Holladay Distillery
Overview of the Distillery
Holladay Distillery in Weston, Missouri, produces Real Missouri Bourbon in and around the historic production buildings fed by a pure limestone spring. Founded in 1856 by Ben and Major David Holladay, the distillery's identity is built on an original mash bill from the mid-1800s. The facility is operated by the McCormick Distilling Company and offers guided tours where visitors see the entire process from grain to glass and experience the aromas from aging barrels and the heat from the copper stills.
History
The history begins with a limestone spring discovered during the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804, and this water source would become central to the site's later use as a distillery. Brothers Ben and Major David Holladay established the facility in 1856, and Ben Holladay would later be known as a prominent entrepreneur. During the 20th century, ownership and names changed several times; in 1942 the facility became known as the McCormick Distilling Company. In 1993, Ed Pechar, Mike Griesser, and a group of private investors purchased the company, leading to growth and expansion of the product line. In 2016, they marked 160 years of history and actively returned to a focus on bourbon and the site's original recipe, while operations continued under McCormick Distilling Company.
Raw Materials and Production
The production follows the bourbon tradition with a fermented grain mash consisting of corn, wheat, rye, and barley, where a bourbon mash requires at least 51% corn. The distillery highlights the use of an original mash bill from the mid-1800s and describes a combination of time-tested methods and modern distilling techniques. The water from the limestone spring is used in the process and can, after aging, be used to bring the whiskey to the desired strength. The entire production process—from grain to glass—is demonstrated on guided tours, where visitors get a sense of both the raw ingredients and the production environment.
Aging and Barrel Types
As bourbon, the spirit is aged in new, charred oak barrels, and for the designation "straight bourbon" at least two years of aging in such barrels is required. The distillery also mentions using the pure limestone spring water to adjust the proof after aging. On tours, the aroma from aging barrels is a prominent element, and the historic storage buildings are part of the experience.
Whiskies
Holladay focuses primarily on bourbon and mentions collections such as Holladay Bourbons, Ancient Cave Collection, and Distillery Exclusive Releases as parts of its lineup. The emphasis is on bourbon products and distillery-exclusive releases, showcased as separate collections and experiences on the distillery's pages. There are no detailed individual bottle descriptions on the provided pages, but the lineup is clearly presented as centered around the site's bourbon tradition.
Visit the Distillery
Guided tours are offered on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and last about 90 minutes, including a bourbon tasting. Private tours can be arranged upon request. Children four years old and under participate for free. The tours take place in the original production buildings, where guests experience both the sight of copper stills and the scent of aging barrels. In bad weather or extreme temperature conditions, tours are canceled, and the parties are notified in accordance with the distillery's weather cancellation policy. The opening hours for visitor activities are listed on the website.
The posted opening hours are Thursday 11:00 - 16:00; Friday 11:00 - 18:00; Saturday 10:30 - 18:00; Sunday 11:00 - 16:00; Monday & Tuesday closed; Wednesday 11:00 - 16:00.
Philosophy and Craft
The distillery's approach centers on place, recipe, and water: it produces "Real Missouri Bourbon" by maintaining a historical mash bill and by using limestone spring water as part of the production chain. Holladay emphasizes preserving original buildings and combining ancient recipes and methods with modern distillation to ensure consistency and a connection to the site's history.