# Smoky Valley Distillery — Complete Reference

> Handcrafted, award-winning small-batch vodka, bourbon, and whiskey in Marquette, Kansas. Family-owned craft distillery with tours, tastings, event venue, and lodging. Our Rye Single Barrel Whiskey was named Best of Kansas at the 2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition.

## Business Information

- **Name:** Smoky Valley Distillery
- **Address:** 105 N. Washington, Marquette, Kansas 67464
- **Phone:** (469) 496-1458
- **Email:** Info@smokyvalleydistillery.com
- **Website:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com
- **Hours:** Thursday & Saturday 10am–5pm, Friday 10am–6pm (appointments available other times)
- **Founded:** January 2020
- **Owners:** Stan and Michele Von Strohe (son Shane in operations)
- **Distributor:** Vintegrity (913-859-9441)
- **Awards:** Best of Kansas — 2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition (Rye Single Barrel Whiskey), presented by Kansas Corn

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## Products — Complete Catalog (12 Spirits)

### Premium Vodka
- **ABV:** 40% | **Size:** 750ml | **Category:** Vodka
- **URL:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/our-spirits/premium-vodka
- 100% corn vodka, sandstone-filtered Kiowa Aquifer water. Won 8 out of 10 blind taste tests. Gluten-free. Exceptionally smooth with no burn.
- **Best in:** Martini, Moscow Mule, Vodka Soda

### Wild Plum Vodka
- **ABV:** 40% | **Size:** 750ml | **Category:** Vodka
- **URL:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/our-spirits/wild-plum-vodka
- Premium corn vodka infused with natural plum flavor. No artificial flavoring. Sweet, fruity character that elevates cocktails.
- **Best in:** Plum Spritz, Moscow Mule, on the rocks

### Smoked Jalapeno Vodka
- **ABV:** 40% | **Size:** 750ml | **Category:** Vodka
- **URL:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/our-spirits/smoked-jalapeno-vodka
- Bottled in a hickory wood-smoked bottle, infused with natural jalapeno flavor. Smoky and crisp, one-of-a-kind.
- **Best in:** Bloody Mary, Smoky Mule, Jalapeno Margarita

### Lingonberry Vodka
- **ABV:** 40% | **Size:** 750ml | **Category:** Vodka
- **URL:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/our-spirits/lingonberry-vodka
- Swedish-inspired vodka infused with vibrant lingonberry flavor. Tart and refreshing.
- **Best in:** Lingonberry Spritz, Cosmopolitan variation, Vodka Soda

### Pickle Vodka
- **ABV:** 40% | **Size:** 750ml | **Category:** Vodka
- **URL:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/our-spirits/pickle-vodka
- Smooth premium vodka with crisp, refreshing dill flavor. No artificial flavoring.
- **Best in:** Bloody Mary, Pickle Martini, Pickleback shot

### Straight Bourbon
- **ABV:** 45% | **Size:** 750ml | **Category:** Bourbon
- **URL:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/our-spirits/straight-bourbon
- Classic blend of corn, rye, and malt. Aged 2-4 years in 10-gallon barrels. Rich sweetness from corn balanced by refined rye spice. Kiowa Aquifer water.
- **Best in:** Old Fashioned, Manhattan, neat or on the rocks

### Bud & Dewey's Wheated Straight Bourbon (Best Seller)
- **ABV:** 45% | **Size:** 750ml | **Category:** Bourbon
- **URL:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/our-spirits/bud-and-deweys
- Named after Stan's grandfather Bud Von Strohe and Marquette barber Dewey Grooms. Wheated mash bill (wheat, corn, malt). Distilled in 250-gallon pot still, 15-gallon batches. Sweet cereal and vanilla notes, easy approachable sip.
- **Best in:** Neat, Old Fashioned, Bourbon Sour

### Smoked Straight Bourbon
- **ABV:** 45% | **Size:** 750ml | **Category:** Bourbon
- **URL:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/our-spirits/smoked-straight-bourbon
- Same beloved bourbon as Straight Bourbon, hand-smoked with a culinary smoker in hickory-smoked vessel. Mellowed smoky character without losing original rich qualities.
- **Best in:** Smoked Old Fashioned, neat, Bourbon & Cola

