Fox Trail Distillery sits on South Bellview Road in Rogers, Arkansas, occupying a converted warehouse that’s been transformed into Northwest Arkansas’s first legal distillery since Prohibition. Founded by Jess Rude in 2014, this operation started as a dream born from his fascination with the science and craft of distillation. Rude, who previously worked in manufacturing, spent years researching distillation techniques and studying under established distillers before launching Fox Trail. The distillery produces vodka, gin, whiskey, and seasonal spirits using a custom-built copper still system. The journey to opening wasn’t simple. Rude had to navigate Arkansas’s complex distilling laws and work with local officials to establish the legal framework for craft distilling in Rogers. He partnered with local farmers to source corn and other grains, building relationships that would become central to Fox Trail’s identity as an Arkansas-rooted operation. The 5,000-square-foot facility houses everything from grain storage to bottling, with Rude overseeing production while his wife Amy manages the tasting room operations. What started as a one-man operation has grown into a legitimate production facility that’s helped establish Northwest Arkansas as a craft spirits destination. The distillery focuses on small-batch production, with Rude personally involved in every aspect from mashing to bottling. Visitors can see the entire process during tours, from the grain bins to the fermentation tanks to the copper pot still that’s become the heart of the operation.