Housed in the oldest standing brewery in Illinois, built in 1857, Thornton Distilling Company is a craft distillery and events venue with a full kitchen and bar and a historical feel that’s both reminiscent of industrial Chicago and a 1920s speakeasy. Once one of the most successful breweries in the area, Prohibition forced Bielfeldt Brewing to close it’s doors after a 61-year run. Despite continuous (and often illicit) operation as a brewery through the 1950s, operations finally ceased and the building became abandoned and blighted until Thornton Distilling Company took possession of it, invested in years of constructed and finally brought it back to its original glory with our craft distillery, with the original lime-stone filtered artesian well still intact. Today it operates as an events venue, distillery tasting room and cocktail bar, restaurant and maker of award-winning craft spirits featuring local ingredients.
