Monkey Hollow Distillery
Overview of the Distillery
Monkey Hollow Distillery is an extension of a family-owned vineyard outside St. Meinrad, Indiana, and is part of the same farm operation as Monkey Hollow Winery. The distillery offers unaged corn whiskeys, several flavored corn expressions, as well as aged whiskeys and a bourbon, making the place interesting for those who want to experience both wine and spirits production on a small family farm.
History
The estate's wine production began with the planting of the first 300 grapevines in fall 2003. Monkey Hollow Winery opened in May 2011 as a family-owned winery with a tasting room. The distillery operation later grew out of the winery's activities, and the product list as of March 7, 2025 shows a range of corn whiskeys (unaged and flavored) as well as several aged expressions and a bourbon, now included in the farm's lineup.
Raw Materials and Production
The production side includes corn whiskey (both unaged and flavored), an aged wheat whiskey, a blended malt, and a bourbon. The flavored variants are documented with cinnamon, peach, and cherry; in addition, other spirits are produced on the farm, including a vodka distilled six times and a gin with nine botanicals. The production operates as part of a family-owned small-batch structure with a tasting room and direct-to-farm sales.
Aging and Cask Types
Several aged releases are listed as stored in oak barrels. Winter's Wheat and Daniel Lee Jr. Bourbon are specifically listed as aged in oak barrels for at least two years. The blended malt 3 Monkey is also noted as aged in oak barrels. Information about prior cask contents, new oak, or the origin of the barrel is not detailed in the product lineup.
Whiskies
The range combines unaged corn whiskeys and flavored variants with aged whiskeys. Named products include Monkey Shine (unaged corn), Fire Monkey (cinnamon), Peach Monkey Shine and Cherry Monkey Shine (flavored corn whiskeys), Winter's Wheat (aged at least two years), 3 Monkey (blended malt) and Daniel Lee Jr. Bourbon (aged at least two years). Alongside the whiskies, other types of spirits are also produced under the same farm operation.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Age | Cask and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monkey Shine | Unaged corn whiskey | Unaged | Unaged corn whiskey (listed as 'Monkey Shine'). | Out of stock | |
| Fire Monkey | Flavored whiskey | Cinnamon flavored whiskey (listed as 'Fire Monkey'). | |||
| Peach Monkey Shine | Flavored corn whiskey | Peach flavored corn whiskey (listed as 'Peach Monkey Shine'). | Out of stock | ||
| Cherry Monkey Shine | Flavored corn whiskey | Cherry flavored corn whiskey (listed as 'Cherry Monkey Shine'). | |||
| Winter's Wheat | Aged wheat whiskey | Aged at least 2 years | Oak barrel | The distillery's first aged whiskey, listed as aged in oak barrels for at least two years (listed as 'Winter's Wheat'). | Out of stock |
| 3 Monkey | Blended Malt whiskey | Oak barrel | Blended malt whiskey listed as aged in oak barrels (listed as '3 Monkey'). | ||
| Daniel Lee Jr. Bourbon | Bourbon | Aged at least 2 years | Oak barrel | Bourbon listed as aged in oak barrels for at least two years (listed as 'Daniel Lee Jr. Bourbon'). |
Whiskies' Style and Flavor Profile
The named flavored products represent three distinct flavor directions: spicy cinnamon and fruity notes of peach and cherry. These flavored variants play a clear role in the selection and complement the unaged corn whiskeys and the aged expressions.
Visiting the Distillery
The estate has a tasting room where guests can enjoy complimentary wine tastings and purchase their own products and locally made crafts. There is a veranda with a view of the vineyards, light snacks such as cheese and sausage year-round, and in the summer months a Saturday grill menu is offered. The address and a phone number are provided as contact options, and GPS coordinates for the location are available.
Philosophy and Craft
Monkey Hollow operates as a family-owned farm production with a focus on small-batch productions, direct guest contact through the tasting room, and the combination of winery and distillery production.