Born 1857. Established 2015.


Tour & Taste


Book a tour of Thornton Distilling Co.
Slide

Latest News

Whiskey Advocate Article, “Peat Done Differently” feat. Thornton Distilling Co.

Check out the Summer 2024 issue of Whiskey Advocate to read more about “Praire Peat,” our forthcoming American Single Malt Whisky. Head Distiller Ari Klafter… Read more

Follow us for latest news

Thrilled to taste through barrels of our American Single Malt Whisky today with a couple of legends! Cheers to Chuck Cowdery and Lou Bank for stopping by!
🥃✨

#americansinglemalt #whisky #madeinillinois
...

26 1

Join us tonight at Delilah`s in Lincoln Park to celebrate National Absinthe Day! 🌿✨ We`ll be pouring samples of Dead Drop Absinthe Blanche and diving into its fascinating history and our distillation process💧

#NationalAbsintheDay #Delilahs #LincolnPark
...

24 1

Dark Matter Coffee, y’all are crazy for this one! Coffee beans conditioned with Dead Drop Absinthe Blanche?!?

But they did it, and the results are spectacular.

Starting with raw Catimor coffee beans from El Salvador, which are prized for their lively fruit flavors and subtle notes of cherries and herbs, Dark Matter then conditioned the beans with our 66.6% abv Swiss-style absinthe made with locally grown wormwood prior to roasting.

The resulting coffee is unlike anything we’ve ever tasted, with notes of almond paste, anise, and grapefruit peel.

Please note that this release is extremely limited. Dark Matter sold out nearly immediately upon releasing it on their website, but were good enough to swing us 10 bags to make available at the distillery. Bags are available in our tasting room for $28. Limit one bag per customer.

Join us March 5th at @delilahschicago at 6pm and celebrate National Absinthe Day with a guided tasting of Dead Drop Absinthe Blanche 💧

#nationalabsintheday #darkmattercoffee #absinthe #droptodram #chicagodrinks
...

35 1

Our Bridal Fair and Open House is 2 weeks away! Don`t forget to register for FREE ahead of time, visit our Facebook Event page for the ticket link!
Explore all the reasons to say "I do" to the venue and meet the best vendors in the area!

📸@stephainepana
...

15 0

Our Bridal Fair and Open House is coming up at the end of this month! Don`t miss your chance to explore our building, sample our drinks, try our appetizers all while visiting with the best in the business!
Best of all it`s FREE when you preregister, visit the link in our story!
...

8 0

You`ve sampled our bourbon, now sample why so many couples have said "I do" at the distillery! Visit us at our Bridal Fair and Open House on Sunday Feb. 23rd, registration is FREE just click on the link in our Facebook event page to sign up today!

📸Oats and Honey Photography
...

46 1

🍃✨ Stop by and check out our new Dead Drop Frozen Grasshopper!

This delightful cocktail is made with our homemade crème de cacao, crème de menthe, rich vanilla bean, fresh mint, cream, and Dead Drop Vodka.

It might be chilly outside, but this classic drink is fire ! 🔥 You can now enjoy it in our tasting room, along with other tasty beverages featured on our recently updated seasonal cocktail menu.

Cheers!

#frozengrasshopper #drinkstagram #drinksdrinksdrinks #madeinillinois #droptodran
...

90 2

🍔✨ This week`s food special at the distillery is the mouthwatering Patty Melt! Enjoy a double beef patty topped with melted American cheese, caramelized onions, and our signature sauce, all served on buttery Texas toast. Comes with a side of hand-cut fries 👀

Available while supplies last! #FoodSpecial #PattyMelt #yum
...

36 0

We can`t wait to see you at our Bridal Fair and Open House coming up on Sunday, Feb. 23rd, don`t forget to get your FREE tickets now by registering on our Eventbrite page! The link is on our Facebook event page, tickets will be $5 at the door day of. ...

19 0

Howdy neighbor!

Wonderful seeing our friends at Homewood Brewing featuring Dead Drop Gin at their stunning new brewery! 🎉

And the Thornton Distilling Co. tasting room is proud to be their first ever account, now featuring Homewood’s HBC Pale Ale on tap!

Make sure to stop by their beautiful space. Cheers to great collaborations! 🍸✨

#HomewoodBrewing #DeadDropGin #CraftCocktails #SupportLocal
...

52 0

Our Bridal Fair and Open House is coming up soon! Don`t forget to register for your free tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/thornton-distilling-co-bridal-fair-open-house-tickets-1105831434589?aff=oddtdtcreator ...

43 0

🌟 Embrace the cozy vibes with a delicious hot buttered rum!✨ join us at the distillery and indulge in our seasonal hot drinks to keep the chill at bay!

