahead since their hours can be irregular and they’re often closed for production work or attending local events. They’re a two-person operation so unexpected closures happen.

What spirits do they focus on?

Their core lineup includes vodka and gin, with various flavored spirits and seasonal infusions. Don’t expect aged whiskeys since they focus on clear spirits and flavored options that don’t require long aging periods.

How big is their operation?

They use a 26-gallon copper still that produces about 40-50 bottles per batch. It’s one of Illinois’ smallest licensed distilleries, focusing on small-batch quality rather than volume production.

GETTING THERE

Find Copper Fiddle Distillery

📍532 W State Rte 22 Ste 110, Lake Zurich, IL 60047, USA

—

📞 (847) 847-7609

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Copper Fiddle Distillery

Copper Fiddle Distillery — Visitor FAQ