Black Band Distillery is a trailblazing Midwestern distillery that has helped redefine what Iowa whiskey can be, bold, expressive, and deeply rooted in place. Founded in 2013 in Peoria, Illinois, Black Band was built on the belief that great spirits come from patience, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge expectations. From the start, the distillery set out to craft whiskey with character and depth, drawing on traditional methods while embracing thoughtful experimentation.

At the heart of Black Band’s identity is its commitment to grain-forward, oak-driven American whiskey, made entirely from scratch. Every step of production, from milling and fermentation to distillation and aging, is handled in-house, allowing the team to maintain full control over flavor development. Black Band places particular emphasis on fermentation as a creative tool, using extended and carefully managed fermentations to build complexity before the spirit ever touches a barrel.

Barrel aging is central to the distillery’s philosophy. Black Band is known for its nuanced use of American oak, experimenting with char levels, barrel sourcing, and aging environments to coax out layers of caramel, spice, dried fruit, and toasted grain. Their whiskeys tend to strike a compelling balance between richness and structure, offering depth without heaviness and power without aggression. The results are spirits that reward slow sipping while remaining versatile enough for classic cocktails.

While whiskey is the backbone of the portfolio, Black Band also explores other spirits with the same attention to detail and restraint, often releasing limited or experimental bottlings that showcase different facets of their production approach. These small-batch offerings reflect the distillery’s ongoing curiosity and refusal to become complacent, even as its reputation has grown.

Black Band Distillery has earned national recognition for its work, garnering praise from critics and spirits competitions alike, but it remains firmly grounded in its Midwestern roots. The distillery’s name itself nods to rebellion and individuality, qualities that define both the brand and the people behind it. Their tasting room serves as a welcoming, unpretentious space where craftsmanship takes center stage and conversation flows as easily as the whiskey.

Ultimately, Black Band Distillery represents a modern American distilling ethos: respectful of tradition, driven by process, and unafraid to carve its own path. Each bottle reflects a careful balance of discipline and creativity, offering a confident, authentic expression of craft whiskey made with intention.