Old Monroe Distilling Co.

About the distillery

Old Monroe Distilling Co. is a grain-to-glass distillery and event venue on an 8th-generation family farm in Monroe County, Illinois. Owned and operated by Adam and Laura Stumpf since 2015, the distillery blends small-batch production of bourbon, vodka and whiskey with a cocktail lounge, tasting room and a luxurious event venue. Visitors get insight into the full process from field to bottle, and the site also offers contract distilling and a patented draft cocktail solution.

History

The history of Old Monroe Distilling Co. is closely tied to the Stumpf family and the farm's long-standing lineage. The business is run by Adam and Laura Stumpf, who took over operations in 2015 and integrated the distillery with the farm's own crops. By growing, harvesting, milling, and processing the grain on site, they have established a grain-to-glass setup that emphasizes traceability and control at every stage. The site also includes references showing that the products are distilled and bottled by Stumpy's Spirits Co. in Columbia, Illinois, and the 2016 materials highlight the company's early online presence and branding.

Raw materials and production

Old Monroe's production philosophy is straightforward: nearly all ingredients come from family-owned fields, and the entire process—from cleaning the grain to mashing, fermentation, distillation, aging in barrels, and bottling—takes place in-house. The distillery uses fresh limestone well water and a specially designed, homemade distillation system. In addition to their own production, they offer contract distilling, co-packing, and technological solutions for the retail and HoReCa markets. The practical approach combines a small-batch ethos with scalable services for other brands, and visitors can observe the processes on guided tours.

Maturation and barrel types

The pages mention that the spirits are barreled as part of the production chain, but do not specify precise barrel types or aging periods. Aging occurs as part of the farm's overall production, and the distillery emphasizes control over the raw material all the way from the field to the barrel. No details about American or European oak, first-fill, or finish are specified.

Whiskeys

Old Monroe produces a range of craft spirits focused on bourbon, vodka and whiskey, produced in small batches from the farm's grains. The range is complemented by sales in the tasting room and cocktail lounge as well as full bottle sales from the site. In addition to its own brands, the company also offers contract services for other brands and a patented draft cocktail solution, expanding their commercial portfolio beyond traditional bottle releases.

Visit the distillery

The distillery's public activities take place primarily in the cocktail lounge and tasting room, while the production address is closed to the public. The cocktail lounge is open Wednesday–Saturday from 12:00–21:00 and Sunday from 12:00–18:00. The tasting room has regular hours Thursday–Friday 13:00–17:00, Saturday 12:00–18:00, and Sunday 13:00–17:00. Guided tours are available by advance reservation at least 24 hours in advance; tours start at set times Thursday–Sunday, last at least 45 minutes, and provide insight into the entire production. There is the option to do tastings and purchase bottles and merchandise during opening hours.

The stated opening hours are: Cocktail lounge: Wednesday–Saturday 12:00–21:00, Sunday 12:00–18:00. Tasting room normal hours: Thursday–Friday 13:00–17:00, Saturday 12:00–18:00, Sunday 13:00–17:00.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

The company's core values are practically anchored in the grain-to-glass principle: they grow and process most of the raw materials on their own farm to preserve traceability and quality. Craft in small batches and control over the entire value chain are combined with hospitality in the form of a cocktail lounge and event venue. In addition, they prioritize commercial flexibility through contract distilling and a patented technical solution for bottled cocktails.

Sustainability

The majority of the raw materials come directly from family-owned fields, reducing transportation and ensuring traceability.