Farm-based Whiskey Acres Distilling Company, where the corn is grown, harvested, and distilled right on-site — has once again earned top honors at the Heartland Whiskey Competition as Best-in-State for Illinois. This marks the second time the DeKalb farm/distillery has been recognized in this prestigious contest.
What makes this win especially meaningful is that Whiskey Acres isn’t simply sourcing grain, they are Illinois farmers producing Illinois corn that becomes Illinois whiskey. From seed to spirit, their operation exemplifies the full circle of agriculture and craft distilling.
“We are proud to see Whiskey Acres earn this honor again,” said Rodney Weinzierl, Executive Director of IL Corn. “Their accomplishment underscores the value of corn in adding real value on-farm, supporting local agriculture and showing how quality grain makes an exceptional product.”
Jamie Walters, co-owner and farmer at Whiskey Acres, added:
“It’s one thing to grow corn; it’s another to turn that corn into an award-winning whiskey right here in Illinois. We’re farming the grain, distilling the spirit and sharing the full story of agriculture and craft. This win belongs to the soil, the harvest crew and our whole farm-to-bottle team.”
IL Corn applauds Whiskey Acres’ success as a powerful demonstration of how Illinois corn farmers can move up the value chain, turning a commodity into a crafted premium product and continuing to shine on both the field and in the bottle.
