How far is the distillery from Louisville?

Neeley Family Distillery is about 45 minutes northeast of Louisville in Sparta, Kentucky. It's in Gallatin County, off the main Bourbon Trail routes, so plan for a bit of a drive through rural Kentucky.

What makes their bourbon different from larger distilleries?

The Neeleys grow some of their own corn right on the property and handle most of the production themselves as a family operation. You're tasting spirits made in small batches with direct family involvement from grain to bottle, rather than mass-produced bourbon.

CRAFT DISTILLERY

Tom’s Town Distilling Co.

Kansas City,

— Bourbon, Gin, Vodka

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

🏛️

Political Legacy

Named for Kansas City’s notorious boss

🌾

High Rye

Bold mash bill aged in Missouri oak

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Historic Building

1920s auto garage turned sleek distillery

🥃

Master Distiller

Kentucky veteran adapting urban techniques

🍸

Cocktail Program

Jazz-age recipes with house spirits

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Arts District

Crossroads location perfect for crawling

📞 (816) 541-2400

🌐 https://www.toms-town.com/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=GBP&utm_campaign=Listing

📍 1701 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Jazz Age Spirits In the Crossroads

Tom’s Town Distilling Co sits in Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District at 1701 Main Street, occupying a restored 1920s automotive garage that’s been transformed into a sleek urban distillery. Founded in 2016 by David Epstein and Steve Holle, the operation takes its name from Kansas City’s notorious political boss Tom Pendergast, who ran the city during Prohibition while keeping the liquor flowing. Epstein, a former tech entrepreneur, and Holle, with his spirits industry background, wanted to create something that captured Kansas City’s rebellious spirit and rich jazz-age history. Their master distiller Ted Palmer brings decades of experience from major Kentucky operations, but he’s not just recreating what’s been done before. The 8,000-square-foot facility houses custom copper stills and produces bourbon, gin, and vodka that reflect Kansas City’s bold personality. You’ll find exposed brick walls, industrial fixtures, and a tasting room that feels more like a sophisticated cocktail lounge than a typical distillery visitor center. They’ve managed to honor the building’s automotive past while creating something entirely modern.

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WHAT SETS THEM APART

Prohibition Politics Meet Craft Bourbon

Tom’s Town sits at the intersection of Kansas City’s jazz history and Prohibition-era politics, drawing inspiration from the city’s famously corrupt but effective political machine. Their bourbon uses a high-rye mash bill that’s aged in charred Missouri oak, and they’re one of the few distilleries that sources some grain directly from Kansas farms within 150 miles of the facility. The building itself tells a story – this was once Stark Auto Parts, and they’ve preserved original architectural elements while installing state-of-the-art distilling equipment. What really sets them apart is their cocktail program, where house-made spirits meet classic Kansas City jazz-age recipes that were popular during Pendergast’s reign. Their gin incorporates botanicals that would have been available to Kansas City bartenders in the 1920s, including locally-sourced honey.

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

FOOD AVAILABLE

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Urban Distillery Real Deal Atmosphere

You’ll start your visit in the tasting room, where exposed brick and vintage automotive touches remind you of the building’s past life. Tours take you through the production floor where you can see their copper pot stills and learn how they’re adapting traditional bourbon-making techniques for an urban environment. Ted Palmer or one of his team usually leads tours, and they’re genuinely passionate about explaining how Kansas City’s water and climate affect their aging process. The tasting experience focuses on neat pours so you can understand how each spirit reflects its ingredients and process. The space feels intimate – you’re not walking through a massive industrial facility, but rather seeing craft distilling up close where every barrel matters.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

Kansas City Character In Every Pour

This is perfect for folks who want to understand how urban distilling works and appreciate the connection between local history and craft spirits. You’re not getting a countryside farm-to-bottle experience here, but rather seeing how a city’s personality can influence its spirits. The tour is educational without being dry, and the tasting room is sophisticated enough that you’d want to stick around for cocktails after your visit. If you’re expecting rolling hills and rustic charm, this isn’t your spot. But if you’re interested in how modern craft distillers are interpreting classic American whiskey-making in urban settings, Tom’s Town delivers something genuinely interesting.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Book tours online at least a week ahead, especially for weekend visits. The distillery is right in the Crossroads Arts District, so you can easily walk to other galleries and restaurants before or after your visit. Street parking is available but can be tight during First Friday art walks. Ask specifically about their high-rye bourbon and how they’re experimenting with Missouri oak – it’s what they’re most excited about and where their expertise really shows. Tours run Thursday through Sunday, and they occasionally offer special releases or barrel tastings that aren’t advertised widely.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Tom’s Town Distilling Co. — Visitor FAQ

Who was Tom Pendergast and why name a distillery after him?

Tom Pendergast was Kansas City’s political boss during Prohibition who kept liquor flowing through the city despite federal law. The founders chose his name to honor Kansas City’s rebellious spirit and the era when the city’s nightlife and jazz scene flourished.

Do you have to book tours in advance?

Yes, tours should be booked online at least a week ahead, especially for weekends. They run Thursday through Sunday and fill up quickly during busy periods.

What makes your bourbon different from Kentucky bourbon?

They use a higher rye content in their mash bill and age some barrels with Missouri oak, which imparts different flavors than traditional Kentucky aging. Kansas City’s climate also creates different aging conditions than Kentucky’s bourbon country.

GETTING THERE

Find Tom’s Town Distilling Co.

📍1701 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA

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📞 (816) 541-2400

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Tom’s Town Distilling Co.

Jazz Age Spirits In the Crossroads

Prohibition Politics Meet Craft Bourbon

Urban Distillery Real Deal Atmosphere

Kansas City Character In Every Pour

Tom’s Town Distilling Co. — Visitor FAQ