Small craft distillery opens in Bethalto
BETHALTO — A small craft distillery has debuted in Bethalto and the community can get an up close and personal look at the entire production process during an educational tour of the facility.
B.T.O. Distillers, LLC has officially opened its tasting room and launched Bluestem Vodka. Future plans include producing gin, whiskey, and flavored spirits.
The distillery located at 5313 State Route 140 in Bethalto produces vodka from locally grown corn. All ingredients going into the bottle including the bottle itself are made in America. Bottles are made in Missouri, shipped to Wisconsin to be decorated, shipped to the distillery to be filled with Bluestem Vodka, and capped and sealed with tops from California and wax from Massachusetts respectively.
The permit and construction process began in April 2015 and took nearly two years to complete. The three owners have a combined 50 years of brewing, winemaking and alcohol production experience with degrees in chemical engineering, chemistry and food science. They asked that their names not yet be publicized because of existing employment.
Named for the Illinois and Missouri State Prairie Grass, Bluestem Vodka is distilled 10 times, filtered through activated coconut shell carbon, and cut with reverse osmosis water resulting in an exceptionally pure vodka.
Educational tours are $10 per person and include a tasting, cocktail, tour and Bluestem Vodka rocks glass. Tours are available on Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations are required and can be booked at www.bluestemvodka.com/tours
To learn more visit www.bluestemvodka.com
Follow Bluestem Vodka on Facebook and Instagram. For questions, email contact@btodistillers.com
Items for Illinois Business Journal publication may be sent to Editor Dennis Grubaugh, dgrubaugh@ibjonline.com
