Tom's Town Distilling Co

What Tom's Town Distilling Co does

Tom's Town Distilling Co. is a privately held craft distillery founded in 2015 by David Epstein and Steve Revare in Kansas City's Crossroads District, positioned as the first legal distillery in downtown Kansas City since Prohibition. The portfolio spans seven core SKUs across vodka (Double Grain Vodka, distilled from 90% wheat and 10% Missouri rye), gin (Botanical Gin built on vapor-distillation plus maceration of fourteen botanicals, Barreled Gin finished in bourbon barrels, and seasonal Garden Party Gin), bourbon (Double Oaked Bourbon with a wood-stave finish and Royal Gold Bourbon finished in 14-year-old ruby port casks), and Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey launched in 2024. Production is anchored by traditional craft-distilling methods, including novel wood-stave finishing, barreling, and botanicals sourced from regional partners such as Powell Gardens.

The company operates a multi-channel revenue model: wholesale distribution across Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma via liquor-store and bar channel partners; on-premise sales through a 110+ year-old tasting room, restaurant, two event venues (Pendergast Lounge and Rickenbacker Room), distillery tours, cocktail classes, and speakeasy concepts including The Vault; direct-to-consumer e-commerce shipping through a Big Thirst fulfillment partnership; and a recurring Tom's Town Club membership ($28/month or $299/year VIP). Marketing is experiential-first, leveraging stadium distribution and the Official Gin of the Kansas City Chiefs partnership at GEHA Field, a Hallmark Christmas Experience partnership at Crown Center, multi-brewery Pendergast Machine Series collaborations, and a Limited Reserve Program of retail-exclusive barrel-finished bourbons. Award validation includes USA Today Best Craft Vodka Distillery (2016, 2017) and multiple Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America gold medals and a Best of Show for Barreled Gin.

Tom's Town sells primarily to craft-spirits enthusiasts, restaurant and bar patrons, event hosts (weddings and corporate events in the 40-200 guest range), Kansas City sports fans, and gift buyers of premium, locally-produced spirits. Revenue, growth rates, and external funding are not publicly disclosed; the company operates with 11-50 employees and founder ownership concentrated with Epstein and Revare.

Name

Tom's Town Distilling Co

Legal name

Tom's Town Distilling Co.

Website

https://toms-town.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tom's Town Distilling Co. is a privately held Kansas City craft distillery founded in 2015 producing award-winning vodka, gin, bourbon, rye whiskey, and canned cocktails, serving craft-spirits enthusiasts, restaurant patrons, event hosts, and Kansas City sports fans via on-premise tasting room and event venues, regional Midwest wholesale, e-commerce shipping, and a recurring VIP membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distilled Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Alcoholic Beverage Tours & On-site Experiences (Brewery/Winery/Distillery) (THAFALAK), Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ)

Keywords

• Craft distillery
• Premium spirits
• Canned cocktails
• Aged bourbon whiskey
• Distillery experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Spirit Sales (Bottles): Sale of award-winning spirits including vodka, gin, bourbon, and rye whiskey through distillery tasting room, online store, and retail partners.
2. Canned Cocktails: Ready-to-drink canned cocktails sold in four-packs across Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma at $13.99 suggested retail price.
3. Restaurant & Tasting Room: On-site food and beverage sales at the tasting room including craft cocktails, seasonal menus, and full bar service.
4. Distillery Tours & Experiences: Paid distillery tours, cocktail classes, and bottling crew experiences at the Kansas City location.
5. Event Space Rentals: Rental of event spaces including the Pendergast Lounge and Rickenbacker Room for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations with food and beverage minimums.
6. VIP Membership Program: Tom's Town Club membership with Standard (free) and VIP ($28/month or $299/year) tiers offering discounts, free drinks, birthday cocktails, and exclusive experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Tom's Town Distilling Co. is a Kansas City craft distillery producing award-winning premium spirits including bourbon, rye whiskey, gin, and vodka, inspired by Prohibition-era heritage tied to political boss Tom Pendergast. Beyond bottled spirits and ready-to-drink canned cocktails, the company operates an on-site restaurant and tasting room, distillery tours and cocktail classes, event venue rentals, a sports viewing Match Hub, a two-tier membership club, and direct spirit shipping via an online store.