### High Rye Single Barrel Bourbon
- **ABV:** 35% | **Size:** 750ml | **Category:** Bourbon
- **URL:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/our-spirits/high-rye-single-barrel-bourbon
- Bold, spice-forward single barrel bourbon. High rye content delivers a peppery kick.
- **Best in:** Manhattan, neat, Rye-forward Old Fashioned

### High Wheat Single Barrel Bourbon
- **ABV:** 45% | **Size:** 750ml | **Category:** Bourbon
- **URL:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/our-spirits/high-wheat-single-barrel-bourbon
- Soft, approachable single barrel straight bourbon. Mash bill: 58% corn, 37% wheat, 5% malt. Local Kansas grains. Toasted grains, honey butterscotch, and a clean mellow finish.
- **Best in:** Neat, on the rocks, Old Fashioned with honey simple syrup

### Kernza Whiskey
- **ABV:** 45% | **Size:** 750ml | **Category:** Whiskey
- **URL:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/our-spirits/kernza-whiskey
- Smoky Valley Distillery is one of only two distilleries in the world using Kernza — a perennial wheat grain developed by The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas. Corn/malt/Kernza mash bill produces a truly singular flavor unlike any other whiskey.
- **Best in:** Neat, on the rocks, Whiskey Sour

### Rye Single Barrel Whiskey
- **ABV:** 45% | **Size:** 750ml | **Category:** Whiskey
- **URL:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/our-spirits/rye-whiskey
- **Award: Best of Kansas — 2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition** (presented by Kansas Corn)
- 82% rye, 12% corn, 6% malt mash bill. Bold traditional rye spice with sweet butterscotch and subtle coffee notes. Head Distiller's drink of choice.
- **Best in:** Manhattan, Sazerac, Old Fashioned

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## Services — Full Details

### Tastings & Tours
- **Price:** $10 per person (pay online via Stripe at time of booking)
- **Duration:** 30-45 minutes
- **Group size:** 1-10 people
- **Availability:** Thursday, Friday, Saturday by appointment
- **Includes:** Guided tour of distillery + tasting of multiple spirits
- **Walk-ins:** Walk-in tastings welcome during regular hours
- **Last tour:** 2:00 PM
- **Book online:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/tastings-and-tours
- **Minimum age:** 21 for tastings

### Wedding & Event Venue
- **Main room:** 60 seats (ideal for intimate micro weddings and elopements)
- **Venue room:** 140 seats (full wedding ceremonies, receptions, large events)
- **Stage:** 15 × 30 feet with speakers and wireless internet
- **Bars:** Both rooms have full-service bars (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
- **Catering:** External catering allowed; local options available
- **Event types:** Weddings, micro weddings, elopements, rehearsal dinners, receptions, concerts, birthday parties, baby/bridal showers, corporate events, holiday parties, community events
- **Nearby lodging:** Preston House sleeps 11 — one of the few Kansas wedding venues with its own nearby overnight accommodations (within walking distance)
- **Pricing:** Rental and bar packages are quoted per event (date, guest count, event type) rather than sold as fixed packages. Inquiries answered within 48 hours
- **Building:** The 140-seat venue room is the adjoining former hardware store, built 1901 and rebuilt into an event hall in 2023. The 60-seat tasting room is in the 1919 COOP building
- **Inquire:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/venue

### Micro Weddings
- **Page:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/venue/micro-weddings
- **No minimum guest count** — elopements with a couple and two witnesses through to 140-guest receptions
- **Room guidance:** 10-60 guests in the tasting room; 60-140 guests in the venue room
- **Ceremony and reception** can both be held on site, using one room for the ceremony and the other for cocktails while the first is reset
- **Bring your own:** caterer, cake, and decorations all welcome. Beverage service runs through the distillery's bars
- **Getting ready:** most couples use Preston House (sleeps 11, short walk away)
- **Lead time:** Saturdays and peak-season Fridays typically book 6-12 months out; weekday, Sunday, and winter dates are often available on shorter notice

