Farm to table, the phrase used to describe restaurants that locally source their ingredients, is so common it’s almost overused. But its alcoholic counterpart, farm-to-still, is hardly heard. That’s because it’s rarely the case with spirits, especially in a world where whiskey is mass produced in Indiana, then shipped around the country to be bottled, aged and rebranded as “small batch.” (Obviously not all, but some.)

But at Whiskey Acres Distilling Co., a farm 60 miles west of Chicago in DeKalb, Illinois, they take the farm-to-still mentality and magnify it. Here they call it seed to spirit and every aspect of the spirit-making process takes place right on site. They grow grain; mill, mash and ferment it; distill, bottle and age it all right at the farm. And they host tours and tastings to come full circle.

I joined FoodieChats and Illinois Farm Families on a field trip to Whiskey Acres to experience the farm first-hand. And let me say sipping on bourbon made with corn grown just feet away is incredible in itself, but drinking bourbon this good was exceptional.

Seed to Spirit Whiskey at Whiskey Acres Distillery

Whiskey Acres in DeKalb, Illinois

Whiskey Acres feels simultaneously right outside Chicago and a world away at the same time. It’s just a two hour drive from downtown, yet the scenery is as drastically different as possible. Rows of corn carpet the landscape as far as we could see and the only noise was the sound of a tractor picturesquely plowing the field in the sunset.

Farming is a way of life for owners Jim and Jamie Walter and Nick Nagele, whose families have been farming for over five generations. In 2011 they realized they could turn their corn into whiskey, utilizing the rich Midwestern soil and the water naturally filtered by limestone. They joined forces with former Maker’s Mark master distiller Dave Pickerell for his whiskey expertise and Whiskey Acres was born.

Related :: Check out this amazing drone footage from our tour.

Corn field at Whiskey Acres in DeKalb, Illinois. — A true field of dreams — one that turns into whiskey.

The Winery Approach to Whiskey

Whiskey Acres looks at corn and whiskey the same way wineries approach grapes and wine. It’s common knowledge that different grape varieties produce different flavors of wine, and corn is no different. Whiskey Acres creates everything completely on-site, in small batches. That allows them to experiment with different varieties of corn to explore which flavor profiles create the best tasting whiskey.

One of their recent experiments is a bourbon made with sweet corn. It’s surprising how much flavor permeates the final product. Whiskey website Axis of Whisky describes the taste as “baked apples, without being overly sweet. Buttered corn glides alongside streaks of vanilla. Ever so faint roasted chicken.” (Note to self: learn to describe whiskey with this amount of detail!)

The custom-made still, named Flo, at Whiskey Acres in DeKalb, Illinois. — Owner Nick Nagele with the custom-made still, named Flo.

Bourbon, Rye and Vodka – Oh my!

The sweet corn whiskey is part of Whiskey Acres’ Artisanal Series, the label for their limited batches of experimental spirits. Their regular lineup — the bottles sold online and around Chicago (see below) — includes bourbon, rye, vodka and unaged corn whiskey. The bourbon and rye both continue to receive great reviews around the whiskey world, with reviewers shocked that such a young distillery is producing such great-tasting spirits.

I was equally impressed with everything I tasted at Whiskey Acres, but the real surprise was how much I enjoyed the vodka. I’m the furthest thing from a vodka drinker, but the complexity and flavor of the vodka, which I sipped neat, was good enough to turn me into a vodka fan. (Don’t worry, I still left with a bottle of bourbon!)

Owner Nick Nagele letting us sample cask strength whiskey straight from the barrel at Whiskey Acres Distillery in DeKalb, Illinois. — Owner Nick Nagele letting us sample cask strength whiskey straight from the barrel.

Touring Whiskey Acres

The tour of Whiskey Acres took us from the still and fermentation tanks, in between huge tractors with wheels taller than me, along the corn fields and to the barrel-aging area, learning about — and sometimes tasting — every step along the way. It finished on the patio, where we sipped more cocktails and had dinner as the sun set. It was fun, it was informative, and it left me utterly impressed by the work and dedication that everyone at Whiskey Acres has for their products.

Whiskey Acres is truly is a labor of love for everyone involved, and their passion product is something to be proud of. If you truly want to taste farm to table — or seed to spirit — grab a bottle of it, or better yet, tour the distillery.

Barrels of whiskey aging at Whiskey Acres Distillery in DeKalb, Illinois. — Barrels of happiness stacked to the ceiling.

Tour and Tasting Details

The Whiskey Acres Distillery cocktail patio and tasting room are open April – November: Fridays and Saturdays 1:30 – 8:30 pm, Sundays 1:30 – 5:30 pm. Cocktails are available by the glass and bottles can be purchased to take home. Feel free to bring food or snacks.

Tours start at the top of every hour and are $10/person (includes tour, tasting and shot glass). Reservations are not required, but they ask that groups of 8+ call ahead. More details are here.

Bottle-Buying Details

Whiskey Acres bourbon, rye and vodka are available throughout Chicago at several local retailers like Whole Foods and Mariano’s, plus online at Binny’s and Erza’s to ship nationally/ internationally. More info is here.

Disclaimer :: I was graciously treated to the tour of Whiskey Acres as a guest of FoodieChats and Illinois Farm Families. As always, all opinions are my own.