Boot Hill Distillery
Kort om destilleriet
Boot Hill Distillery in Dodge City combines fifth-generation farming with small-scale distillation in a historic city hall. With the motto "soil to sip," hard red winter wheat and other local grains from the Kelman farm are transformed directly into spirits in the distillery's production room. The place is of interest for both history enthusiasts and whisky folks: tours of the former City Hall, guided tastings, and a range of bourbons and wheaters with strong local grounding.
Historie
Familienjord og femte generation
The company's grain comes from the Kelman family's fifth-generation farm in Haskell County, Western Kansas. The farm supplies hard red winter wheat, corn, and other grains used directly in the distillery's production.
Destilleri i et historisk bygningsværk
The distillery is housed in Dodge City's former City Hall. The building's history is part of the tour, giving guests insight into both the site's past and modern production.
Råvarer og produktion
Production starts in the field: hard red winter wheat, corn, and other grains are harvested at the Kelman Farm about 50 miles from the distillery and brought to the facility in Dodge City. The grain is milled on-site and undergoes mashing and fermentation before distillation; new distillate can be produced in about 14 days. Gin is distilled by steam distillation in ~250-gallon batches, while vodka is distilled from 100% hard red winter wheat. After distillation, barrel-aged spirit is moved to a rickhouse for rest and maturation. The range includes 100% straight wheat whiskey, wheated bourbons (typically 51% corn / 49% wheat), young blended releases aged 6–12 months, and experiments such as barrel-aged gin and short-aged white whiskey.
Modning og fadtyper
Aging takes place primarily in new, charred American white oak barrels of about 53 gallons, as repeatedly noted for the distillery's bourbons and wheaters. For certain products, a blend of different barrels is used, especially for Red Eye, where newly aged barrels aged 6–12 months are blended to create balanced, young releases. Another approach is the very short, one-week charred oak aging used for white whiskey to give the spirit a bit of color and roundness without full barrel maturation. The distillery also experiments with barrel-aged gin as a crossover between gin and whiskey.
Whiskyer
The range spans from 100% straight wheat whiskey and several bourbons to experimental and collaborative releases. Core products include Straight Wheat Whiskey, Red Eye (a young blended whiskey), White Whiskey, and America 250 Bourbon. In addition, there are university and event partner releases in the Wabash Reserve series, Roundhouse Reserve, and special editions for local events. The products are made with locally grown grain and are often aged in new charred American oak barrels; finished cocktails and RTD packs are also offered in the distillery's tasting room.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Barrel and Style | Flavor profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Wheat Whiskey | Wheat whiskey | 50 % | Over 2 years | New American white oak, 53 gallon, charred | 100% straight wheat whiskey made from hard red winter wheat grown at the Kelman Farm, aged in new American white oak barrels for more than two years. | Current; Core range; Available in the distillery's online shop and via third-party retailers |
| America 250 Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon | 45 % | New American white oak, 53 gallon, charred | Kansas Straight Bourbon designed to celebrate USA's 250th anniversary; distilled in Dodge City with grain from the High Plains. A portion of the proceeds donated to the Kansas 250 Fund. | Current; Core range; Available in the distillery's lineup | |
| Red Eye Whiskey | Bourbon / blended young whiskey | 40 % | 6–12 months (barrel aging before blending) | Various casks (varied barrel aging) | A young, blended whiskey where new-make is aged in different barrels 6–12 months before blending. Served as an accessible 80-proof whiskey. | Current; Core range; Available in the distillery's lineup |
| White Whiskey | White whiskey (new spirit) | Short aging (one week) | Charred oak (short, one week) | A young, fresh spirit made from 51% corn and 49% wheat, subjected to a short, one-week charred oak aging to soften the flavor and give a light color. | Current; Core range; Available in the distillery's lineup | |
| Wabash Reserve: 1863 | Bourbon | New charred oak (generally listed for the Wabash Reserve series) | A release in the Wabash Reserve series, which honors agricultural tradition and university history; highlighted as a special edition in the distillery's lineup. | Current; Available in the distillery's lineup | ||
| Wabash Reserve: Anderson Hall | Bourbon | 50 % | 4 years | New charred oak | A four-year, 100 proof bourbon in the Wabash Reserve series, highlighted as a link between the site's university history and agriculture. | Current; Available in the distillery's lineup |
| Roundhouse Reserve: High Wheat Bourbon | Bourbon (wheated) | New charred oak | Locally produced high-wheat bourbon developed in partnership with Wichita State University and aged in new, charred American oak barrels. | Current; Available in the distillery's lineup | ||
| Victor E Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon (collective release) | New charred oak (generally listed for local bourbons) | Collaborative bourbon with Fort Hays State University; mash bill and local roots highlighted as part of the product's profile. | Current; Available in the distillery's lineup | ||
| Roundup Rodeo Bourbon | Bourbon (collaboration release) | New charred oak (typical for the series) | A collaborative release in honor of Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, highlighted as a local tribute and part of the distillery's bourbon lineup. | Current; Available in the distillery's lineup |
Generel smagsprofil
Generally, the distillery's whiskies are described as warm and rich, while also being complex and robust. Several releases are noted as approachable and nuanced. Oak influence from new, charred American white oak barrels is a recurring element.
Oak influence is described as present via new, charred American white oak 53-gallon barrels.
Besøg destilleriet
Public visiting: The public can visit the distillery: a one-hour tour of the historic building (Dodge City's former City Hall) with insight into the soil-to-sip process and a guided tasting of the core range. Tours run on Fridays and Saturdays at 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM and are scheduled events, so bookings are recommended. The distillery also has a tasting room and sells products on-site and through online retailers. Hours are Monday–Tuesday 10:00–17:00; Wednesday–Saturday 10:00–23:00; Sunday closed.
The stated opening hours are Monday–Tuesday 10:00–17:00; Wednesday–Saturday 10:00–23:00; Sunday closed.
Filosofi og håndværk
Boot Hill Distillery works consistently with a "soil to sip" philosophy: the entire value chain is anchored in the family's farming, from growing hard red winter wheat to the finished product. This focus on local raw materials, craft, and connection to Kansas identity is highlighted in both product development and in special releases, where a portion of the proceeds may support local causes.