### Private Parties (Birthday, Anniversary, Retirement)
- **Page:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/venue/private-parties
- **Party types:** milestone birthdays (40th, 50th, 60th, 75th), anniversary parties and vow renewals, retirement parties, class and family reunions, graduation parties, baby and bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, holiday and company parties
- **Capacity:** roughly 20 to 140 guests. Tasting room (60) for showers and dinners; venue room (140) for reunions and large parties
- **Scheduling:** retail hours are Thursday-Saturday, but private events also run on evenings and days the distillery is otherwise closed
- **Included:** tables and seating, full-service bar, stage with speakers, wireless internet, on-site parking, outside catering welcome, local caterer referrals
- **Bar options:** open tab, drink tickets, or cash bar — arranged at booking
- **Pricing:** quoted per event; response within 48 hours

### Live Music & Entertainment Venue
- **Page:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/venue/live-music
- **Schedule:** Friday evenings 7:00-9:00 PM (full bands, venue room), Saturday afternoons 1:00-4:00 PM (acoustic sets and duos), occasional Thursday shows. Spring through fall
- **Tickets:** no advance ticketing, seating is first come first served. Some acts carry a door cover, noted on that show's listing
- **Ages:** children are welcome; tastings and alcohol service are 21+
- **Stage:** 15 × 30 feet with speakers and wireless internet, 140-seat room, painted barber-shop mural backdrop
- **Stage/venue rental:** available for private events, receptions, parties, ticketed concerts, and fundraisers
- **Artist booking:** the venue books country, Americana, bluegrass, blues, classic rock, and acoustic acts — artists routing through central Kansas can inquire via the venue form or (469) 496-1458
- **Full schedule:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/events

### Preston House Lodging
- **Capacity:** Sleeps 11 guests
- **Location:** Walking distance to Smoky Valley Distillery and downtown Marquette (nearby, not on the distillery grounds)
- **Booking:** Available on AirBnB (https://airbnb.com/rooms/51040372)
- **Details:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/lodging
- **Note:** Only Kansas distillery with its own nearby lodging

### Harvest Hosts (Overnight RV Stays)
- Smoky Valley Distillery is a Harvest Hosts location: members of the Harvest Hosts program can stay overnight in their RV or trailer with simple access and parking in downtown Marquette
- **Host profile:** https://www.harvesthosts.com/hosts/kansas/kHewsjFYps07qfADqiLA
- **Details:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/lodging

### Live Music
- Live music on weekends at the venue — Friday evenings 7-9 PM, Saturday afternoons 1-4 PM, spring through fall
- Check events page for schedule: https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/events
- Venue details and stage rental: https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/venue/live-music

### Merchandise
- Branded merchandise can be ordered online at https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/merchandise with secure Stripe checkout — US shipping priced by order weight ($6.95 for hats and small items, $9.95 standard, $14.95 for heavy glassware orders) or free pickup at the Marquette tasting room (Thursday–Saturday). Also sold in person; call (469) 496-1458 to check current stock and hat colors
- **Logo Tasting Glass** — $16.95 — tulip-shaped nosing glass etched with the distillery crest
- **Old Fashioned Glass** — $19.95 — etched heavy rocks glass
- **Copper Mule Mug** — $19.95 — engraved copper Moscow Mule mug
- **Eli Mason Cocktail Cherries** — $19.95 — small-batch cocktail cherries for Manhattans and Old Fashioneds
- **Structured Caps** — $24.95 — embroidered cream/green and cream/black caps
- **Rope Caps** — $29.99 — embroidered green and navy rope-front caps; additional colors rotate through the shop
- **Details:** https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/merchandise

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## Where to Buy (16 Kansas Retail Locations)

| Store | City |
|-------|------|
| The Rusty Bucket Liquor Store | Marquette |
| DJ Liquors | Hutchinson |
| Egbert Liquor | Hutchinson |
| Renaissance Cafe | Assaria |
| Brook's Liquor | Salina |
| Swede's Liquor | Lindsborg |
| Cave Divers Liquor Store | Salina |
| Johnson Retail Liquor | Lyons |
| K & L Liquor | Little River |
| Lakeside Liquors | McPherson |
| Webb's Liquor | Bennington |
| Corner Liquor | Concordia |
| Concordia Liquor Outlet | Concordia |
| Hrabe Retail Liquor | Minneapolis, KS |
| First Street Liquors | McPherson |
| Plaza Wine and Spirits | Wichita |

