From Clocks to Corn Whiskey: The Story of Star Union Spirits
December 9, 2024
What happens when you combine a love for art, a rich family history, Illinois-grown corn, and award-winning craftsmanship? For Bob Windy and his business partner, Jeff Yosowitz, the answer is Star Union Spirits. Nestled in the historic Westclox building in Peru, Illinois, this distillery not only carries on the legacy of innovation from the factory’s iconic clocks but also crafts exceptional spirits. In 2023, Star Union Spirits took home top honors in the Heartland Whiskey Competition for Best Light Whiskey, showcasing their commitment to quality and creativity. Using local ingredients (like corn) and a passion for tradition, they’re redefining what it means to craft history in a bottle.

By Lindsay Croke
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April 16, 2026
Lindsay Croke is the IL Corn Director of Communications and Marketing today, but she’s served many roles over her 20+ years at IL Corn and brings a lot of historical perspective of IL Corn’s work and goals to IL Corn TV show as a host. We sat down with Lindsay to figure out how she landed at IL Corn, what the work here has meant to her and to our industry, and why she sticks around.



