Dakota Spirits Distillery

Short Overview

Dakota Spirits Distillery sits on a ridge a few miles north of the Missouri River in Pierre, South Dakota. It is a small, family-owned craft distillery where the brothers behind it work with local fruits and grains, clean upper Missouri Basin water, and batch-distillation in a copper pot still. The focus is on small batches, craftsmanship and flavor over volume. The distillery has a Tasting Room and produces, among other things, an age-stated oat whiskey called 1804.

History

The initiative started between two brothers who had grown up in South Dakota and longed for a local distillery close to the ingredients the region produces. After experiments with beer, wine and various distillation techniques, the brothers chose to build and license their own artisan distillery on a ridge north of the Missouri River in Pierre. During the setup, many operating choices were discussed, but the common denominators were local ingredients, small batches and great attention to detail. The brand name "Bickering Brothers" arose as a comment from a bystander during the many decision debates, and it was chosen as a distinctive signature. Production includes brandy and whiskey, and in April 2020 their 1804 Oat Whiskey was awarded a Gold Medal and Best of Category at the American Distillers Institute Judging of Craft Spirits.

Raw Materials and Production

The raw materials are local grains and fruits from South Dakota; the distillery specifically mentions oats together with corn, wheat and rye. The grain is milled by hand, and the mash is fermented in a controlled environment with naturally clean water from the Upper Missouri Basin. The distillation takes place in small batches on a copper pot still, which allows close monitoring of each batch. The four-season climate — hot, dry summers and very cold winters — is actively used to mature spirits faster in oak barrels. They also collaborate with local wineries on brandy production.

Aging and Cask Types

The whiskies are aged in American oak barrels. The 1804 Oat Whiskey is specifically aged in new charred American oak, and the distillery notes that their expressions typically mature over a period of four to six years. For 1804, a longer labeling process led to it being aged six years before release. The continental climate in Pierre contributes to the influence of the cask over time.

Whiskies

The range comprises small, handcrafted releases focusing on local ingredients. The best-documented whiskey is the 1804 Oat Whiskey, an age-stated oat whiskey aged in new charred American oak and released in limited, numbered bottles. In addition to the oat whiskey, the distillery also offers products referred to as Blended Whiskey and Coyote 100 Light Whiskey. The distillery also produces brandy and other spirit types through collaborations with local wineries; many of the products are made in small batches with limited supply.

Visit the Distillery

The distillery has a Tasting Room and invites visitors to stop by. To arrange visits or tastings, please call 605-494-1009 or email info@dakotaspirits.com. The address is 3601 Airport Road, Pierre, South Dakota, located on a ridge north of the Missouri River. Refer to the tasting facility upon arrival, and visits should be arranged directly with the distillery for practical details.

Philosophy and Craft

Dakota Spirits prioritizes local ingredients and craftsmanship: grains and fruits from the region, hand-milled grain, fermentation in a controlled environment with water from the Upper Missouri Basin, and batch distillation in a copper pot still. The slogans and values include "quality, not quantity" and "flavor, not flash," as well as a desire to use local products instead of commodities. Small batches and meticulous oversight are fundamental to their working method.

Awards and Recognitions

• Gold Medal and Best of Category (2020, awarded for 1804 Oat Whiskey)