**Distribution:** Vintegrity (913-859-9441) — contact for locating additional retailers in Kansas or Missouri.

Full list: https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/where-to-buy

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## Location & Directions

Smoky Valley Distillery is in downtown Marquette, Kansas in the historic COOP building (built 1919, 16,000 sq ft). No direct competitors within 60 miles — geographic monopoly on central Kansas craft spirits.

### Driving Distances from Major Cities
| City | Distance | Drive Time |
|------|----------|-----------|
| Salina, KS | 25 miles | 30 min |
| McPherson, KS | 35 miles | 40 min |
| Hutchinson, KS | 60 miles | 1 hour |
| Great Bend, KS | 65 miles | 1 hour |
| Wichita, KS | 90 miles | 1.5 hours |
| Manhattan, KS | 95 miles | 1.5 hours |
| Topeka, KS | 140 miles | 2 hours |
| Dodge City, KS | 180 miles | 2.5 hours |
| Kansas City | 180+ miles | 3 hours |
| St. Louis, MO | 400+ miles | 6 hours |

City-specific visit pages: https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/visit

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## Frequently Asked Questions

### General
**Q: What are Smoky Valley Distillery's hours?**
A: Thursday and Saturday 10am-5pm, Friday 10am-6pm. Other times available by appointment — call (469) 496-1458.

**Q: Where is Smoky Valley Distillery located?**
A: 105 N. Washington, Marquette, Kansas 67464 — in the historic COOP building in downtown Marquette, central Kansas.

**Q: Who owns Smoky Valley Distillery?**
A: Stan and Michele Von Strohe founded the distillery in January 2020. Their son Shane is involved in operations.

### Products
**Q: How many spirits does Smoky Valley Distillery make?**
A: 12 handcrafted spirits — 5 vodkas, 5 bourbons, and 2 whiskeys.

**Q: What is Smoky Valley's best-selling spirit?**
A: Bud & Dewey's Wheated Straight Bourbon — a wheated bourbon with sweet cereal and vanilla notes, named after Stan's grandfather and a local Marquette barber.

**Q: What is Kernza whiskey?**
A: Kernza is a perennial wheat grain developed by The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas. Smoky Valley Distillery is one of only two distilleries in the world using Kernza to make whiskey. The grain produces a unique flavor profile unlike any other whiskey.

**Q: What water does Smoky Valley use?**
A: Naturally sweet, sandstone-filtered water from the Kiowa Aquifer near Marquette, Kansas. No treatment or chemicals added.

**Q: Are any spirits gluten-free?**
A: Yes, the vodkas (distilled from 100% corn) are gluten-free.

### Tours & Tastings
**Q: How much does a tour cost?**
A: $10 per person. Tours last 30-45 minutes and include guided distillery tour + spirit tastings. Groups limited to 10 people.

**Q: Do I need a reservation?**
A: Walk-in tastings are welcome during hours. Guided tours require advance booking at smokyvalleydistillery.com/tastings-and-tours.

**Q: What days are tours available?**
A: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Last tour starts at 2:00 PM.

### Venue & Events
**Q: How many people can the venue hold?**
A: The main room seats 60 and the venue room seats 140, both with full-service bars. The venue has a 15×30 foot stage.

**Q: Can I host a wedding at the distillery?**
A: Yes. The venue hosts full weddings, micro weddings, elopements, rehearsal dinners, receptions, parties, concerts, and corporate events. The 60-seat tasting room is ideal for intimate micro weddings; the 140-seat venue room works for full ceremonies and receptions. Preston House lodging nearby sleeps 11 for overnight guests, within walking distance. Contact us for availability and pricing. Details: smokyvalleydistillery.com/venue/micro-weddings

