Two Historic Main Streets, 395 Miles Apart
St. Charles, Missouri has one of the most charming historic Main Streets in the Midwest — cobblestone sidewalks, the state's first capitol building, and a strip of shops and restaurants along the Missouri River that draws visitors year-round. At Smoky Valley Distillery, we're in our own historic building — a 1919 structure in Marquette, Kansas — producing craft spirits in a town that shares St. Charles's appreciation for heritage and small-town character.
Where St. Charles marks the beginning of the Katy Trail, our distillery marks the beginning of a different kind of adventure — grain-to-glass spirits in the Smoky Hills of central Kansas.
Getting Here from St. Charles
Take I-70 W — the same highway runs from St. Charles all the way to Salina, Kansas. Pass through Columbia, Kansas City, Topeka, and on to Salina. Exit at KS-4 W and follow it through Lindsborg to Marquette. About 5 hours and 30 minutes of driving, nearly all interstate.
St. Charles residents who bike the Katy Trail know the value of a good journey. The drive west on I-70 covers the full breadth of Missouri and into Kansas — the terrain shifts from river bluffs to prairie to the rolling Smoky Hills.
Buy Our Spirits
We're actively expanding Missouri distribution through Vintegrity. Ask St. Charles liquor stores to request Smoky Valley Distillery products. The nearest current retailer is Brook's Liquor in Salina, KS. Our distillery retail shop is open Thursday through Saturday with all 10 spirits and exclusive releases.
A Weekend for History and Spirits
St. Charles was Missouri's first state capital. Here's a weekend that takes you from where Missouri's story started to where Kansas's craft spirits story is being written:
Friday:
- Depart St. Charles in the morning — stop for lunch in Columbia or KC
- Arrive in Marquette by early evening
- Check into Preston House — a historic home sleeping 11, steps from the distillery
- Evening walk through Marquette's quiet downtown
Saturday:
- Morning: Guided distillery tour and tasting — $10/person, 30-45 minutes covering all 10 spirits
- Midday: Explore Lindsborg ("Little Sweden USA") — 25 minutes east — for galleries, shops, and Swedish cuisine
- Afternoon: Kanopolis Lake State Park for hiking — sandstone bluffs and canyons that rival anything along the Missouri River bluffs
- Evening: Live music at our 140-seat venue — cocktails made with our spirits
Sunday:
- Browse the distillery retail shop — stock up on bottles you can't find in Missouri yet
- Visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene on your way east
- Stop for dinner in Kansas City and arrive home by late evening
Craftsmanship That Speaks to St. Charles
St. Charles values authenticity — its Main Street isn't a replica or a theme park, it's the real thing preserved. Our spirits carry that same genuine quality. Kernza Whiskey is made from a grain that literally grows nowhere else in commercial distilling — a perennial wheat from The Land Institute in Salina. Our Rye Whiskey and Straight Bourbon use traditional methods with Kansas-sourced grains, produced in small batches by owners who handle every step from milling to bottling.
Try our Pickle Vodka — it's become a conversation starter that St. Charles's food and drink enthusiasts can't stop talking about.