Product overview

Tom's Town Distilling Co. is a Kansas City craft distillery producing premium spirits inspired by Prohibition-era Kansas City and political boss Tom Pendergast. Founded in 2015, the company offers a portfolio of seven core spirits including vodkas (Double Grain Vodka), gins (Botanical Gin, Barreled Gin, Garden Party Gin), and bourbons/whiskeys (Double Oaked Bourbon, Pendergast's Royal Gold Bourbon, Straight Rye Whiskey). Beyond bottled spirits, the company operates ready-to-drink canned cocktails, limited edition releases through The Pendergast Machine Series and Limited Reserve Program, an on-site restaurant and tasting room, distillery tour experiences, event venue rentals, club memberships, and direct spirit shipping. The distillery is located at 1701 Main Street in Kansas City's Crossroads District.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Pendergast Machine Series: A limited edition series of daring one-off spirits showcasing distillers' ingenuity, featuring unique collaborations and innovative finishing techniques.
• KC Concrete Co.
• The Vault

Products and services

• Tom's Town Double Grain Vodka Premium craft vodka distilled from 90% wheat and 10% Missouri rye sourced from a family farm thirty miles from the distillery, with a distinctive creamy texture. Won more gold medals than any other American vodka in 2016 and earned USA Today Best Craft Vodka Distillery designation in 2016 and 2017.
• Pendergast's Royal Gold Bourbon Versatile bourbon inspired by Prohibition-era political boss Tom Pendergast, finished in hand-selected 14-year-old ruby port casks, featuring aromas of caramelized sugar, pleasant oak, and stone fruits. Sold to consumers through tasting room, online store, and regional liquor store distribution.
• Tom's Town Double Oaked Bourbon Smooth, rich Kansas City bourbon made with an innovative wood stave finishing process: traditional aging in white American oak barrels complemented by second aging with French and American oak staves, yielding notes of maple, butterscotch, honey, and caramel without bitterness. Targeted at craft bourbon enthusiasts.
• Tom's Town Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond rye whiskey distilled in Kansas City from 64% rye, 32% corn, and 4% malted barley, aged four years in charred oak barrels, bottled at 100 proof with notes of caramel, toasted bread, spice, and dark chocolate. Distributed through Missouri and Kansas liquor stores and restaurants, targeted at craft whiskey enthusiasts.
• Tom's Town Barreled Gin Botanical gin finished in bourbon barrels for more than one year, taking on whiskey characteristics, vanilla, caramel, and oak notes. Won Best of Show and Double Gold medals at the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America conference in 2019. Targeted at gin and whiskey crossover enthusiasts.
• Tom's Town Botanical Gin Premium gin combining vapor-distilling and maceration methods to balance fourteen botanicals, delivering floral, citrus, and baking spice tasting notes. Won gold medals at Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America in 2018 and 2019, and is the Official Gin of the Kansas City Chiefs. Targeted at premium gin consumers and sports fans.
• Tom's Town Garden Party Gin Seasonal gin featuring brisk, clean, spicy flavor from hardy orange, dill, juniper, sage, fennel, coriander, and blue spruce tips sourced from Powell Gardens Heartland Harvest Culinary Gardens, bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV). Targeted at seasonal and botanical gin consumers.
• Tom's Town Canned Cocktails Line of four craft ready-to-drink canned cocktails made with award-winning spirits and all-natural flavors: Elderflower Lime Gin (5% ABV), Grapefruit Clove Gin (5% ABV), Lemon Gin Collins (9% ABV), and Strawberry Mint Vodka (8% ABV). Sold in four-packs at $13.99 suggested retail across Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma for portable cocktail consumers.
• The Pendergast Machine Series Limited edition series of daring one-off spirits showcasing distillers' ingenuity through collaborations with regional breweries and partners (KC Wineworks, Lagunitas Brewing, Double Shift Brewing, Torn Label Brewing, Powell Gardens), inspired by Tom Pendergast's political organization. Includes Half Baked whiskey, Missouri Straight Applejack, Machine No. 8 Apple Brandy, Gridiron Whiskey, Gingersnap Whiskey, Garden Party Gin, White Port Bourbon, Navy-Strength Gin, Malt Whiskey, and Antique Gin, available exclusively at Tom's Town for limited times.
• Limited Reserve Program Exclusive collaboration program with select liquor stores (including Gomer's Fine Wine and Spirits) to craft unique bourbons using hand-selected barrels and innovative finishing techniques such as Zinfandel and Apple Brandy barrel finishing. Each bottle showcases complex flavor profiles available only through partner liquor stores, targeted at premium bourbon collectors.
