Mississippi River Distilling Company

Iowa grain, Iowa water, Iowa spirits

Many people dream of being able to quit the hustle and flow of their day job to start a distillery, but for two brothers in LeClaire, Iowa, this dream became a reality. Garrett and Ryan Burchett started the Mississippi River Distilling Company (MRDC) in 2010 when they noticed a unique opportunity to create spirits that hadn’t been around since the prohibition era.

The MRDC is a family owned and operated company that believes in the local land and the water. Having the distillery located in a small community allows them to utilize the family farm to create a different kind of spirit that is hand crafted and born from the finest grains.  This forward thinking concept has also gotten the community involved. Every ingredient that goes into their spirits is locally grown and harvested just up the road from the distillery. Even the ingredients for seasonal spirits are grown locally, within a 25-mile radius of the distillery.

MRDC is one of only a handful of distilleries nationwide that handles every step of the distilling process. This process is called “grain to glass” and it is done in a small batch process. Garrett and Ryan oversee every step of the distilling process to ensure the highest quality product is produced.

Once the product is finished, it either goes into a barrel for aging or directly into a bottle. Every spirit is bottled and hand signed but don’t expect any imperfections. The Burchett brothers keep a watchful eye do everything to perfection. Every bottle that leaves the MRDC portrays the unique stamp of approval. Each bottle is individually numbered by hand to show the batch number and bottle. Customers can visit MRdistilling.com, enter the batch number and bottle number to discover the personality of each bottle. The website will give the customer a brief history of each bottle that leaves the distillery.

To get started with the distilling process Garrett and Ryan were privileged to spend time in Germany training with Europe’s finest distillers.  This is also where they purchased the still that is used to make all their spirits. The still consists of a 1,000 liter handmade German boiling pot and two tall copper rectification columns. Inside the two columns, there are plates that allow MRDC to distil spirits up to 95 percent alcohol. This provides the flexibility to produce anything they put their minds to, including seasonal spirits, whiskey or anything else they can think up. Garrett and Ryan have affectionately named the still “Rose” and even constructed the building around her. 

Their products are just as unique as the brothers’ story. Their “River” products are a direct reflection of the Mississippi River that flows just outside their window.  It reflects the river pilots and barons that brought the town of LeClaire to life with their ability to navigate boats cleanly through the Mississippi’s dangerous crosscurrents, rocks and channels. They were the keepers of life’s luxuries, including wine and spirits. Their newest product Cody Road Bourbon has proved to be in high demand after selling out across Iowa within 24 hours of release.

The Mississippi River Distilling Company has won many awards for their “River” products and for their newest product Cody Road Bourbon. River Pilot Vodka has been presented with four awards in 2011 including the Gold Medal Winner for Beverage Tasting Institute 2011 International Review and Bronze Medal Winner 2011 New York International Spirits Competition (one of only five medalists in “Vodka $25 and under” category). River Rose Gin has been awarded 3 awards which include the Silver Medal for taste 2011 MicroLiquor Spirit Award and a Bronze Medal for packaging and design. River Baron Artisan Spirit has also been awarded with three awards which include the 2011 Silver Medal Top 10 in the Nation and Silver Medal for Taste.

Future goals of the Mississippi River Distilling Company include continuing to make local, quality and great tasting spirits but also including seasonal spirits. These spirits will be uniquely flavored and will have a limited release period. The current seasonal spirit is their Iowa Coffee Company Liqueur. Only 4,000 bottles of the liqueur was produced, so make sure to get yours while it lasts!

FREE TOURS:
Daily on the hour at 12, 1, 2, 3, and 4 PM or by appointment. Tours are free and open to all ages.
The tour ends with a free sample for those who are over 21.
Private TOURS:
info@MRdistilling.com
(563) 484.4342

Tasting Room Hours:
Monday - Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM;
Sunday 12 to 5 PM

FIRST FRIDAYS:
Open until 8 PM on the first Friday evening of every month. “First Friday” features bring a fun event to the distillery each month.

Visit the Mississippi River Distilling Company online at MRDistilling.com.