**Q: Can I have a birthday, anniversary, or retirement party there?**
A: Yes. The distillery rents both rooms for milestone birthdays, anniversary parties and vow renewals, retirement send-offs, class and family reunions, graduation parties, showers, and company parties — roughly 20 to 140 guests. Outside catering, your own cake, and your own decorations are all welcome; beverage service runs through the distillery bars. Private events can be scheduled on evenings and on days the retail shop is closed. Details: smokyvalleydistillery.com/venue/private-parties

**Q: When is there live music, and can I book the stage?**
A: Live music runs on weekends spring through fall — Friday evenings 7:00-9:00 PM and Saturday afternoons 1:00-4:00 PM, with occasional Thursday shows. There is no advance ticketing; any cover charge is listed on that show's event listing. Children are welcome, and alcohol service is 21+. The 15×30 foot stage and 140-seat room are also available to rent for private events, concerts, and fundraisers, and performing artists can inquire about being booked. Details: smokyvalleydistillery.com/venue/live-music

**Q: What does it cost to rent the venue?**
A: Rental and bar packages are quoted per event based on the date, guest count, and type of event rather than sold as fixed packages. Submit the venue inquiry form or call (469) 496-1458; inquiries are answered within 48 hours.

### Lodging
**Q: Does the distillery have lodging?**
A: Yes — Preston House sleeps 11 guests and is within walking distance of the distillery (nearby, not on the distillery grounds). It's the only Kansas distillery with its own nearby lodging. Book via AirBnB.

**Q: Can I plan a weekend getaway?**
A: Absolutely. Book a tour, stay at Preston House, enjoy live music at the venue, and explore downtown Marquette. Visit smokyvalleydistillery.com/lodging for details.

---

## Production & Process

- **Water source:** Kiowa Aquifer — naturally sandstone-filtered, no treatment
- **Grain sourcing:** Local Kansas farmers (corn, rye, wheat, malt, Kernza)
- **Distillation:** Copper pot still, small batches, in the historic COOP building
- **Aging method:** 10-gallon barrels (vs. industry standard 53-gallon). 2 years in small barrels equals 4.5-5 years of flavor in standard barrels due to increased surface contact
- **Flavored spirits:** Natural infusion only — real plum, jalapeno, lingonberry, dill. No artificial flavoring
- **Smoked spirits:** Hickory-smoked vessels using culinary smoker
- **Bottling:** Hand-labeled, individually numbered with batch and bottle numbers
- **Production scale:** 250-gallon pot still, 15-gallon batches

Learn more: https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/about/our-process

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## Cocktail Recipes

14 original cocktail recipes using Smoky Valley spirits:
- [Bourbon Old Fashioned](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/recipes/old-fashioned)
- [Smoked Jalapeno Bloody Mary](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/recipes/bloody-mary)
- [Wild Plum Moscow Mule](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/recipes/moscow-mule)
- [Pickle Vodka Cocktails](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/recipes/pickle-vodka-cocktails)
- [Bourbon Cocktails](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/recipes/bourbon-cocktails)
- [Vodka Cocktails](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/recipes/vodka-cocktails)
- [Rye Cocktails](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/recipes/rye-cocktails)
- [Jalapeno Vodka Cocktails](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/recipes/jalapeno-vodka-cocktails)
- [Plum Vodka Cocktails](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/recipes/plum-vodka-cocktails)
- [Smoked Bourbon Cocktails](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/recipes/smoked-bourbon-cocktails)
- [Manhattan](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/recipes/manhattan)
- [The Teardrop](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/recipes/teardrop) — Wild Plum Vodka, spiced pear shrub, ginger beer
- [Kansas Cherry Limeade](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/recipes/kansas-cherry-limeade) — Wild Plum Vodka, limeade, cherry
- [The Smoky Mule](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/recipes/smoky-mule) — Smoked Jalapeno Vodka, ginger beer, lime

