Kennay Farms Distilling sits on a working farm along the Lincoln Highway in Rochelle, Illinois, about 80 miles west of Chicago. Founded by Ken and Kay Hjorth (hence the name Kennay), this farm-to-bottle operation opened its doors in 2017 after the couple decided to diversify their century-old family farm. Ken brings decades of farming experience to the grain selection process, while Kay handles the business side and visitor experience. They produce bourbon, rye whiskey, and vodka using corn grown right on their 400-acre property. The Hjorths didn’t stumble into distilling by accident. After years of raising corn and soybeans, they watched grain prices fluctuate and realized they could add more value by turning their corn into spirits rather than just selling it as commodity grain. Ken spent two years learning the craft before they invested in their copper still setup. The distillery operates out of a converted barn on the property, maintaining that authentic farm atmosphere while housing modern distilling equipment. Their master distiller background comes from Ken’s methodical farming approach combined with formal training at distilling workshops. Visitors get the full farm experience here. You’re not just touring a production facility, you’re walking through the fields where the grain grows before it becomes whiskey. The tasting room overlooks the farmland, and during harvest season you might see the actual corn being brought in that’ll become next year’s bourbon. It’s a genuine grain-to-glass operation where you can literally see the entire process from seed to bottle, something most distilleries can’t offer.