• Truman Special Reserve Bourbon Limited commemorative 11-year-old bourbon produced in partnership with the Truman Library Institute to honor the 75th anniversary of Harry Truman's presidency, with only 900 bottles produced. Features mellow caramel notes and smooth smokiness, sold exclusively at Tom's Town for $75, with proceeds supporting the Truman Library renovation. Targeted at bourbon collectors and history enthusiasts.
• Restaurant and Tasting Room Craft cocktail bar and restaurant operating in a 110+ year-old tasting room at 1701 Main Street, featuring seasonal craft cocktails ($10-$18), beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, starters ($8-$17), entrees ($16-$28), desserts, Happy Hour with $2 off drinks and food, the GRL Dinner series, and Distiller's Flight tastings. Open Monday-Thursday 4PM-10PM, Friday 4PM-12AM, Saturday 12PM-12AM. Targeted at Kansas City diners and nightlife seekers.
• Distillery Tours and Experiences Behind-the-scenes distillery tours, cocktail classes (such as Garden to Glass at $35 per guest), and bottling crew experiences rooted in Kansas City history during the Pendergast era, including tastings of featured spirits. Targeted at visitors and tourists interested in craft distilling and Kansas City history.
• Event Spaces Historic distillery venue offering two event spaces for weddings, corporate events, rehearsal dinners, and private celebrations: the Pendergast Lounge (cozy speakeasy-style room for up to 40 guests) and the Rickenbacker Room (5,000 sq ft second floor space accommodating up to 200 guests with views of Kauffman Center and Power and Light Building). Pricing ranges $250-$500 room fees with $1,000-$2,000 food and beverage minimums for Pendergast Lounge, and seasonal rates $2,500-$4,100 for Rickenbacker Room. Targeted at event hosts and corporate event planners.
• Tom's Town Club Membership Two-tier membership program: free Standard tier with 20% off bottles and retail items during one visit plus a free birthday cocktail (up to $16); VIP tier at $28/month or $299/year offering $40 monthly credit or bottle to go, 20% off bottles and retail, 2 BOGO free drinks monthly, free birthday cocktail, 2 free distillery tours twice yearly, 1 BOGO free Pendergast Cocktail College admission twice yearly, representing over $650 in annual savings. Targeted at frequent distillery patrons and craft spirits enthusiasts.
• Spirits Shipping Online spirit shipping service delivering bottles directly to consumers across most US states and Washington DC, with restrictions in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Utah. All orders are processed and fulfilled by retail partner Big Thirst, Inc. Targeted at out-of-region individual consumers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Named Best Craft Vodka Distillery by USA Today in 2016 and 2017
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• HallmarkflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025Historic first-of-its-kind partnership making Tom's Town the official distillery partner for Hallmark Christmas Experience at Crown Center. Limited-edition spirits collection featuring Double Oaked Bourbon, Botanical Gin, and Double Grain Vodka.
• Kansas City ChiefsflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2021Tom's Town Botanical Gin named Official Gin of the Kansas City Chiefs. Includes limited-edition Chiefs bottle, canned cocktails at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, suite service, and campaign hashtag #OfficialGinOfTheChiefs.
• GEHA Field at Arrowhead StadiumcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2021Stadium distribution partnership for Tom's Town canned cocktails and signature gin cocktails during Chiefs football season. Products available in Grab 'n Go markets throughout the season and in suites.
• Truman Library InstituteflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2020Partnership supporting Harry S. Truman Library and Museum renovation. Launched Truman Special Reserve Bourbon (900 bottles, $75) commemorating 75th anniversary of Truman's presidency, with percentage of proceeds donated to the library.
• VintegrityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Spring Into Gin initiative raising funds for No Kid Hungry. Portion of profits from every bottle of Tom's Town Botanical Gin, Barreled Gin, and Garden Party Gin sold in March and April donated to end childhood hunger.
• Gomer's Fine Wine and SpiritscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration for Limited Reserve Program creating unique bourbons using hand-selected barrels and innovative finishing techniques. Gomer's specific Zinfandel Barrel finished bourbon release.
• KC WineworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Pendergast Machine Series including Missouri Straight Applejack (distilled from Crossroads Apfel cider, triple distilled, aged in Missouri bourbon barrels) and Missouri Apple Brandy.
