Draft:Union Horse Distilling

Union Horse Distilling Company is based in Lenexa, KS (Kansas City Metro). Established in 2010, Union Horse is a family-owned and operated distillery. Union Horse was started by the four Garcia siblings. : Eric Garcia, General Manager; Patrick Garcia, Master Distiller; Damian Garcia, Director of Sales and Marketing; Mary Garcia Gallagher, Events Director.

Union Horse opened in 2010 as the Kansas City area’s first craft distillery to open since Prohibition. Their current offerings include Reunion Straight Rye Whiskey, Reunion Barrel Strength Rye Whiskey, Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Rolling Standard Four Grain Whiskey, Rivalist American Single Malt, Long Shot White Whiskey and Rider Vodka. More than a decade later, Union Horse is still creating a collection of handcrafted, artisanal offerings. Union Horse was named in 2019 by Esquire as “The Best Whiskey Distillery in Kansas.”

History
In 2009, the Garcia family began discussing a potential business to start together. Patrick (Union Horse’s Master Distiller) had worked at a local brewery while he was in college and for a short time after he graduated, while Damian was currently working in the food and beverage industry. With these backgrounds and conversations with their brother, Eric and sister, Mary, they decided to look into starting a brewery. They toured some local and out-of-state breweries to gain more insight, but the light bulb went off and plans changed when they toured a small-batch, craft distillery on one of their family trips. They discovered that the processes of making a whiskey and beer were very similar. In 2009, they decided to dive headfirst into researching on what it would take to make a distillery happen and, thus, the beginning stages of Union Horse was born!

Their goal turned to producing whiskeys "born and raised" in the Midwest, using only local ingredients. They wanted to bring something new to Kansas City and region that was outside the box – grain-to-glass whiskies made from scratch. In 2010, the company hired on former Maker’s Mark Master Distiller, the late Dave Pickerell, to help in production and recipe development. Known as the “Johnny Appleseed or “founding father” of craft distilling, he also consulted for many well-known distilleries including Whistlepig, Woodenville Whiskey Co., Garrison Brothers, Hillrock Estate and Blackened Whiskey.

In 2010, Union Horse Distilling Co. was established. The name "Union Horse" was chosen because they wanted something that symbolized the family coming together to start the business. Also, “union” is the backbone of their team and process. They utilized the horse as their mascot, not only due to the fact that their family had a horse farm in Butler, MO, but it also because a horse symbolizes strength, courage, and freedom.

In early 2011, construction began on their 22,500 square ft. distillery with 6,000 square ft. dedicated to their Event Space at Union Horse, which opened in December of that year. In March 2011, the first barrels of Bourbon and Rye whiskey were laid down for aging.

When Union Horse first decided that they wanted to start a distillery in Kansas, they realized that the state laws for tours and tastings didn’t apply to their distillery, but were only for breweries and wineries. For more than a year, the family worked to change the Kansas liquor tasting law for tours and tastings at their distillery. When the bill came up for vote in April 2012, their distillery bill was passed with other bills enacted, including the passage of happy hours in bars and retail tastings.

While the team waited for their whiskies to age, they launched Rider Vodka and Long Shot White Whiskey in April 2012. In March 2013, they followed with their 2 to 3-year-old Reserve Bourbon and Reunion Rye whiskies. In December 2014, their first "special release" was launched, Barrel Strength Reunion Rye Whiskey.

As the company grew, they tapped into their older barrels (aged 5-7 years in new 53-gallon American oak barrels) and launched their first “Straight” whiskies. Reserve Straight Bourbon and Reunion Straight Rye Whiskey became a part of their core of brands and took the place of their previous 2 to 3 year old Reserve and Reunion. After a couple of years of being a “Special Release”, they welcomed Barrel Strength Reunion Rye in December 2016 to their stable of everyday brands.

The company released their first experimental whiskey, in November 2017, called Rolling Standard Midwestern Four Grain Whiskey. The whiskey was born through the company’s distillers’ experimentation of combining an aged American Single Malt with a wheated Bourbon, both aged separately in 25-gallon new and used American oak.

In August 2021, the Limited Release Port Barrel Finish Reunion Straight Rye was introduced with only 1530 bottles hitting select markets.

In December 2021, Union Horse Distilling Co. celebrated their 10th Anniversary with a big distillery event and a release to celebrate their “Decade of Distilling”, a special, limited edition 10-Year Anniversary Reserve Straight Bourbon

With more than a decade in distilling, Union Horse keeps growing. With the increasing popularity of American Single Malts, the company released Rivalist American Single Malt in August 2022. This was the first “American” single malt to be released in the KC area. With many requests from the consumers, Union Horse launched a Limited Release Bottled-in-Bond Reserve Straight Bourbon in October 2023. The latest release from Union Horse is their Limited 10-Year Reunion Straight Rye Whiskey, which was released to select markets in December 2023.

Production
All their spirits are distilled in a 500-gallon column pot still, known as Chester Copperpot (in honor of the brother’s favorite 80’s movie, The Goonies. It’s named after the old explorer who had first searched for One Eyed Willie’s treasure). It was custom built by Vendome Copper & Brass Works out of Louisville, KY. They also have ten 500-gallon fermenters and one 500-gallon Mash Cooker that are from Custom Metalcraft out of Springfield, MO. The whiskies are all aged in New American Charred Oak Barrels crafted in Missouri from Independent Stave Company (ISC).