All recipes: https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/recipes

---

## Educational Content

33 blog articles on craft spirits, Kansas travel, and our region:
- [Sweet Vermouth for a Manhattan: How to Pick and Store It](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/sweet-vermouth-for-a-manhattan) — Sweet vermouth is one third of a Manhattan by volume and the ingredient most home bartenders get wrong. What it is: fortified, aromatized wine flavored with Artemisia (wormwood, from the German Wermut), not a spirit — US regulation classes it as an aperitif wine with a 15% ABV floor (27 CFR 4.21), while Regulation (EU) No 251/2014 requires at least 75% wine content, Artemisia flavoring, and 14.5-22% ABV. Most bottles sold sit at 16-18% ABV, which is why an open bottle oxidizes. EU sugar thresholds: "sweet" is 130 g/L or more, "extra-dry" under 30 g/L — so the 1 oz of vermouth in a Manhattan carries close to four grams of sugar (about a teaspoon), and it is the drink's only sweetener. Sweet vermouth (rosso/rouge) gets its red-brown color from caramel, not red wine, and is often made on a white wine base. Bottle guidance: Carpano Antica Formula (rich, vanilla, dried fig) for high-rye whiskey; Cocchi Vermouth di Torino (bitter orange, cocoa) for bourbon; Dolin Rouge (light, herbal, driest) if Manhattans taste too sweet. Pairing rule — the vermouth should push against the whiskey: Smoky Valley's Rye Single Barrel (82% rye mash bill) takes a rich vermouth at the full 1 oz; wheated Bud & Dewey's needs Dolin or Cocchi pulled back to 3/4 oz. Storage: refrigerate the day you open it, about one month, faster decline as headspace grows; buy the 375 ml bottle rather than 750 ml. Leftovers work as an Italian-style aperitif over ice with soda and a citrus twist, or for deglazing pans and braises. Local note: stock up in Salina or McPherson, since central Kansas stores rarely carry multiple Italian vermouths
- [Whiskey Glassware Guide: Which Glass for Which Pour](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/whiskey-glassware-guide) — Why glass shape matters (bowl width controls how much aroma comes off the liquid; a rim narrower than the bowl concentrates it toward the nose, a rim as wide as the bowl lets it dissipate). The two glasses a home bar needs: a nosing glass — the copita/tulip/Glencairn family, designed by Raymond Davidson at Glencairn Crystal and launched at Whisky Live London in 2001, Queen's Award for Innovation 2006 — for neat pours of a half ounce to an ounce, and a heavy-bottomed 6-10 oz rocks or Old Fashioned glass for ice and stirred drinks; a 10-14 oz highball only if you make tall drinks. A white wine glass substitutes well for a nosing glass; a shot glass is the worst option. Lead-free crystal is a preference not an upgrade, and leaded crystal should never be used for storage (The Lancet 1991: port rose from 89 to 3,518 micrograms of lead per liter over four months). Use one large 2-inch cube rather than several small ones, because the same volume of ice in small pieces has far more surface area and waters the drink down. Wash by hand with unscented soap, skip the dishwasher (detergent film and rinse-aid fragrance reach your nose before the whiskey), air dry upright, store upright and open. Smoky Valley sells the etched Logo Tasting Glass ($16.95) and Old Fashioned Glass ($19.95) at https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/merchandise
- [Bourbon and Food Pairing: What Actually Works, and Why](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/bourbon-and-food-pairing) — The three variables that decide a bourbon pairing: match weight first (a 45% ABV pour overwhelms poached or steamed food but holds its own against grilled, smoked, braised, fried, and cured dishes); decide whether the drink is echoing the plate (barrel char yields vanillin from lignin, furfural from hemicellulose, and coconut-like oak lactones, all of which reinforce browned and caramelized food) or cutting it (a dry, peppery high-rye pour resets the palate against fatty barbecue); and keep the food less sweet than the glass, because sugar makes the whiskey that follows read thin and bitter. Why bourbon and chili heat fight: ethanol acts on TRPV1, the same receptor as capsaicin, and lowers its heat-activation threshold from about 42°C to about 34°C (Trevisani et al., Nature Neuroscience 2002) — serve a highball with ginger beer over spicy food instead. Capsaicin is hydrophobic, so water does not rinse it; milk performed best in Nolden, Lenart & Hayes, Physiology & Behavior 2019. Specific pairings for all five Smoky Valley bourbons: Straight Bourbon with ribeye, roast chicken, sharp cheddar and pecans; Bud & Dewey's wheated with pulled pork, glazed ham, aged gouda and bread pudding; Smoked Straight Bourbon with brisket, smoked sausage and grilled ribs; High Rye Single Barrel (35% ABV) with charcuterie, rye bread and parmesan; High Wheat Single Barrel with caramel desserts, salted nuts and apple pie. Aged hard cheeses are the easiest pairing; dark chocolate at 70% cacao or higher, pecan pie and bread pudding are the dessert picks
