Union Horse Distilling Co.

Overview of the Distillery

Union Horse Distilling Co. is a family-owned craft distillery in the Kansas City area, established in 2010. The distillery operates grain-to-glass in small batches and is known for award-winning spirits and special, hand-numbered releases. On-site, guests are welcomed in the Rider Room for tours, tastings, and social events, where you can experience the full process from malting to bottling.

History

Union Horse Distilling Co. opened in 2010 and has since established itself as a family-owned, craft-focused distillery in the Kansas City area. The company builds its identity on grain-to-glass production and small batches, which is reflected in both standard releases and special, hand-numbered bottles signed by Master Distiller & Co-Founder Patrick Garcia. Over time, distribution has expanded, so Union Horse products are today found in select retailers in a number of American states. Parallel with retail distribution, an active visitor program with tours, tastings and Distillery Social events has been developed, which has made the distillery a local gathering spot for whiskey enthusiasts.

Raw Materials and Production

Production is organized around a grain-to-glass principle, and the tour guide leads guests through the entire chain from milling and mashing through fermentation and distillation to barreling and bottling. The distillery works in small batches with a focus on craftsmanship; product descriptions highlight artisan distillers who manually select casks for special releases. A concrete example of raw material choices is Barrel Strength Reunion Rye, made from 100% rye mash and bottled straight from the barrel. Tours start in the Rider Room and often conclude with tastings of the distillery’s award-winning spirits, which tightly connect production and audience.

Maturation and Barrel Types

Union Horse uses, among others, its signature Missouri oak for aging. Barrel Strength Reunion Rye is aged 5–7 years, barreled at a proof of 110, and bottled unfiltered and undiluted. The descriptions emphasize hand-selecting casks and releasing certain releases straight from the barrel, indicating an awareness of cask choice as a central part of product development.

Whiskies

The range includes hand-made spirits with a focus on classic American styles; examples of names in the product portfolio are Reserve Straight Bourbon and Barrel Strength Reunion Rye Whiskey. The Barrel Strength release is a full-fledged rye whiskey made from 100% rye mash, while the other spirits in the distillery’s portfolio are categorized as handcrafted, award-winning products. The products are sold in select retailers in several states, and at the site guests can choose a flight or individual pours as a way to sample the portfolio.

General Flavor Profile

Product descriptions mention citrus, vanilla, toffee, mint and pepper spice as prominent elements in Barrel Strength Reunion Rye.

Fruitiness is described as Citrus. Spices are described as Pepper spice. Vanilla is described as Vanilla. Caramel is described as Toffee. Floral notes are described as Mint.

Visit the Distillery

The distillery offers guided tours, starting in the Rider Room and guiding visitors through the entire production process. Tours cost $25 per person, have a participant limit of 25, and tickets can be purchased via the distillery’s shop link. Participants must be at least 21 years old and bring valid ID. In addition to standard tours, Distillery Social events with cocktails, whiskey flights and local food trucks are held. General opening hours are Monday–Friday 08:00–17:00; Saturday and Sunday closed.

The stated hours are Monday–Friday 08:00–17:00; Saturday–Sunday closed.

Philosophy and Craft

Union Horse highlights family ownership and a craft-focused grain-to-glass approach. The distillery’s approach includes small batches, manual cask selection by artisan distillers, and special, hand-numbered releases signed by Master Distiller & Co-Founder Patrick Garcia. The visitor experience is integrated into the philosophy as a way to showcase the craft and create direct contact between producer and audience.