From milling quality, Midwest grains to the barreling and bottling, everything is done in house and by hand. Behind every mash bill is the grain - and the farmers who grow it. The wheat, rye, corn, and barley used in their handcrafted whiskies are locally sourced from Midwestern family farms.

Before entering the barrel, the distilled spirit will be proofed down and enter the barrel at proof of 110 (55% ABV) to pull out more complex flavors (caramel, butterscotch, vanilla) as the whiskey ages. Their 10,000SF barrel house is non-climate controlled which helps in the maturation process. As the Midwest seasonal temperatures change so does the temperature in the warehouse. The fluctuation of temperatures creates bolder flavors that are then imparted into the whiskey as the barrel expands and contracts. After two and half years, each barrel will get tested, but won’t be emptied until it hits a maturity level of around five-plus years. When the whiskey hits that age, each barrel is carefully selected and blended to taste by the company’s distillers, Patrick (Master Distiller & Co-Founder) and Travis Vander Vegte (Artisan Distiller). Each whiskey is tested for complexity and full flavor before moving into the bottling stage. All bottling and labeling are done in-house and Patrick hand signs and numbers each bottle.

Spirits produced & accolades
Union Horse’s unified drive and dedication are what inspires them to pioneer and create their unique collection of authentic, artisanal offerings. Union Horse is available for purchase at local retailers in 12 states.


 * Reunion Straight Rye Whiskey is a mash bill made up entirely of 100% rye (single grain). It is barreled at 110 proof and aged 5+ years in new Missouri oak.
 * Accolades:
 * 92 pts - Tasting Panel Magazine
 * 94 pts; Finalist for Chairman’s Trophy in Rye Whiskey category - 2018 Ultimate Spirits Challenge
 * "Top 5 Rye Whiskies not Made in Kentucky” - Paste Magazine
 * “Top 100 Spirits”; 93 pts – 2022; Wine Enthusiast Magazine
 * Gold Medal – 2022 San Francisco Wine & Spirits Competition
 * Ranked #44 in “The Best American Rye Whiskeys Of 2023, Ranked” – UPROXX; July 2023
 * “A-” by Drinkhacker, February 2024
 * Barrel Strength Reunion Rye is made from a mash bill of 100% rye, uncut and unfiltered, with a proof at around +/- 122.
 * Accolades:
 * “A+” by Liquor.com
 * 96 pts – 2016 Ultimate Spirits Challenge
 * Gold Medal – Best in Category - 2022 NOLA Spirits Competition
 * Reserve Straight Bourbon has a mash bill of 80% corn and 20% rye. It is barreled at 110 proof and aged 5+ years in new Missouri oak.
 * Accolades:
 * “Top 100 Spirits”; 92 pts – 2016; Wine Enthusiast Magazine
 * 93 pts - 2018 Ultimate Beverage Challenge
 * 86 pts - Whisky Advocate
 * “10 Stellar Bourbons That Aren’t Made in Kentucky” – Robb Report; November 2023
 * Voted “Best Kansas Whiskey” in “Absolute Best Bottle of Whiskey from Each of the 50 States” – UPROXX; November 2023
 * "6 Favorite Bourbon Brands and Bottles in 2024" – The Manual; February 2024
 * Rivalist American Single Malt is made from a mash bill of 100% malted barley using three types – Odyssey (more in line with a brewer’s malt), Chocolate and Caramel. It is aged for in new Missouri oak for 4+ years.
 * Accolades:
 * Platinum Medal - 2023 Ascot Awards
 * Double Gold and “Best in Category for American Single Malt” - 2023 New York Wine and Spirits Competition
 * “B” by Drinkhacker, February 2024
 * Rolling Standard Four Grain Whiskey is made from two mash bills; one is corn, wheat, and rye, (Wheated Bourbon), the second mash bill is all malted barley (American Single Malt Whiskey) and born through distiller experimentation. Both are aged separately in new and used oak barrels then blended together making up the four-grain component. This whiskey is first in the company’s new “Distiller Series”. Aged 4+ years in new Missouri oak.
 * Accolades:
 * “A” - Liquor.com
 * “50 Best American Whiskies in Each State for Kansas” – UPROXX; July 2022 and November 2023
 * Ranked #45 in “50 Best American Whiskies, Ranked" – UPROXX; July 2023
 * TOP 100 Whiskies of 2022 – Wine Enthusiast Magazine
 * 91 points – 2018 Ultimate Beverage Challenge
 * Long Shot White Whiskey is a mash bill of 51% corn and 49% wheat which is then “lightly aged” in used whiskey barrels.
 * Accolades:
 * 93 Points, Gold Points – Tastings.com
 * Gold Medal – American Craft Spirits Association
 * Silver Medal – American Distilling Institute
 * Rider Vodka is a 100% wheat vodka that is six times distilled and six times filtered for smoothness.
 * Accolades:
 * “Top 10 Best Vodkas in the US” - USA Today (2016 and 2017)
 * 7 Best Artisanal Vodkas Under $20 – Thrillist
 * 92 Points, Gold Points – Tastings.com