Rock River Distillation sits on a farm property along 170th Street in Rock Rapids, Iowa, a small town near the South Dakota border. Founded by local entrepreneur Chad Huebner, who transitioned from farming and construction work into craft distilling, the operation started in 2016 as Iowa’s northwest corner got its first legal distillery. Huebner converted existing farm buildings into a production facility, installing copper stills and creating a tasting room that maintains the agricultural character of the original structures. They produce vodka, whiskey, and flavored spirits using locally-sourced corn and grains when possible. The operation reflects the DIY spirit you’d expect from someone who built much of the facility himself, creating a genuinely grassroots craft distillery experience. You’re visiting someone’s working farm that happens to make spirits, not a polished tourist destination. The rural setting means you’ll drive through farmland to get there, and the experience feels authentically Iowa rather than trying to mimic Kentucky or Tennessee distillery culture.