#WarmUp #HotDrinks #DistilleryDelights #hotbutteredrum #drinksdrinksdrinks #chicagococktails #drinkstagram
...

39 0

✨ Here’s to 2025 gettin’ nutty! 🥳 Join us at the distillery for this week`s cocktail special: The Pistachio Martini! 🍸🌰

We’ll be open tomorrow at 3pm. Don’t miss out on this delightful treat! Cheers to good times and great cocktails! 🥂 We hope you all have a safe and wonderful NYE and look forward to seeing you in 2025!

#CocktailSpecial #PistachioMartini #CheersTo2025 #DistilleryVibes #chicagodrinks
...

60 3

Introducing a new format for a familiar favorite, the Dead Drop Old Fashioned, now available in a 750ml bottle, just in time for the holidays! 🎁🥃

Dead Drop’s luxury Old Fashioned is made with straight bourbon whiskey, just a touch of scorched fair-trade Demerara sugar from Malawi, and house-made aromatic bitters to create a delicious, no hassle Old Fashioned cocktail.

We craft our aromatic bitters in-house using whole Tahitian and Madagascar vanilla beans, wild cherry bark, tangerine peel, Saigon cinnamon, a hint of spearmint, and other carefully selected herbs and spices.

One 750ml bottle will yield 10-12 cocktails and is available at our tasting room for $45. Just pour over ice and serve in good company!

#stockingstuffer
#chicagococktails
#chicagogram #chicago
#chicagodrinks #drinklocal #drinks
...

38 1

It`s the most wonderful time of year to get engaged! To help you get the ball rolling on your wedding plans we have our annual winter bridal fair coming up on Sunday, February 23rd. Registration is FREE, visit the link on our FB event page or in our story to register now! ...

11 0

🎄Join us today for holiday shopping until 6pm! 🎁

Our Cruel Yule Krampus Market features some amazing local artisan vendors! Shop local this year! Grab a bite to eat and a craft cocktail while you shop!

All ages and free entry!
🎄
...

67 2

Thornton Distilling Company,
maker of Dead Drop Spirits

The colorful history at Thornton Distilling Co. can be traced back to 1857 when the brick and limestone brewery and grain tower was built by the John S. Bielfeldt Brewing Company on the west bank of Thorn Creek in the small village of Thornton, Illinois. 

To learn more about our unique history and to view a portion of our massive collection of historic photos and artifacts,
please visit our timeline below.

I’m of legal drinking age.

You must be of legal drinking age to view this content.

Born 1857. Established 2015.


Tour & Taste


Book a tour of Thornton Distilling Co.
Slide

Latest News

Whiskey Advocate Article, “Peat Done Differently” feat. Thornton Distilling Co.

Check out the Summer 2024 issue of Whiskey Advocate to read more about “Praire Peat,” our forthcoming American Single Malt Whisky. Head Distiller Ari Klafter… Read more

Follow us for latest news

Thrilled to taste through barrels of our American Single Malt Whisky today with a couple of legends! Cheers to Chuck Cowdery and Lou Bank for stopping by!
🥃✨

#americansinglemalt #whisky #madeinillinois
...

26 1

Join us tonight at Delilah`s in Lincoln Park to celebrate National Absinthe Day! 🌿✨ We`ll be pouring samples of Dead Drop Absinthe Blanche and diving into its fascinating history and our distillation process💧

#NationalAbsintheDay #Delilahs #LincolnPark
...

24 1

Dark Matter Coffee, y’all are crazy for this one! Coffee beans conditioned with Dead Drop Absinthe Blanche?!?

But they did it, and the results are spectacular.

Starting with raw Catimor coffee beans from El Salvador, which are prized for their lively fruit flavors and subtle notes of cherries and herbs, Dark Matter then conditioned the beans with our 66.6% abv Swiss-style absinthe made with locally grown wormwood prior to roasting.

The resulting coffee is unlike anything we’ve ever tasted, with notes of almond paste, anise, and grapefruit peel.

Please note that this release is extremely limited. Dark Matter sold out nearly immediately upon releasing it on their website, but were good enough to swing us 10 bags to make available at the distillery. Bags are available in our tasting room for $28. Limit one bag per customer.

Join us March 5th at @delilahschicago at 6pm and celebrate National Absinthe Day with a guided tasting of Dead Drop Absinthe Blanche 💧

#nationalabsintheday #darkmattercoffee #absinthe #droptodram #chicagodrinks
...

35 1

Our Bridal Fair and Open House is 2 weeks away! Don`t forget to register for FREE ahead of time, visit our Facebook Event page for the ticket link!
Explore all the reasons to say "I do" to the venue and meet the best vendors in the area!

📸@stephainepana
...

15 0

Our Bridal Fair and Open House is coming up at the end of this month! Don`t miss your chance to explore our building, sample our drinks, try our appetizers all while visiting with the best in the business!
Best of all it`s FREE when you preregister, visit the link in our story!
...

