“The Spirit of Rockford – Hidden in Plane Sight”

Discover Illinois’ most unique craft distillery experience

What makes us different:

  • Aircraft Hangar Tasting Room – Not your typical distillery setting
  • 22-Acre Farm Distillery – We grow some of what we distill
  • 20+ Handcrafted Spirits – Always something new to try
  • Master Distiller & Mixologist Team – Tim & Addie create magic in every glass

The Experience 

Take our quarter-mile gravel road to discover what guests call a “hidden gem” in a park-like setting. Our custom-built aircraft hangar houses our tasting room, where fresh ingredients from our property become award-winning spirits and cocktails.

Fresh is Everything 

We use what the land produces and our “outside of the box” special hands-on processes to produce spirits and cocktails that highlight the taste that only fresh ingredients can make. From cucumber vodka made with greenhouse-grown cucumbers to experimental single barrels, we’re not afraid to break tradition.

The Tim & Addie Magic 

Master Distiller Tim creates unconventional spirits while Master Mixologist Addie crafts extraordinary cocktails. Together, they push flavor boundaries using fresh ingredients and vacuum distillation techniques.

Visit Us Summer Hours:

  • Friday 3-8 (Food 4-7)
  • Saturday 11-8 (Food 12-7)
  • Sunday 11-5 (Food 11-4:30)
Weekend food service by The Brasserie at Barnstormer

Illinois’ Best Kept Secret – Until Now

The aircraft hangar distillery experience everyone’s talking about
Yes, We’re in an Aircraft Hangar | Yes, We Grow Some Ingredients Onsite | Yes, It’s Worth the Drive

How to Find Your New Favorite Place

Address: 6969 South Main Street, Rockford, IL
The Journey: Take our quarter-mile gravel road (don’t worry, you’re going the right way!)
The Payoff: What guests call “Illinois’ most unique distillery experience”
GPS might get confused – we’re the aircraft hangar at the top of the hill

Why People Drive From Chicago, Milwaukee & Madison

20+ Award-Winning Spirits – Made fresh on our 22-acre farm
Cocktails You Can’t Get Anywhere Else – Master Mixologist Addie creates magic
Farm-to-Glass Experience – We literally grow our ingredients
Instagram-Worthy Setting – Aircraft hangar meets craft distillery
Live Music Weekends – Perfect atmosphere for groups

“I Had No Idea This Existed!”

– Every first-time visitor
Hidden in the rolling Rockford countryside, Barnstormer Distillery offers something you won’t find anywhere else in Illinois. Master Distiller Tim throws out the rulebook to create spirits like Corn/Pear Whiskey and shelf-stable Horseradish & Cucumber Vodka that years later tastes as fresh as the day it was harvested.

The Addie Experience: 

Our Master Mixologist doesn’t just make drinks – she creates personalized cocktail journeys. With an intuitive understanding of different palates, Addie excels at recommending the perfect selection from our seasonal menu or crafting custom drinks tailored to your taste preferences.

Our Promise: 

Every guest deserves a “wow” moment with their cocktail. Led by Addie’s creative vision and supported by our team’s shared dedication to the craft, our entire cocktail crew is passionate about ensuring you discover something extraordinary from our handcrafted spirits – whether it’s your usual go-to or an adventurous new flavor profile that becomes your next favorite.

The Tim Innovation: 

From Blue Cheese Vodka experiments to single-barrel masterpieces, our distillery pushes boundaries while using 95% local grain from within 20 miles. Our primary grower is HAZARD FREE FARMS located near Pecatonica Illinois. Because we also use a “Cold Distilling” processes for our flavored spirits, all the flavor essences we produce for our spirits are totally shelf stable. When Tim contemplated this venture, he knew he was not a “traditional” spirit maker, so he threw out the “tradition rulebook” and started to think “outside the box”. Tim embraces experimentation and offer many one of a kind Single Barrel Spirits. Tim is not afraid to try unconventional methods, mash bills, or odd ingredient combinations in both the distillery and the tasting room.

Weekend Food Experience

The Brasserie serves farm-fresh dishes that pair perfectly with our spirits. Chef Tim’s weekly specials and towering smash burgers have people posting photos before they take a bite.

Plan Your Discovery

Summer Hours:
  • Friday 3-8pm (Food 4-7pm)
  • Saturday 11am-8pm (Food 12-7pm)
  • Sunday 11am-5pm (Food 11-4:30pm)
Perfect for: Date nights, group outings, celebrations, corporate & private events, anyone seeking Illinois’ most unique distillery experience
Pro Tip: Follow our Facebook/Instagram for weekly menu updates and live music announcements

Ready to Discover Illinois’ Hidden Gem?

6969 South Main Street, Rockford, IL
Quarter-mile down the gravel road – the hangar at the top of the hill
Call ahead for groups of 8+ | Walk-ins always welcome

A Peek Inside the Hangar

Anyone who has visited the Hangar knows that Addie and our staff are passionate about creating extraordinary cocktail experiences. As the owner and creative force behind most of our cocktails, Addie has an intuitive understanding of different palates and excels at recommending selections from our seasonal menu or crafting custom drinks tailored to your preferences.

What makes our cocktails truly special is the collaboration between Addie, our Master Mixologist and Tim, our Master Distiller. Since we can only serve what we produce in-house, they work together to push the boundaries of flavor, using fresh ingredients and vacuum distillation techniques to create something magical in every glass. This isn’t just about having a cocktail—it’s about experiencing the artistry of craft distillation.

Our entire team is dedicated to ensuring every guest has a ‘wow’ moment with their cocktail. Whether you’re working with Addie or any of our skilled bartenders, you can expect the same level of expertise and passion for craft. For those new to craft spirits or trying something outside their usual preferences, any member of our team is more than happy to create a different drink if the first one doesn’t deliver that special experience we’re known for. Led by Addie’s creative vision and supported by our team’s shared dedication to the craft, we create perfectly balanced drinks that showcase the true character and innovation of our handcrafted spirits.