Radliff and MacMillan Families & Whiskey Ties to Vandalia
The owner’s family has a history in Fayette County going back to the mid-1800s. His parents were born and raised here and he and his wife have a long-standing connection to Fayette County.
In addition to being right off I-70, the location offers a gateway to a rich history of whiskey-making, infamous prohibition-era bootlegging gangs like the Sheltons and the Birger gang, and of course, Abraham Lincoln. Abe wasn’t known to be much of a drinker, but his father was known for making great liquor.
In the late 1800s there were two distilleries in Vandalia: one made brandy, the other made whiskey. Most aren’t aware that before Prohibition, Illinois produced more distilled spirits than any other state. With your help, we’re determined to relive a little of that history.
The Building
Recent research by a local historian indicates the building dates back to around 1870. Its history includes that of a hotel, a dry-goods store called the “Star Store” and most recently, the Allen Furniture Store starting in 1936.
The Equipment
While there’s nothing too special about the mash tun and fermenters, they approach 20,000 pounds when full. The still features a massive copper column and was custom made. The owner had a hand in the completion of every step of its construction.
What Makes Our Liquor Different
We keep it local and natural with every step of the process. We get our non-chlorinated, non-fluoridated water from a spring 25 miles north, we use a combination of locally-sourced corn/wheat grown and delivered by long-time friends in the area, and we grind our corn and wheat right here, with the spent mash going to feed a friend’s cows.
Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose
The hand-hewn beams the Edison lights hang from came from a log barn located near Hoyleton. The barn wood on the front of the bar and thick planks behind the bar come from a barn in central Iowa.
We use the abundance of heat created in the distilling process to warm the building in the winter. The wooden floor of the distillery is reinforced with I-beams and iron tubing to support the immense weight of the still, mash tun, fermenters, and mash they contain. This is one of the most unique features of the distillery.