Union Horse Distilling Co. sits in a 15,000-square-foot facility in Lenexa, Kansas, founded by Patrick Garcia in 2010 with a vision to bring craft distilling to the Kansas City metro area. Garcia, who previously worked in construction and had a passion for American whiskey, spent years planning and researching before opening the doors in 2012. The distillery operates out of a converted industrial space that houses their custom copper stills, barrel storage, and tasting room, producing bourbon, rye whiskey, and vodka using traditional methods combined with modern equipment. The journey to opening wasn’t straightforward—Garcia had to navigate Kansas’s complex liquor laws and convince local officials that craft distilling could work in suburban Johnson County. He partnered with experienced distillers and invested in a 500-gallon copper pot still along with column stills to handle their grain-to-glass operation. The team sources corn from Kansas farms when possible, emphasizing local ingredients in their mash bills, and they handle everything from milling grain to bottling on-site. Visitors enter a working distillery where the smell of fermenting mash and aging whiskey creates an authentic atmosphere. The tasting room overlooks the production floor, so you can watch the actual distilling process while sampling their spirits. They’ve built a reputation for approachable bourbon and rye that reflects Midwestern sensibilities—well-crafted but without pretense. The space feels more like a working brewery than a polished tourist destination, which appeals to people who want to see real production rather than just hear about it.