Smoky Valley Distillery - Marquette, Kansas Stan and Michele Von Strohe opened Smoky Valley Distillery in Marquette, Kansas in 2020 and their son Shane is the only full time employee. The distillery occupies two adjacent historic buildings. One was built in 1919 for the Farmers Union CO-OP and now holds the distillery, shop and large, nicely done tasting room/bar. The second building is older and more ornate. It was the mercantile hardware, which closed just a couple of years ago and is now an event space and hosts live music every couple of weeks. I sampled four of the whiskeys and one of the vodkas. My favorite of the whiskeys was the Straight Bourbon Whiskey and I purchased a bottle. It was one of the least expensive whiskeys at $40. I also had the Smoked Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Bud & Dewey's and Kernza. The $50 Bud & Dewey's has the coolest bottle and is their best seller. It is named for a couple of characters from the history of the town. One was the barber and the other was a grandfather of Shane, who gave me a nice tour. The Kernza is much more expensive and made from a perennial grain. The Von Strohes have started growing some kernza themselves. I'm not much of a vodka drinker, but the Lingonberry Vodka was interesting. I could imagine enjoying some mixed drinks made with it. The vodkas are just $24 a bottle.
Kansas
Specialty foods
copyright 2025 by Keith Stokes |