- [How to Read a Whiskey Label: What’s Required, What’s Marketing](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/how-to-read-a-whiskey-label) — The mandatory items on a US whiskey label under 27 CFR 5.63 (brand name, class and type designation, and alcohol content in the same field of vision; name and address of the bottler or distiller; net contents; age statement when required); what “straight” legally guarantees under 27 CFR 5.143 (distilled at 160 proof or less, stored in charred new oak at 125 proof or less, aged two years minimum, no added coloring or flavoring); what “bottled in bond” requires under 27 CFR 5.88 (one distiller, one plant, one distilling season, four years in wood, bottled at 100 proof); the ±0.3 percentage-point ABV tolerance in 27 CFR 5.65(c); why age statements are mandatory below four years and optional above (27 CFR 5.74) and always name the youngest whiskey in the bottle; how “distilled by” differs from “bottled by” and the state-of-distillation requirement (27 CFR 5.66(b) and (f)); the twenty-five authorized bottle sizes in 27 CFR 5.203; the fixed Government Warning text (27 CFR 16.21); and the terms with no federal definition at all — small batch, handcrafted, artisanal, reserve, select. Label approvals are publicly searchable in TTB’s Public COLA Registry. Smoky Valley Distillery distills and bottles everything at its own plant in Marquette, Kansas
- [Corn Vodka vs. Potato Vodka: What the Base Ingredient Actually Changes](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/corn-vodka-vs-potato-vodka) — US federal law (27 CFR 5.142) defines vodka as neutral spirits distilled from "any suitable material" at or above 190 proof, so base material is a distiller's choice, not a category rule; the TTB's 2020 labeling modernization removed the old requirement that vodka be "without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color"; EU Regulation 2019/787 Annex I category 15 requires a "produced from …" declaration for vodka not made from potatoes or cereals, while US labels require nothing; why potato vodka costs more (field corn is ~72% starch on a dry-matter basis per Purdue Extension, while a potato is mostly water); how corn (soft, faintly sweet, creamy), potato (fuller-bodied, earthy), wheat (crisp, dry), and rye (peppery) differ in the glass; why trace character survives 95% ABV distillation; and TTB Ruling 2020-2 (Oct 29 2020), which permits "gluten-free" labels on spirits distilled from wheat, rye, or barley. Smoky Valley Distillery's vodka is 100% Kansas corn
- [What Are Cocktail Bitters, and Do You Really Need Them?](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/what-are-cocktail-bitters) — Bitters were one of the four ingredients in the first printed definition of "cocktail" (The Balance and Columbian Repository, May 13 1806); what they are made of (high-proof spirit infused with gentian and aromatic botanicals); why Angostura (44.7% ABV, 1824, Trinidad) and Peychaud's (35% ABV, New Orleans, anise-and-cherry) are not interchangeable; why bitters are sold as groceries under the federal nonbeverage/drawback classification (27 CFR Part 17); how much a dash is; and the bitters amounts used in Smoky Valley's own Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Sazerac, and Bourbon & Ginger
- [Whiskey vs. Whisky: Why the Spelling Changes, and Which One Is Right](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/whiskey-vs-whisky) — Both spellings mean the same spirit: Ireland and the US use "whiskey," Scotland, Canada, and Japan use "whisky"; the Gaelic uisge beatha ("water of life") origin and the 19th-century Irish marketing split that added the e; US federal law at 27 CFR 5.143 is titled "Whisky" and expressly permits either spelling, which is why Maker's Mark, George Dickel, and Old Forester print "whisky" on American bourbon; plurals are whiskeys vs whiskies; Smoky Valley Distillery uses "whiskey"
- [How to Store Whiskey: Upright, Dark, and Sealed](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/how-to-store-whiskey) — Whiskey stops aging at bottling (27 CFR 5.1 defines age as time in oak barrels); why bottles are stored upright rather than on their side, how light and temperature cycling degrade a bottle, how long an open bottle lasts by fill level, why the freezer mutes whiskey aroma, and why leaded crystal decanters are unsafe for storage (Graziano & Blum, The Lancet 1991)