• Lagunitas BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Machine Series spirits including Half Baked (distilled from Lagunator beer, aged in white oak barrels) and Gridiron Whiskey (from Lagunitas Sucks beer).
• Double Shift BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Machine No. 6: Gingersnap Whiskey. Distilled from Double Shift's Gingersnap beer and aged 8 months in 15-gallon white American oak barrels.
• Torn Label BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Machine No. 2: Malt Whiskey. Distilled from Torn Label's quadjillo beer featuring notes of pepper, cinnamon, honey, caramelized sugar and hops.
• Wayside WaifsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWags & Whiskey charity campaign. Portion of proceeds from Whisker Sour cocktail purchases at Musical Theater Heritage events benefits the animal shelter.
• Musical Theater HeritageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeverage partnership during CATS production featuring special Tom's Town cocktails and tasting events at the Grand Theatre.
• Kansas City Jazz OrchestraminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConcert presentations at the distillery including 'In My Jazz Era: Uptown Funk' featuring Bruno Mars arrangements, pairing live music with dinner and cocktails.
• Rainy Day BooksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAuthor event partnership featuring André Darlington for 'Booze & Vinyl Country' book launch with cocktail pairings and book signing.
• Big Thirst, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail fulfillment partner for online spirit orders shipped to consumers across most US states. Manages order processing and shipping logistics.
• VAMP (Burlesque Production)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerINTOXICANT show production in Nighthawk basement featuring burlesque, live jazz, and high-proof spirits. Rowdy, soulful celebration of the 'Paris of the Plains' era.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• J. Rieger & Co. Kansas City-based craft distillery founded in 2014 reviving a pre-Prohibition brand, producing whiskey, gin, vodka and rum with an on-site tasting room and tours. The closest geographic and operating model peer — same city, similar heritage-driven positioning, similar venue format (distillery + tasting room).
• Tattersall Distilling: Minneapolis craft distillery producing gin, vodka, bourbon, and rum alongside a cocktail room and restaurant. Comparable multi-vertical model (production + on-site dining + tours) with premium craft positioning and canned/RTD-adjacent experiences.
• Copper & Kings American Brandy Distillery: Louisville craft distillery with a cocktail bar, tasting room, and event venue. Emphasizes innovative barrel-aging and finishing techniques (similar differentiation strategy to Tom's Town's wood-stave and port-cask finishes) and runs on-site distillery tours and live entertainment programming.
• Smooth Ambler: West Virginia craft distillery producing gin, vodka, bourbon, and rye whiskey with award recognition and regional wholesale distribution. Comparable craft scale, similar spirit portfolio mix, and growing canned/RTD-adjacent offerings.
• Breckenridge Distillery: Colorado craft distillery producing bourbon, gin, vodka, and whiskey with an on-site restaurant, tasting room, tours, and event venues. Closest peer in terms of the full multi-vertical 'distillery + restaurant + events' operating model in a regional market.

Emerging players

• Wilderness Trail: Kentucky craft bourbon and rye distillery focused on innovative finishing and proprietary grain recipes. Comparable craft spirit innovation narrative and limited release / premium SKU structure.

Regional players

• KC Wineworks: Kansas City-area producer collaborating with Tom's Town on Pendergast Machine Series spirits including a Missouri Straight Applejack. Operates as a regional craft producer in overlapping product categories and partnership space.

Broad incumbents

• Bulleit Bourbon: Diageo-owned craft-style bourbon with national distribution and high-velocity retail placement. Represents the broad incumbent craft-style competitor that competes with Tom's Town for shelf space and on-premise placement in the Midwest.
• Woodford Reserve: Brown-Forman premium bourbon and rye producer with national distribution and established retail/on-premise relationships. Frames the upper-bound competitive pressure in craft-style spirits and overlapping rye whiskey product lines.

Others

• Big Thirst, Inc. Retailer partner that fulfills Tom's Town's e-commerce spirits shipping — an enabling/distribution counterpart rather than a competitor. Useful as an ecosystem peer given how central DTC shipping is to Tom's Town's outside-region revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/toms_town
• Xx.com/toms_town
• Facebookfacebook.com/tomstowndistilling

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tom's Town Distilling Co