Two Families To Open An Eastern Iowa Town’s First Craft Distillery
If I had a dollar for every time my friends and I hung out, drank a lot of beers, and came up with an idea to open a bar or restaurant, I'd have a lot of beer money. Two friends, actually, two families from Muscatine came up with an idea a few years ago to open up a distillery in their hometown and that idea is about to become a reality.
Thad and Rachel Burkamper, and Jeremy and Kaely Spratt, announced that they are opening Muscatine's first craft distillery in the Pearl City at the end of this year.
Being from Iowa, Illinois, and the Midwest, you know the saying about corn,
"Knee-high by the Fourth of July."
It's an age-old expression used to determine the success of a farmer's corn crop.
To make vodka, gin, and whiskey, you need corn; as we all know, there is no shortage of corn in Iowa. Embracing the foundation of the three alcohols and the state they live in, Thad and Rachel Burkamper, and Jeremy and Kaely Spratt, are opening their hometown's first craft distillery and the name of the distillery comes from that age-old saying: Knee-High Distilling Co.
Knee-High Distilling Co. was founded not too long ago. The Burkampers and Spratts founded the distillery on June 2nd, 2022 in Muscatine, Iowa. As the story goes on their website kneehighdistilling.co, a few years ago Knee-High became the idea of the two lifelong friends, Thad and Jeremy, while hanging out, pondering their futures, and the idea of opening and running a distillery. Those few years have passed and now, together, Thad, Rachel, Jeremy, and Kaely are making this idea come to life.
Earlier this week, Knee-High announced on social media that they plan to open the doors to their distillery at the end of this year making Knee-High Muscatine's first craft distillery.
The Burkampers and Spratts say they have leaned heavily into gathering information from leaders in the distilling industry to make spirits they are proud to serve the community. With the opening of Knee-High, the two families are planning to start off with what they call, the “big 3”:
- Vodka
- Whiskey
- Gin
The Burkampers and Spratts have plans to bring seasonal spirits, special run whiskeys, and a few of the lesser known alcoholic liquors into Knee-High's product line. They say they are here because of their customers so if there is something you would like them to produce, they are encouraging you to reach out.
Knee-High Distilling Co. will be located at 1100 Oregon Street in Muscatine, IA. No official date has been given for its opening, but we know the Burkampers and Spratts plan to have it open at the end 2022.