Midwest: 2026 Top Tasting Rooms

Midwestern Tasting Rooms

The Top Tasting Rooms is a new 2026 list we released through Craft Spirits Magazine. Top tasting rooms—46, to be exact—were chosen through a comprehensive review of each nomination’s design, atmosphere, and community impact. Evaluators looked at when the space opened, how the layout functions for guests and staff, and how well the design and ambiance reflect the distillery’s brand and ethos. They also considered the range of events hosted, the space’s commitment to inclusivity, and any unique, innovative, or story‑driven elements that set the tasting room apart.

45th Parallel Distillery

New Richmond, Wisconsin
45thparalleldistillery.com
In the warm, open, elevated industrial space, weekly events include live music and trivia, with seasonal happenings including a farmers market. The circular bar is designed to present a slice of the globe at the 45th parallel latitude. “It’s not overly fancy, it’s refined and clean and intentional, just like our spirits,” the distillery says.

Driftless Glen Distillery

Baraboo, Wisconsin
driftlessglen.com
Encouraging visitors to “Taste the American Spirit,” Driftless Glen’s tasting room, situated along the banks of the Baraboo River, offers an upbeat, welcoming and cozy vibe, with a handcrafted, artistic ethos.

Iron Fish Distillery

Thompsonville, Michigan
ironfishdistillery.com
Iron Fish Distillery welcomes guests to their northern Michigan farm with a family-friendly environment. The tasting room seamlessly utilizes our outdoor space and interior bar and seating area to give guests an atmosphere that leans heavily into the terroir of the region. Weekly events include live music and trivia, and there are yard games available in the expansive outdoor space during the spring, summer, and fall. A favorite event is the Annual Hats & Horses Kentucky Derby Party, where a real horse races down their dirt road.

Water Tower Distilling Co., LLC

Ypsilanti, Michigan
www.watertowerdistilling.com/
Opened in May 2025, Water Tower’s tasting room has given new life to the 150 year old building. It has kept its historic charm with updates to electric and plumbing to bring it up to the 21st century. It’s a two story tasting room, which is very unique, with a stage area for live music. Also, as one of the few distilleries with a queer head distiller and also being a woman-owned company, the brand is centered around inclusion and ensuring that people from under served communities have a place, whether its as employees or guests.

State Line Distillery

Madison, Wisconsin
statelinedistillery.com
The team at State Line Distillery works hard to be good stewards of our community. From the ‘Rare Riffs’ cocktail programs designed to raise money for various causes, to the gallery space, which rotates local art on a quarterly basis, they believe being active members of the community is a responsibility and a core tenant of who they are as a company. The tasting room offers a full range of events including live music, trivia, food trucks, slam poetry, community fundraisers, dog adoption events, collaborations with other Madison Beverage Makers.

Revelton Distilling Company

Osceola, Iowa
reveltondistillery.com
The distillery itself is in the heart of Iowa, along the interstate but in a fairly rural setting. Step into the gorgeous art deco faciilty with navy velvet, brass, chandeliers and a great view of a large working column still. The cocktails all showcase the grain-to-glass spirts made on-site, and in glassware befitting a spectacular drink. Grain is sourced from local farmers with some rye grown onsite, which can be seen from the back deck of the tasting room. The experience is a combination of beauty, style, some industrial grain, and grit. It’s not what you may expect in the middle of rural Iowa. Its special and feels elgegant, but yet comfortable. Come as you are and enjoy a fabulous drink.

J. Rieger & Co.

Kansas City, Missouri
jriegerco.com
It’s hard to call J. Rieger’s visitor experience a tasting room, as it’s more a multi-tiered, multi-leveled complex. In fact, the space it calls its Tasting Room & Atrium is just one of four sipping venues on its campus. The others include the Monogram Lounge (the house bar and lounge that overlooks the production floor), The Hey! Hey! Club! (its underground, jazz-age-inspired venue), and the outdoor Electric Park Garden Bar. A two-story, serpentine slide ties the interior together (and yes, visitors can slide down it). The building also houses museum exhibits with artefacts from the distillery’s nearly 140-year history.