Distillery tours
Distillery Tours in Iowa
Plan a distillery tour in Iowa: 6 distilleries to visit, with tastings and experiences you can book directly. Expect Craft Spirits, Bourbon, Gin and more. Highlights include Iowa Distilling Company, Foundry Distilling Co., Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery.
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About distillery tours in Iowa
Iowa's distilling story is short but unusually rich, and tracing it as a trail leads you through farm country to spirits made quite literally from the fields you drive past. The state is the nation's top corn producer, which makes it a natural home for bourbon, and the modern revival began when Cedar Ridge became Iowa's first licensed distillery since Prohibition, releasing its own whiskey at the start of the last decade. Cedar Ridge's success, alongside the wider fame of Iowa rye, inspired more than a dozen craft distilleries to follow, and helpful legislation has let them welcome visitors and sell directly. A loose Iowa trail rewards the curious: Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery in Swisher pairs wine and whiskey on one estate, Mississippi River Distilling Company sits on the riverbank in LeClaire crafting its Cody Road spirits, and names such as Foundry Distilling Co., Iowa Distilling Company, Revelton Distilling Co. and 173 Craft Distillery round out the picture. What unites them is a genuine farm-to-bottle ethos, with grain sourced from local farmers and turned into spirits that taste of place.
Following the Iowa trail
Iowa's distilleries are spread across the state, so a trail works best built around two anchors and the towns between them. The eastern corridor is the strongest: Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery in Swisher sits handily near Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, while Mississippi River Distilling Company is an easy run east to LeClaire on the river. Linking those two makes a satisfying eastern Iowa loop. From there you can branch inland toward the Des Moines area for Foundry Distilling Co. and other central stops, and pick up smaller producers such as Iowa Distilling Company, Revelton Distilling Co. and 173 Craft Distillery as your route allows. Because corn and grain are the common thread, the trail doubles as a tour of the agricultural landscape that supplies them.
Distilleries worth prioritising
Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery is the essential first stop, the state's pioneering distillery and one of its most decorated, where you can taste Iowa-corn bourbon and explore a working winery on the same estate, making it ideal for a leisurely half-day. Mississippi River Distilling Company is the other must, a riverside operation run with a strong local-grain philosophy and a tasting room overlooking the water. If you have time to go deeper, Foundry Distilling Co. brings a more contemporary, design-led feel, while smaller names like Revelton Distilling Co. and 173 Craft Distillery offer the intimate, owner-led experiences that make a craft trail memorable. Across all of them, the farm-to-bottle theme keeps the spirits firmly rooted in Iowa.
Where to stay & eat nearby
Cedar Rapids and Iowa City are the natural overnight bases for the eastern distilleries, both within easy reach of Cedar Ridge in Swisher and well supplied with restaurants and hotels. LeClaire itself is a charming river town worth lingering in, with antique shops, riverfront dining and views of the Mississippi that pair nicely with a visit to Mississippi River Distilling Company; the nearby Quad Cities offer more accommodation. For central Iowa stops around Foundry Distilling Co., the Des Moines metro provides the widest choice of places to eat and sleep. Wherever you stay, the farm-country setting means good casual dining is rarely far away.
Getting there & around
Driving is the only practical way to follow the trail, as the distilleries are dispersed across small towns. The Eastern Iowa Airport at Cedar Rapids is convenient for the strongest cluster, while Des Moines International serves central stops. The eastern loop between Swisher and LeClaire is comfortable in a day with time to spare, but adding central or outlying distilleries is better spread over two days. Distances are flat and easy by Midwest standards, though stops can be far apart, so plan a designated driver and check opening hours ahead; smaller, owner-run distilleries may keep limited or weekend-only times.
Frequently asked
- Why is Iowa good for whiskey?
- Iowa is the country's leading corn producer, and bourbon must be made largely from corn, so the state is a natural fit. Many distilleries source grain from local farmers, giving the spirits a distinctly homegrown, farm-to-bottle character.
- Which is Iowa's oldest distillery?
- Cedar Ridge in Swisher was the first licensed distillery in the state since Prohibition and released its own whiskey at the start of the last decade. Its success helped spark the wider Iowa craft scene.
- How should I plan a route?
- Anchor your trip in eastern Iowa, linking Cedar Ridge near Cedar Rapids with Mississippi River Distilling Company in LeClaire. From there you can branch toward central Iowa and the Des Moines area to add Foundry Distilling Co. and smaller producers.
- Can I visit a winery and distillery together?
- Yes. Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery combines both on one estate, so you can taste wine and Iowa-corn whiskey in a single visit, which makes it a relaxed, longer stop on the trail.
- How long does the trail take?
- The eastern cluster is doable in a single day, but two days is more comfortable if you want to add central Iowa distilleries and enjoy the river town of LeClaire rather than rush between stops.
- Do I need a car?
- Yes. The distilleries are spread across small towns with little public transport between them, so a car and a designated driver are essential for tasting along the trail safely.
- Are tastings and bottle sales available?
- Generally yes. Iowa legislation lets craft distilleries welcome visitors, run tastings and sell bottles on site, though it is worth checking individual opening hours, especially at smaller producers.