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Let's Explore You Private Barrel Experience

Just answer some basic questions, and we'll be back in touch in two to three days with a free, no-obligation personalized plan for your whiskey experience in Des Moines.

Don't stress stress about your answers. If you decide to move forward with your own private barrel, we'll work with you every step of the way to refine your choices and create an extraordinary experience.
Click on this icon as you move through the process to learn more about various aspects of whiskey production.

First, we need a recipe, or Mash Bill as it's known in industry. You can choose from a variety of grains below:

MASH BILL

Do you want to make a bourbon? Or perhaps a malt whiskey? Click here to learn more about class and type.

The total must be equal to 100%.

Fill in preferred percentages

Barley
Buckwheat
Corn
Millet
Oats

Quinoa
Rice
Rye
Sorghum
Wheat

TYPE OF MALTED BARLEY

Malted barley contains enzymes, primarily amylase and glucanase, that break down starches to glucose through a process called hydrolysis. Starch is a polymer of glucose connected by glycosidic linkages. These linkages are broken during hydrolysis.

Please select a box below.

To achieve proper conversion of starches to sugars, you will need a certain % of malted barley in your recipe. Check one of the boxes below for the type of malted barley you would like to explore.

Canadian 2-Row Barley
Canadian 6-Row Barley
Canadian Distiller's Malt
Northwest Pale Malt (Washington)

American 2-Row Barley (Wisconsin)
Heidelberg Base Malt (Germany)
Please choose for me

Now, it's time for fermentation, the process of converting sugar to alcohol. There are many different yeast options from a variety of companies. Please select the ones that look interesting to you.

YEAST

Yeasts are microscopic organisms classified as fungi. They are single-celled and reproduce by budding. During fermentation, yeast multiplies vigorously initially while there is oxygen present. After the oxygen is used up, the yeast converts sugar into alcohol.

Please select at least one type of yeast.

American Whiskey Yeast
Tennessee Whiskey Yeast
Scottish Yeast

German Yeast
Please choose for me

FERMENTATION STYLE

Open top fermentation is more traditional and allows you to see and smell the fermentation process. Open top fermentation does allow microorganisms in the air to be introduced into the process. Closed fermentation limits the opportunity for local microorganisms to interact with the wash.

Please select a Fermentation Style.

Open top (cypress wood)

Closed loop (stainless steel)

Please choose for me

Now, we're ready for distillation, the process of concentrating alcohol by separating alcohol and water inside a still.

Alcohol evaporates at a lower temperature than water — 173 degrees vs. 212 degrees. As a still heats up, the alcohol vapors make their way up the column of the still. The still contains plates in the column and as the vapors hit a plate, they start to condense and further separate the ethanol from the water and other substances (congeners).

At the end of the process, the alcohol vapors reach the condenser, a vessel with fine copper tubes filled with cold water. As the vapors hit these coils, they are cooled and turn back into liquid form.

We will be making Foreshots, Heads, Hearts and Tails cuts during your distillation. Each fraction of the process contains various compounds that will impact the taste of the finished product.

F

Foreshots are the first liquid collected during a distillation and contain a large amount of acetone.

H

Heads also contain acetone, along with methanol and ethyl-acetate.

H

Hearts contain the highest percentage of ethanol and make up the core of your finished product.

T

Tails contain alcohol and flavor along with fusel oils.

F

Foreshots are the first liquid collected during a distillation and contain a large amount of acetone.

H

Heads also contain acetone, along with methanol and ethyl-acetate.

H

Hearts contain the highest percentage of ethanol and make up the core of your finished product.

T

Tails contain alcohol and flavor along with fusel oils.

WHITE DOG

White dog is the industry term for raw distillate. It is clear and un-aged.

Please select Yes or No.

Would you like a sample bottle of White Dog to take home?

Check one of the boxes.

Yes, please.

No, age it all.

Finally, it's time to put your incredible whiskey into a barrel.

BARRELING

At what proof do you want to barrel your whiskey?

125 proof is the maximum allowable and the most economical as each barrel contains more alcohol. Certain distillers choose to age at lower proofs based on their belief that it results in better product. Your choice here will be a target, and we will work toward it based on the final amount of distillate we produce.

Please select a proof.

125 proof (max)
120 proof
115 proof

110 proof
Other

What type of barrel would you like to use?

The Classic style barrel has been around for decades, earning it a reputation as a go-to barrel for distillers around the world.

The Seasoned style barrel is thought to allow more natural elements (light, humidity and fungal activity) to facilitate changes to the oak chemistry and add complexity and softness to the palate.

Please select a type of barrel.

Classic

Seasoned

What level of char would you like in your barrel?

Char #4 is the darkest and world's most popular char option. Lighter char levels show more fruit esters and spice notes. Darker char levels will extract more vanilla favors and color into the spirit.

Please select a char level.

#1

#2

#3

#4

Now, help us plan the rest of your visit.

TRIP PLANNING

There is a fair amount of downtime involved in whiskey production. Our staff will obviously be present to oversee all production, and we'd like to give you a flavor of the great city of Des Moines and surrounding while you're here. Here's a link to our local tourism site, but please give us a little more information about your group and we'll help put together recommendations for a truly personalized, memorable experience.

How many people in your group? (max 6 people)

Please enter the number of people in your group.

How do the people in your group know each other?

Please enter how you know each other.

Please share any thoughts on your whiskey's brand name or label design.

Please share throughs on your whiskey's brand name or label design.

Upload images that give us a better sense of your whiskey project.

Please upload an image about your whiskey project.

Add files...

Which part of the process would you like to focus on during your visit?

The entire process typically takes five to seven days. We will show you all of the key elements during your visit but will focus on your selection.

Please select the process would you like to focus on during your visit.

What are the interests of your group?

Please select at least one interest.

Cultural Attractions
World Food Prize Building
Science Center
Art Center

Golf
Hunting
Minor League Baseball
Local Craft Beer Tour

Local Winery Tour
Other

What kind of restaurant experience(s) would your group enjoy?

Please select at least one restaurant experience.

Premium steakhouse
Chef-owned/local
Farm-to-table

Food truck
Brew pub
Other

What amenities would your group enjoy at the Distillery?

The Private Barrel Club Lounge will be your private space during your visit. The lounge includes a television, newspapers, magazines, internet, etc. If there is anything else you need, just let us know and we will do our best to make it happen.

Please select at least one amenity.

Bloody Mary bar
Happy Hour tastings

Work space
Other

Anything else you’d like to share?

Please fill out all fields below.

Thanks for sharing. We'll be back in touch in two to three days with a free, no-obligation personalized plan for your whiskey experience in Des Moines.