A few weeks ago I was browsing the Groupon app, just looking to see if any of our local businesses in the St. Louis area had anything special going on. While browsing, I came across a Groupon for a Mastermind Vodka Distillery Tour. ..wait, what? We have a vodka distillery close?
This deal was for a two-person tour of the facility, samples of both the vodka and moonshine made in the distillery, AND a full 750ml bottle of their vodka to take with you. (one bottle per couple). The best part? It was $30. What's even better? I got it for $20.
Mastermind Vodka Distillery:
Upon our arrival at the distillery, my husband and I were greeted and seated in their "commons" room. They had several tables and chairs set up and music playing softly. We were the first ones there out of our group of 6, so while we waited, we were given a drink menu. You don't have to drink (because these do cost extra) but if you choose to, you certainly can. Once the other four got there, our tour guide took the drink orders and made them. When she brought the drinks, she also brought the free shot of Mastermind Vodka for us all to try. While everyone had a drink, she gave us a history of the company.
Turns out, this was the idea of a man who was an inventor. He had done a little bit of everything in his work-life from: Carpentry, Demolition, Electrician, and currently he runs the distillery and is also a train engineer. When everyone had finished their first round of drinks, (the group we were with were REALLY enjoying themselves) our tour guide brought out another round of drinks for our tour-mates..and our free shots of their moonshine. (Pictured above) I found the reasoning for the label fascinating, and I'm glad that our tour guide shared the story with us.
The CEO/Owner dedicated his moonshine to his father. His father was a pilot in World War 2, and piloted a bomber plane. The label is taken from his plane's nose-art. (Hence the 1930's style pin-up girl)
Our guide talked about how, when the owner started the company, he did it because he wanted to. He never expected to get big, he didn't expect anyone to WANT to take a tour, he just liked vodka and wanted to make his own. The company has two other employees, the girl that did our tour today and one other. (plus the owner) Their business has grown so fast that they can't keep up and had to buy a bigger building. They will be moved by the end of the year. The picture shows the majority of their distilling room. It's pretty small. They hand bottle and seal every bottle of vodka.
I had never toured a distillery before, so learning about the process was very interesting.
At the end of the tour, you get to seal the bottle of vodka that is included in the tour. I asked my husband to take a picture of me dipping our bottle into the wax...he took like 10 pictures. Here's 3 of them.
The tour took around an hour and a half- including the time taken for everyone to get mixed drinks.
I highly recommend this tour to anyone who is coming through the area. Currently, the building is small and not much to look at when you pull up. But the inside is surprisingly nice, and my husband and I definitely got our $20 worth. Mastermind Vodka is a top-shelf liquor and retails from $28-$35, depending where you buy it. That alone was worth more than our tour fee.
(Cat not included) :)
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