History

West Bottoms Whiskey Co. is a distillery located in Kansas City's historic West Bottoms. The company was founded in 2021 and was propelled by the spirit of innovation, optimism, and industrial tenacity from the city's previous era of greatness. Their approach is styled after the pre-Prohibition era and focuses on refining craft through inventive blending, distillation, and aging techniques. They emphasize being anchored in the charm of the early 1900s and honoring the stories that shaped America's whiskey tradition. Each bottle should deliver consistency, sippability, and a good story—from the first sip to the last. The distillery has since expanded its portfolio and became known for three distinct premium blended whiskeys as well as a clear historical identity. A central figure in their history is the industrially inspired forefather Murdock, whose symbolism and visual elements (top hat and monocle) honor titans from the Gilded Age and the labor movement's spirit. Since its inception in 2021, West Bottoms Whiskey Co. has evolved to offer products and experiences, including a cocktail parlor and guided tours in an area with a rich history.

Production / Manufacturing

West Bottoms Whiskey Co. describes an approach that emphasizes blending, distillation, and aging as key elements of their craft. Their flagship product, Kansas City Whiskey, is a pre-Prohibition-inspired blend of bourbon and rye with a hint of Oloroso sherry. Their processes include aging and finish techniques as part of their unique style. Technical details include: - American Single Malt Whiskey is produced 100% by them, distilled and aged at West Bottoms on a 211-gallon copper alembic pot still and stored in 5-gallon casks for about 1 year. - Convergence Whiskey is a blend of rye and malt that finishes in wine casks for its signature finish, giving a balanced flavor with dark fruits and malted notes. - American Blended Malt Whiskey is a specially crafted blend of Distiller’s Cut (an American single malt) and a selected single malt, aged and blended to create a complex malt profile. - Maple Cask Finished Rye Whiskey is a limited release, where rye whiskey rests in freshly dumped maple barrels from Runamok Maple Syrup producer in Vermont, with about 95% rye in the mash. About 1,200 bottles are produced, and each bottle comes with a stave from the original barrels that were drained two years earlier.

Products / Whisky Series

• Kansas City Whiskey — Blended Whisky; 47% alc/vol (94 proof). Description: a 99-point rated pre-prohibition style blend of bourbon and rye with a hint of Oloroso sherry. Tasting notes: upfront spice, caramel, leather, stone fruit in the finish. Award winners: Double Gold (Denver International Spirits Competition); 99 Points (Platinum) (Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards); Best Missouri Whiskey (International Whiskey Competition); Best in Category (America’s Spirits Competition).
• Convergence Whiskey — Blended Whisky; 47.5% alc/vol (95 proof). Description: Rye and malt blended and finished in wine casks. Tasting notes: balanced spice, sweet malt, dark-fruit finish. Award: Gold (Denver International Spirits Competition).
• American Blended Malt Whiskey — Blended Malt Whisky; 45% alc/vol (90 proof). Description: A specially crafted blend of Distiller’s Cut: American Single Malt and an selected 4-year-old malt. Tasting notes: pasture/grass hay, honey, and a touch of peat smoke. Award: Gold (America’s Spirits Competition).
• American Single Malt Whiskey — Single Malt; 50% alc/vol (100 proof). Description: West Bottoms’ premium expression; 100% distilled and aged at their own facility in a 211-gallon copper alembic pot still; aged in 5-gallon barrels for about 1 year. Notes: honey and pear with a light smoky finish and hints of honeysuckle. Award: Gold (America’s Spirits Competition).
• Maple Cask Finished Rye Whiskey — Rye Whisky; 46% alc/vol (92 proof). Description: Limited release, aged in maple cask finish in collaboration with Runamok Maple Syrup. 95% rye, about 1,200 bottles. Notes: maple, camp spice, and “everything nice.” Availability: limited to KS, MO, and in the cocktail parlor.

Visits / Experiences

West Bottoms Whiskey Co. offers a combination of distillery tours and a cocktail parlor in a pre-Prohibition train tunnel: - Distillery Tours: Thursday and Friday at 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM; Saturday at 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Book a tour via their website. - Parlor (cocktail parlor): Located in a pre-Prohibition train tunnel in West Bottoms. Offers a wide range of whiskey cocktails, whiskey flights, and pours of their whiskeys. Parlor hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 2:00 PM–10:00 PM; Thursday 11:00 AM–10:00 PM; Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM–midnight. Loft reservation option is available. - Address: 1321 W 13th Street Unit HT, Kansas City, Missouri 64109.

Philosophy

West Bottoms Whiskey Co. is a whiskey-focused distillery built on innovation, optimism, and the industrial spirit of West Bottoms. They seek to fuse traditional craftsmanship with a modern artistic approach through blending, distillation, and aging. Their statement emphasizes whiskey as a story, where each bottle carries a part of the history, and the goal is to deliver products with consistency, sippability, and a strong narrative from the first sip to the last. Their offerings and experiences are designed to give customers a sense of the history behind the city’s whiskey tradition, while presenting contemporary and award-winning craftsmanship.