Sweetwater Distillery sits on US-36 in Monroe City, Missouri, a small town about 30 miles west of Hannibal in the heart of farm country. Founded by Gary and Debbie Hinton, this family operation started in 2015 when Gary decided to turn his longtime hobby of home distilling into something bigger. The Hintons converted an old farm building into their production facility, installing a 500-gallon copper still and aging room where they craft bourbon, moonshine, and flavored spirits. Gary handles the distilling while Debbie manages the business side, creating a true mom-and-pop operation that reflects their deep Missouri roots. The distillery focuses on small-batch production, typically making around 100 gallons per batch, which allows them to maintain quality control and experiment with different recipes. They source their corn locally when possible and age their bourbon in new charred oak barrels in a climate-controlled environment. The tasting room occupies the front portion of their building, decorated with rustic farm elements and family photos that tell the story of their journey from hobbyists to commercial distillers.