- [What Is Proof in Whiskey? The Number on the Label, Explained](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/what-is-proof-in-whiskey) — Proof is twice the ABV under 27 CFR 5.1; the four regulated points where a whiskey's strength is set (160 proof distillation cap, 125 proof barrel entry cap, 80 proof bottling floor, barrel proof); what bottled in bond requires; and why higher proof means more concentrated rather than better
- [How to Batch Bourbon Cocktails for a Party or Wedding](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/batch-bourbon-cocktails-for-a-crowd) — Scaling cocktails for a crowd: the ice-melt dilution to add back, how much to make per guest, which drinks hold overnight and which must be finished at the glass, plus how bar service works for events at the venue
- [What Is a Mash Bill? The Grain Recipe Behind Every Whiskey](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/what-is-a-mash-bill) — What corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley each contribute; the federal 51% rule (27 CFR 5.143) that defines bourbon, rye, wheat, malt, and corn whiskey; how to read published mash bill percentages
- [How to Taste Whiskey: A Step-by-Step Method From Our Tasting Room](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/how-to-taste-whiskey)
- [Vodka vs. Whiskey: What Actually Makes Them Different](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/vodka-vs-whiskey)
- [Manhattan vs. Old Fashioned: What's the Difference?](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/manhattan-vs-old-fashioned)
- [Single Barrel vs. Small Batch Bourbon: The Difference](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/single-barrel-vs-small-batch-bourbon)
- [Where to Eat in Marquette, Kansas: Dinner at Kitchen 64 After Your Distillery Visit](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/where-to-eat-in-marquette-kansas)
- [Things to Do in Marquette, Kansas: A Local Guide to the Smoky Hills](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/things-to-do-in-marquette-kansas)
- [Bourbon Drinks: From Neat Pours to Easy Mixed Drinks](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/bourbon-drinks)
- [Bourbon Cocktail Recipes: 8 Classics to Make at Home](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/bourbon-cocktail-recipes)
- [Simple Bourbon Cocktails: 5 Easy Drinks With 2-3 Ingredients](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/simple-bourbon-cocktails)
- [Our Rye Whiskey Wins Best of Kansas (2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition)](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/best-of-kansas-rye-whiskey)
- [How Bourbon Is Made](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/how-bourbon-is-made)
- [Bourbon vs. Rye: What's the Difference?](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/bourbon-vs-rye)
- [Bourbon vs. Whiskey: What's the Difference?](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/bourbon-vs-whiskey)
- [What Is Wheated Bourbon?](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/what-is-wheated-bourbon)
- [What Are Craft Spirits?](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/what-are-craft-spirits)
- [How Vodka Is Made](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/how-vodka-is-made)
- [What Is Kernza?](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/what-is-kernza)
- [The Art of Small Barrel Aging](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/small-barrel-aging)
- [Grain to Glass: Kansas Craft Distilling](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/grain-to-glass)
- [What to Expect on a Distillery Tour](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/distillery-tour-guide)
- [Best Distilleries in Kansas](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/kansas-distillery-guide)
- [Kansas Spirits Road Trip](https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog/kansas-spirits-road-trip)

All articles: https://smokyvalleydistillery.com/blog

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## Competitive Position

- **No direct competitors within 60 miles** of Marquette, Kansas
- Nearest distilleries: Wheat State Distilling (Wichita, 90mi), Boot Hill Distillery (Dodge City, 180mi)
- Only Kansas distillery with its own nearby overnight lodging (Preston House, within walking distance)
- One of only two distilleries worldwide using Kernza grain
- Unique flavored vodka line (no Kansas competitor offers comparable products)
- Historic venue in 1901 building (140 seats, live music)

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## Social Media

- **Facebook:** https://facebook.com/smokyvalleydistillery
- **Instagram:** https://instagram.com/smokyvalleydistillery