Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
No documented production places are linked to this distillery yet.
Judson & Moore
About the Distillery
Judson & Moore is a Chicago-based distillery that makes American whiskey using ingredients and materials from the Midwest. Since its founding in 2019, they have combined a practical family background in construction and distillation with an active tasting room and bar in a refurbished factory hall by the Chicago River. The distillery's profile rests on local grains, Lake Michigan water, and the use of Minnesota white oak.
History
The idea behind Judson & Moore sprang from the meeting of two families: a Minnesota-raised silo-builder and entrepreneur and a Tennessee-raised distiller and engineer. The company was established in 2019. In 2020 Barrel One was filled, and in spring 2022 the first bottle hit the market simultaneously with the tasting room opening. In 2025 the distillery marked several growth milestones: more than 18,000 bottles were bottled during the year, they surpassed 1,000 filled barrels, and the tasting room celebrated its third year with a busy events program.
Raw Materials and Production
The raw materials bear clear signs of local sourcing: red corn, rye and malted barley from the Midwest and water from Lake Michigan, as well as the use of Minnesota white oak in the company's materials. Distillation takes place in a Still Room in Chicago; details about still type, number of pot stills, fermentation time, and malting method are not listed, but the distillery works with both classic whiskey styles (bourbon, rye, malt) and experimental batch series, such as Generator Malt Whiskey. Production is supplied directly to the tasting room's bar program, and 2025 production figures illustrate a combination of craftsmanship and significant local distribution.
Aging and Cask Types
The whiskey is aged in the distillery's barrel room, and the distillery marks individual casks as Barrel One. The use of Minnesota white oak as a material in the house is highlighted. The texts document access to their own casks and ongoing refilling, but do not specify exactly which previous cask contents (e.g., sherry or wine) or specific new oak percentages are used.
The Whiskies
The lineup includes classic American whiskey types: a Red Corn Bourbon, rye releases (including a 5-year rye) and experimental single malt batches under the Generator name. The products are actively used in the tasting room's cocktails and as the backbone in signature drinks, and the journal documents both regular releases and ongoing small projects and seasonal menus from the bar.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Age | Flavor profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Corn Bourbon | Bourbon | Used as the backbone in several of the bar's classics and cocktails; highlighted for its minerality and spicy notes.; Nose: mineral-like richness; Taste: spice notes with hints of almond; Finish: a delicate, bitter finish | |
| J&M Rye | Rye | Used in the distillery's cocktails and bar program as part of the split base material in specialty drinks. | |
| Generator Malt Whiskey Batch 001 | Malt whiskey | One of the experimental batch series mentioned in the distillery's journal. | |
| Generator Malt Whiskey Batch 002 | Malt whiskey | Another batch in the Generator series, mentioned in the occasional publications. | |
| 5-Year Rye (release) | Rye | 5 years | Noted as a distinct 5-year rye release in the distillery's annual roundup. |
Whisky Style and Flavor Profile
Sources describe three throughlines: minerality (especially in Red Corn Bourbon), spice/pepper notes, and a clear reference to applewood smoke in one of the malt projects. These elements are mentioned both in descriptions of neat pours and in cocktail blends, giving a clear sense of the house style.
Visit the Distillery
The distillery invites visitors into the tasting room and bar, which sits just outside the Still Room. The tasting room's fixed opening hours are Friday 16–22 and Saturday 14–20; closed Sunday–Thursday, and showtimes vary according to the events. A Saturday Distiller's Tour (45–60 minutes, paid), private tours, guided tastings and events in the Barrel Room are offered. RSVP is recommended for groups over 10, and the bar adds 20% gratuity to open tabs at closing.
The stated opening hours are Friday 16:00–22:00; Saturday 14:00–20:00; closed Sunday–Thursday. Showtimes vary by events program.
See times and book a visit.
Philosophy and Craft
The company is built on an explicit value of using local Midwest ingredients and Minnesota white oak, as well as the families' craft backgrounds. Emphasis is placed on a balance between tradition and innovation, transparency of the process from grain to glass, and on combining production with an active, community-oriented bar and events program.