Lionheart Whiskey Co. sits on Schiller Street in Hermann, Missouri’s historic wine country along the Missouri River. Founded by Michael Patterson, a former tech executive who left Silicon Valley to pursue his passion for whiskey making, the distillery opened its doors in 2019 in a restored 19th-century building that once housed a German brewery. They focus on small-batch bourbon and rye whiskey production using locally sourced Missouri grains and limestone-filtered water from the region’s natural springs. Patterson’s journey from software development to whiskey distilling began during a sabbatical in Kentucky, where he apprenticed under master distillers and learned traditional bourbon-making techniques. He chose Hermann for its rich German heritage in spirits production and the area’s ideal climate for aging whiskey. The operation runs with a 500-gallon copper pot still and produces roughly 1,200 bottles per month, with Patterson handling much of the distillation process himself alongside head distiller Sarah Chen, who brings 15 years of experience from craft distilleries in Colorado. Visitors step into a working distillery where the smell of fermenting mash mingles with oak and vanilla notes from aging barrels. The tasting room occupies the building’s original stone-walled cellar, creating an intimate atmosphere where Patterson or Chen often personally guide tastings. You’ll see every step of their process, from grain milling to barrel filling, and taste spirits that reflect both traditional methods and Patterson’s innovative approach to flavor development.