From the Distillery
Guides, stories, and education about bourbon, whiskey, vodka, and the craft of distilling — straight from the team at Smoky Valley Distillery.
Bourbon and Food Pairing: What Actually Works, and Why
Bourbon pairs with food better than most people expect and worse than the internet promises. Here are the three things that actually decide a match — plus a plate for each of the five bourbons on our shelf.
How to Read a Whiskey Label: What's Required, What's Marketing
A whiskey label has two kinds of words on it — the ones federal law forces the distiller to print, and the ones the marketing department chose. Here's how to tell them apart in about five seconds.
Corn Vodka vs. Potato Vodka: What the Base Ingredient Actually Changes
Vodka can legally be made from anything fermentable, so the base material is a choice rather than a rule. Here's what corn and potato each bring to the glass, what they cost to work with, and how much of it actually survives distillation.
What Are Cocktail Bitters, and Do You Really Need Them?
Nearly every cocktail we pour calls for a dash or two of bitters, and almost nobody knows what's in the bottle. Here's what bitters actually are, why Angostura and Peychaud's aren't interchangeable, and how much to use.
Whiskey vs. Whisky: Why the Spelling Changes, and Which One Is Right
Two spellings, one word, and a rule most people half-know. Where the extra 'e' came from, which countries use which, what US federal law actually says, and the American bourbons that drop the 'e' anyway.
How to Store Whiskey: Upright, Dark, and Sealed
Whiskey stops aging the moment it leaves the barrel, so storing it well isn't about improving it — it's about not losing what's already in the bottle. Here's what actually degrades a whiskey, and what doesn't.
What Is Proof in Whiskey? The Number on the Label, Explained
Proof is simply twice the alcohol by volume — but the number moves four separate times between the still and the bottle, and each of those points is regulated. Here's what proof measures, what it doesn't, and why it matters in the glass.
How to Batch Bourbon Cocktails for a Party or Wedding
Making forty Old Fashioneds one at a time is a bad night. Here's how to batch bourbon cocktails properly — the dilution most people forget, how much to make, what holds overnight, and what has to be finished at the glass.
What Is a Mash Bill? The Grain Recipe Behind Every Whiskey
A mash bill is the grain recipe a whiskey is built from — and it decides more about the finished spirit than almost anything else on the label. Here's what each grain does, how the percentages work, and what they can't tell you.
How to Taste Whiskey: A Step-by-Step Method From Our Tasting Room
Tasting whiskey is a skill, not a talent. Here's the sequence we use when we evaluate a barrel — glass, pour, look, nose, sip, finish, water — and the two things almost everyone gets wrong.
Vodka vs. Whiskey: What Actually Makes Them Different
Vodka and whiskey can start from the exact same grain, in the same mash tun, with the same water. Two decisions — how high you distill, and whether you use oak — turn one into the other.
Manhattan vs. Old Fashioned: What's the Difference?
The Manhattan and the Old Fashioned are both stirred whiskey cocktails with bitters — but they are built on completely different principles. Here is what actually separates them, and how to make each one properly.
Single Barrel vs. Small Batch Bourbon: The Difference
Single barrel bourbon comes from one barrel and one barrel only. Small batch is a blend — and a term nobody regulates. Here's what each label actually tells you.
Where to Eat in Marquette, Kansas: Dinner at Kitchen 64 After Your Distillery Visit
The best way to spend a day in Marquette, Kansas: a tour and tasting at Smoky Valley Distillery, then made-from-scratch comfort food at Kitchen 64, right down the block.
Things to Do in Marquette, Kansas: A Local Guide to the Smoky Hills
A local's guide to Marquette, Kansas and the surrounding Smoky Hills — Mushroom Rock State Park, the Kansas Motorcycle Museum, historic downtown, Kanopolis Lake, and a craft distillery in the middle of it all.
Bourbon Drinks: From Neat Pours to Easy Mixed Drinks
The full range of bourbon drinks — neat, on the rocks, simple two-ingredient mixed drinks, and a few easy cocktails — plus which bourbon to pour for each.
Bourbon Cocktail Recipes: 8 Classics to Make at Home
Eight classic bourbon cocktail recipes with exact measurements and technique — Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Whiskey Sour, Boulevardier, and more. Plus which bourbon to pour for each.
Simple Bourbon Cocktails: 5 Easy Drinks With 2-3 Ingredients
Five simple bourbon cocktails with 2-3 ingredients each — from a Highball to a pared-down Old Fashioned. Plus tips on which bourbon to reach for.
Our Rye Whiskey Wins Best of Kansas at the 2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition
Smoky Valley Distillery's Rye Single Barrel Whiskey was awarded Best of Kansas at the 2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition, presented by Kansas Corn.
Bourbon vs. Rye Whiskey: What's the Difference?
Bourbon and rye whiskey look similar but taste very different. Learn how the mash bill, flavor profile, and cocktail applications set these two American whiskeys apart.
Bourbon vs. Whiskey: Understanding the Difference
All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Learn the legal requirements, flavor differences, and production rules that set bourbon apart.
Your Complete Guide to Visiting a Craft Distillery
Everything you need to know before visiting a craft distillery — what to expect, what to wear, how to taste spirits, and tips for making the most of your tour.
Grain to Glass: Why Locally Sourced Ingredients Matter
Grain to glass means controlling every step of production — from sourcing local Kansas grain to bottling finished spirits. Learn why local ingredients make better spirits.
How Bourbon Is Made: From Grain to Glass
A detailed look at how bourbon whiskey is made, from selecting the grain bill to aging in charred oak barrels. Learn every step of the bourbon production process.
How Vodka Is Made: The Complete Guide
Learn how vodka is made from grain to bottle — including mashing, fermenting, distilling, and filtering. Discover why our corn-based Kansas vodka stands apart.
Kansas Distillery Guide: Craft Spirits Worth the Drive
Your guide to Kansas craft distilleries, with a spotlight on Smoky Valley Distillery in Marquette — offering 10 handcrafted spirits, tours, a venue, and lodging.
Kansas Spirits Road Trip: A Weekend Getaway Guide
Plan a spirits-focused road trip through central Kansas — starting at Smoky Valley Distillery with stops in Lindsborg, Salina, and the Smoky Hills. Includes a full weekend itinerary.
Small Barrel Aging: How Barrel Size Affects Flavor
Smaller barrels mean more wood contact, faster aging, and bolder flavors. Learn how barrel size affects bourbon and whiskey flavor at a craft distillery.
What Are Craft Spirits? Why Small-Batch Matters
Craft spirits are made by small, independent distilleries that prioritize quality over volume. Learn what sets craft spirits apart and why small-batch production matters.
What Is Kernza? The Perennial Wheat Behind Our Most Unique Whiskey
Kernza is a perennial wheat grain developed in Kansas that's changing agriculture. Learn why we use it to make one of the most unique whiskeys in the world.
What Is Wheated Bourbon? A Complete Guide
Wheated bourbon replaces rye with wheat for a softer, sweeter flavor. Learn what makes it different, why it's popular, and how to taste the difference.
Experience What You've Read About
Reading about our spirits is great — tasting them is better. Book a tour and tasting at our Marquette distillery.