Tom's Town Distilling Co.
About the Distillery
Tom’s Town Distilling Co. is located in the heart of Kansas City and combines a historic tasting room with active distillation of gin, vodka, bourbon, and rye whiskey. The site's Prohibition-inspired vibe, its association with Tom Pendergast, and a number of award-winning spirit releases make it an interesting stop for both locals and visitors who want to experience products and hospitality all under one roof.
History
Name and Inspiration from the Prohibition Era
Tom’s Town takes its identity from Kansas City's Prohibition era and the story of the political figure Tom Pendergast, whose quote "The people are thirsty" is part of the brand narrative. The distillery uses a historic tasting room, described as more than 110 years old, as the centerpiece for guest experiences. Over time, the site has evolved to function both as a working distillery and as a hospitality business with a restaurant, a speakeasy, events, wedding rentals, and special product launches.
Raw Materials and Production
Distillation is meticulously performed on-site in downtown Kansas City.
Notable production characteristics include double-oaked treatment of bourbon, barrel-aged gin, production and bottling of canned cocktails, production located on Main Street in downtown Kansas City, a tasting room in a historic building more than 110 years old, and a combination of production and guest experiences with opportunities to participate in bottling and tours.
Aging and Barrel Types
The distillery works with aging of spirits and explicitly mentions double-oaked aging of bourbon as well as a Limited Reserve program and the Pendergast Machine Series for selective releases. Barrel-aged gin indicates that gin is also aged in wood in certain variants. These elements show a blend of classic wood-aging and experimental finish programs.
Whiskeys
The core portfolio includes bourbon and rye whiskey alongside gin and vodka. Names highlighted in the spirits section include Pendergast's Royal Gold Bourbon, Tom's Town Double Oaked Bourbon, and Tom's Town Straight Rye Whiskey. In addition to the standard range, Tom’s Town offers canned cocktails in varieties such as Elderflower Lime, Grapefruit Clove, Lemon Gin Collins, and Strawberry Mint Vodka. Special series include the Limited Reserve Program and the Pendergast Machine Series.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Cask and Finish | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pendergast's Royal Gold Bourbon | Bourbon | One of the distillery's bourbon releases listed as part of their spirits lineup. | Current; Core Range | |
| Tom's Town Double Oaked Bourbon | Bourbon | Double oaked; finish: Double oaked | A bourbon release in the distillery's lineup, labeled as Double Oaked. | Current; Core Range |
| Tom's Town Straight Rye Whiskey | Rye Whiskey | The distillery's straight rye whiskey, listed among their core spirits. | Current; Core Range |
Whiskey Style and Flavor Profile
The documented flavor profile encompasses botanical and citrus-oriented nuances as well as spicy and wood-aged notes. Product names and canned cocktail variants reference citrus (lime, lemon, grapefruit), floral elements (elderflower), fruit (strawberry in one variant), and spice (clove), while terms such as barrel-aged gin and double-oaked bourbon point to wood-influenced characteristics in some releases.
Visiting the Distillery
Tom’s Town welcomes the public into a historic tasting room and runs a restaurant and a speakeasy on site. Visitors can book tours, participate in cocktail classes, try bottling experiences, and take part in tastings and release parties. The venue also offers event and wedding facilities, as well as purchase of spirits via pickup and online store; special experiences can be booked through their 'Book a Distillery Experience' feature.
Philosophy and Craft
Tom’s Town blends historical inspiration with modern craft by celebrating the Prohibition era's stories while also focusing on quality and innovation. Emphasis is placed on production details and on letting guests experience both the spirits and the site's history through tastings, tours, and education.