CUSTOM BARREL PROGRAM - Barnstormer Distillery

Your Very Own Personalized Barrel of Spirit

Create something truly special with Master Distiller Tim in our aircraft hangar

Limited Time Offer 25% Off All 2026 Barrel Programs – Limited Spots Available

Book Your Barrel Experience → | Call (815) 269-4069 | Gift Cards Available |

Why This Is More Than Just a Barrel

Your journey with a Barnstormer Custom Barrel isn’t just about the spirit—it’s about becoming part of our craft family and creating memories that last long after the barrel is empty.

This isn’t a factory tour. It’s Master Distiller Tim personally guiding you through each step in our unique aircraft hangar setting. With over 40 years of aviation experience—from logging 15,000 hours as pilot-in-command to launching airlines worldwide—Tim knows that true mastery comes from hands-on experience, not automated processes.

You’ll sign your barrel, seal your bung hole, taste fresh distillate straight from the still, and celebrate with friends as your whiskey journey begins. Just like Tim learned to trust his instincts in the cockpit, you’ll experience firsthand what it means to create something exceptional through touch, smell, and taste.

These moments become the stories you’ll tell for years.

Your Hands-On Experience

✓ Design Your Recipe – Work with Tim to select your custom mashbill and barrel size
✓ Get Your Hands Dirty – Grind grain using our farm-fresh ingredients
✓ Behind the Scenes Access – Witness distillation in our working distillery
✓ Sign & Seal – Personalize your barrel and hammer in the bung
✓ Taste the Magic – Sample your clear spirit before it begins aging
✓ Celebrate the Moment – Toast with friends as your whiskey journey starts
✓ Track Your Progress – Return for tastings as your spirit develops character
✓ Bottle Your Legacy – Take home both bottles and barrel as lasting keepsakes

Investment Options

2026 Discounted Rates Show Below

10-Gallon Experience
$1,200 (down payment) + $300 (at bottling)
Yields approximately 33 bottles • Matures 18-24 months

15-Gallon Experience
$1,800 (down payment) + $450 (at bottling)
Yields approximately 50 bottles • Matures 24-30 months

30-Gallon Experience
$3,500 (down payment) + $800 (at bottling)
Yields approximately 100 bottles • Matures 36-48 months

Investment includes: Custom recipe consultation, Grind and Cook day experience, Distilling day experience, Barreling day experience, all materials, aging storage, bottling day experience, personalized labels, and your barrel to keep

Perfect For:

✓ Corporate Team Building – Create shared experiences that bond teams
✓ Family Traditions – Start something your kids will remember forever
✓ Friend Group Adventures – Make memories worth celebrating
✓ Milestone Celebrations – Anniversaries, retirements, special birthdays

What Our Guests Say

4.4 Stars (79+ Reviews)

“The owners are very friendly, and the aviation-themed distillery offers a nice variety of spirits. A large taproom and open outdoor area give great spaces for the various food trucks and live music that they routinely have. We enjoyed their whiskey and also their spirits infused with items grown on their farm. It was an enjoyable experience and would highly recommend.”
— TripAdvisor Review

“Addie and Tim always do such a great job making everyone feel so welcome.”
— Yelp Review

“Barnstormer Distillery is a hidden gem that offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, making visitors feel like they’re part of the family.”
— Restaurantji

Interested in hearing from past barrel customers specifically? Contact us for references!

How It Works

Phase 1: Design & Create (3 visits over 2-3 weeks)

Step 1: Contact Us
Email marketing@barnstormerdistillery.com or call (815) 269-4069
We’ll answer your questions and discuss your vision

Step 2: Recipe Design Day
Choose a date that works for your group (typically 1-2 hours)
We’ll taste spirits, develop your custom mash bill, get your signed contract, and collect your down payment

Step 3: Cook Day – Grind Your Grain
Come to the hangar to grind and cook your own grain with Tim (typically 4 hours)
Experience the hands-on process from start to finish

Step 4: Distillation Day
Return within a week to see and taste your spirit as it comes off the still with Tim (typically 1-2 hours)
Watch the magic happen in real-time

Step 5: Barrel Day
Return within a week to barrel your spirit and start the aging process (typically 1 hour)
Your barrel begins its journey in our facility

Phase 2: Age & Anticipate (18-48 months)

Step 6: Track & Taste
Return for periodic tastings as your spirit develops character
We’ll notify you when it’s ready to bottle

Phase 3: Bottle & Celebrate (Final visit)

Step 7: Bottling Day
Return for bottling day – another hands-on experience
Take home your bottles, barrel, and memories

Ready to Create Your Own Barrel Story?

Custom Barrel
These photos show real customers on their barrel day – this could be you and your group making memories in our hangar.
Limited spots available for 2026 programs

Reserve Your Barrel Experience →
Call (815) 269-4069 | marketing@barnstormerdistillery.com

Questions? We’re happy to walk you through the entire process, discuss pricing options, and help you choose the perfect barrel size for your needs.
The Choice Is Yours, You can visit another distillery that follows the rules, uses automation, and plays it safe with predictable flavors.
Or you can experience what happens when innovation meets Illinois tradition in an actual aircraft hangar.
Come taste the difference. Come be part of the revival.