8 0

You`ve sampled our bourbon, now sample why so many couples have said "I do" at the distillery! Visit us at our Bridal Fair and Open House on Sunday Feb. 23rd, registration is FREE just click on the link in our Facebook event page to sign up today!

📸Oats and Honey Photography
...

46 1

🍃✨ Stop by and check out our new Dead Drop Frozen Grasshopper!

This delightful cocktail is made with our homemade crème de cacao, crème de menthe, rich vanilla bean, fresh mint, cream, and Dead Drop Vodka.

It might be chilly outside, but this classic drink is fire ! 🔥 You can now enjoy it in our tasting room, along with other tasty beverages featured on our recently updated seasonal cocktail menu.

Cheers!

#frozengrasshopper #drinkstagram #drinksdrinksdrinks #madeinillinois #droptodran
...

90 2

🍔✨ This week`s food special at the distillery is the mouthwatering Patty Melt! Enjoy a double beef patty topped with melted American cheese, caramelized onions, and our signature sauce, all served on buttery Texas toast. Comes with a side of hand-cut fries 👀

Available while supplies last! #FoodSpecial #PattyMelt #yum
...

36 0

We can`t wait to see you at our Bridal Fair and Open House coming up on Sunday, Feb. 23rd, don`t forget to get your FREE tickets now by registering on our Eventbrite page! The link is on our Facebook event page, tickets will be $5 at the door day of. ...

19 0

Howdy neighbor!

Wonderful seeing our friends at Homewood Brewing featuring Dead Drop Gin at their stunning new brewery! 🎉

And the Thornton Distilling Co. tasting room is proud to be their first ever account, now featuring Homewood’s HBC Pale Ale on tap!

Make sure to stop by their beautiful space. Cheers to great collaborations! 🍸✨

#HomewoodBrewing #DeadDropGin #CraftCocktails #SupportLocal
...

52 0

Our Bridal Fair and Open House is coming up soon! Don`t forget to register for your free tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/thornton-distilling-co-bridal-fair-open-house-tickets-1105831434589?aff=oddtdtcreator ...

43 0

🌟 Embrace the cozy vibes with a delicious hot buttered rum!✨ join us at the distillery and indulge in our seasonal hot drinks to keep the chill at bay!

#WarmUp #HotDrinks #DistilleryDelights #hotbutteredrum #drinksdrinksdrinks #chicagococktails #drinkstagram
...

39 0

✨ Here’s to 2025 gettin’ nutty! 🥳 Join us at the distillery for this week`s cocktail special: The Pistachio Martini! 🍸🌰

We’ll be open tomorrow at 3pm. Don’t miss out on this delightful treat! Cheers to good times and great cocktails! 🥂 We hope you all have a safe and wonderful NYE and look forward to seeing you in 2025!

#CocktailSpecial #PistachioMartini #CheersTo2025 #DistilleryVibes #chicagodrinks
...

60 3

Introducing a new format for a familiar favorite, the Dead Drop Old Fashioned, now available in a 750ml bottle, just in time for the holidays! 🎁🥃

Dead Drop’s luxury Old Fashioned is made with straight bourbon whiskey, just a touch of scorched fair-trade Demerara sugar from Malawi, and house-made aromatic bitters to create a delicious, no hassle Old Fashioned cocktail.

We craft our aromatic bitters in-house using whole Tahitian and Madagascar vanilla beans, wild cherry bark, tangerine peel, Saigon cinnamon, a hint of spearmint, and other carefully selected herbs and spices.

One 750ml bottle will yield 10-12 cocktails and is available at our tasting room for $45. Just pour over ice and serve in good company!

#stockingstuffer
#chicagococktails
#chicagogram #chicago
#chicagodrinks #drinklocal #drinks
...

38 1

It`s the most wonderful time of year to get engaged! To help you get the ball rolling on your wedding plans we have our annual winter bridal fair coming up on Sunday, February 23rd. Registration is FREE, visit the link on our FB event page or in our story to register now! ...

11 0

🎄Join us today for holiday shopping until 6pm! 🎁

Our Cruel Yule Krampus Market features some amazing local artisan vendors! Shop local this year! Grab a bite to eat and a craft cocktail while you shop!

All ages and free entry!
🎄
...

67 2

Thornton Distilling Company,
maker of Dead Drop Spirits

The colorful history at Thornton Distilling Co. can be traced back to 1857 when the brick and limestone brewery and grain tower was built by the John S. Bielfeldt Brewing Company on the west bank of Thorn Creek in the small village of Thornton, Illinois. 

To learn more about our unique history and to view a portion of our massive collection of historic photos and artifacts,
please visit our timeline below.