Tom’s Town Distillery Tour and Tasting

Tom’s Town Distilling Co. brings one of Kansas City’s most colourful chapters back to life. In the 1920s and 1930s the city was run by the political machine of Tom Pendergast, and under his rule Prohibition was barely enforced, which allowed jazz clubs and speakeasies to flourish and earned Kansas City its reputation as a wide-open town. The distillery, named in his honour, occupies an art deco-inspired building on Main Street on the edge of the Crossroads Arts District and calls itself the first legal distillery in downtown Kansas City since Prohibition. The one-hour small-group tour takes you through the production area, explains how the spirits are made, and tells the story of the Pendergast era, ending with a tasting in the stylish bar. It is one of the best-reviewed experiences in the city, with more than two hundred reviews averaging nearly five stars, and it makes an easy, atmospheric late-afternoon activity before dinner in the Crossroads. Guests must be 21 with valid ID to taste, and children under 15 are not permitted on the tour.

The tour meets in the tasting room at 1701 Main Street, ten minutes before the start time, and ends in the same place. Groups are capped at 20, which keeps the experience personal and gives you time to ask questions. Guides weave the distilling process together with the history of the Pendergast machine, the jazz era and the city’s years as an open town, so even visitors who are not spirits enthusiasts tend to enjoy it.

Expect a tasting of the distillery’s spirits at the end, and the chance to order a cocktail in the bar afterwards. The bar is one of the most handsome rooms in the area, with an art deco look that fits the story. Note that the tour is not wheelchair accessible and involves stairs, so check the details if mobility is a concern. Service animals are allowed.

Several start times are offered, and booking through our link includes free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience and a reserve-now, pay-later option. The distillery is a short walk or a free streetcar ride from downtown hotels, and the Crossroads around it is full of galleries, restaurants and bars, so plan an evening around it. Pair it with the Original KC Barbecue Tour for a full day of Kansas City flavours.