MUST BE 21+ TO PARTICIPATE. PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY.
THE JOURNEY
THE BEGINNING OF THE CAPITAL CITY BOURBON JOURNEY
It began with one Springfield restaurateur who believed that our best conversations and ideas come over a glass of bourbon. Whether it was straight, on the rocks, mixed, or smoked, he sampled bourbons and ryes, and read and researched its history. What started as a hobby turned into a passion and he began engaging with other local business owners.
That’s how the Capital City Bourbon Journey was created — a place of 12 destinations for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Now you are part of this journey and can choose your own adventure. Whether you are a bourbon connoisseur or never tried a sip, you are in the right place! You can choose any of these doors to walk through and let them know you are part of the Capital City Bourbon Journey.
All participants are local restaurateurs who call Central Illinois their home. Now you can experience what makes our community a great place to live, work, visit, and enjoy bourbon.
LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITY
Our rich history and the legacy of our community brings tens of thousands of individuals to our city each year.
But what built Springfield — and made it what it is today — are the individuals and families who have come to call Springfield home.
That’s why we say local businesses are the backbone of our community.
Springfield is unique because while others may look at competing forces, our local businesses look for
opportunities of synergy.
The creation of the Capital City Bourbon Journey is one example, and the City of Springfield is a proud supporter of this journey. This effort celebrates how businesses with the same passion can
build on one another, expand their services, and grow our community.
We look forward to see where this journey takes us.
Thank you for taking the first step to making your own history here.
YOUR CAPITAL CITY BOURBON JOURNEY
- Visit any of the locations in this booklet and check out the fantastic offerings of Bourbon and rye whiskey. The selection of bourbons can be enjoyed neat, in a handcrafted cocktail or as a tasting flight. Ask your bartender or server to get your guidebook stamped.
- Visit all 12 locations as part of the Bourbon Journey and collect a stamp at each stop.
- Collect 6 stamps to get a small gift halfway through your journey. When you gather all 12 stamps, we have a special Bourbon Journey gift for you!
- Bring your completed Bourbon Journey guide to any of the participating locations. You may also bring your guide to the City of Springfield’s Visitors Center to the address below.
Where to get a Guide?
City of Springfield’s Visitors Center is located across from Horace Mann on the first floor.
Questions? Contact capitalcitybourbonjourney@gmail.com or call the Springfield Visitors Center at the number above.
Download your Booklet
While experiencing the Capital City Bourbon Journey, ask your destination about the EXCLUSIVE BOURBON BARREL PICKS. This is only available at these select locations.
MAKE THE JOURNEY AN EVENT!
We know the Capital City Bourbon Journey cannot be completed in a day, but you can create memories along the way. Whether you are planning a friends getaway or looking for a way to entertain clients, the bourbon journey businesses can help! Email us to start planning. capitalcitybourbonjourney@gmail.com
The City of Springfield’s Convention & Visitors Bureau is here to make your journey even more memorable. Don’t forget to tag your posts with your Bourbon Journey stop and #VisitSpringfield.
A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
THE LOCATIONS
The Brickhouse Grill and Pub is one of Springfield’s leading grill and pubs for 12+ years. Their chefs are constantly updating the menu to maintain an eclectic variety of entrée specials including its Chipotle Chicken Power Bowl, Ahi Tuna, Sunrise Burger, along with a weekend only brunch menu including a loaded Bloody Mary! The bar not only offers a large collection of Bourbon, also seasonal cocktails, rotating draft beers and imports. Brickhouse prides itself as being one of Springfield’s favorite places to enjoy your favorite sporting events, gather with friends, or come enjoy a wonderful meal.
Old Fashioned
What to drink: SPICED OLD FASHIONED.This went over well during the holidays, so we decided to share it throughout the year as our Bourbon Journey cocktail. Starting with Rittenhouse Rye, we add a house made spiced simple syrup, and bitters that perfectly balances this drink. Served over a king cube with a cinnamon stick and orange peel.
Brickhouse Grill & Pub's Bar
Curate's Bar
Curate…to hand-select unique, flavorful food, wine and liquor combinations from the vast array of (possibilities/variations) available from around the world. Curate believes in sharing and experiencing new and different tastes. Enjoy a multitude of small plates meant for sampling, sharing, and pairing with their great bourbons and wines. All fresh, unique, and very deep in flavor. Eat a little or eat a lot, there is something for everyone. Experience over 50 bourbons and ryes including highly sought after allocated bottles. Want to taste various unique bourbons? Request a bourbon flight and sample many exclusive bottles.
What to drink: GOLDEN OLDEN. Made with rye, port, bitters, and Luxardo cherry with an orange twist.
Golden Olden
Home Plate Bar and Grill's Bar
Located on the west side of Springfield, this local, family-owned spot brings out the fans from all sides. This family friendly sports bar and restaurant has something for everyone including 20 televisions and a double decker outdoor patio where you can enjoy your choice of more than 100 bourbons and whiskeys, 24 beers on tap, and a wide selection of other drink options. When should you stop in? Their weekly specials include half price pizza on Monday nights, Taco Tuesday, kids eat free on Wednesday evening, and Thursday is half price house wine. Come in anytime and enjoy a game at Springfield’s favorite sports bar!
What to drink: THE LUMBERJACK. Home Plate swung for the fences with its rendition of an Old Fashioned. The starter is Maker’s Mark, adding a touch of maple syrup for sweetness, throwing in some black walnut bitters, and the closer is a Luxardo cherry. This will make your starting lineup for sure!
The Lumberjack
Indigo Restaurant is Central Illinois’ premier fine dining establishment and event space, specializing in French, Contemporary, American, and Asian cuisine. Indigo strives to create food experiences that are honest, inclusive, and memorable. They take pride in its World to Table concept, and are dedicated to bringing the best products from around the world right to your table. With an ever-changing menu including filet mignon, Canadian lobster, sea bass, chops, and many more entrees — Indigo guarantees that you will taste the difference. They look forward to serving you very soon.
Big O Fashioned
What to drink: BIG O FASHIONED. Besides Indigo’s wide array of bourbon and ryes, this signature drink is made with muddled orange and Luxardo cherries, Makers Mark, simple syrup, Big O ginger liqueur, and a splash of soda water.
Indigo's Bar
Kentucky Burn is Springfield’s newest bourbon destination. Located two miles from downtown and across from the Historic Main Gate of the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The bar features an eclectic, yet rustic bourbon barrel atmosphere, making this a great place to gather with friends or meet new ones. Serving well over 200 bourbons, and many allocated choices, a full bar, wine, domestic and local bottled beer. You are sure to find something to enjoy. Don’t forget o reserve Kentucky Burn for your next casual get together.
Maple Old Fashioned
What to drink: MINT JULEP. The official drink of the Kentucky Derby. Made with hand-picked mint leaves, and of course, the longest bourbon whiskey bottled, Old Forester.
Kentucky Burn's Bar
Locals' Bar
Locals Bar and Restaurant is a short drive southbound on 1-55 on the square in Pawnee, IL. The historic building will take you back to yesteryear. Locals offers a wide selection of liquors, beers, drafts, seltzers, and over eighty-five different bourbons and ryes to choose from. The bar features a beer garden, live music, video gaming, American-fare food, indoor event venue and banquet room rental. It’s the perfect spot to relax and mingle with new and old friends; dance to the jukebox or live music; and play pool, darts, or video gaming.
What to drink: MANHATTAN. Locals has many bourbons to choose but the signature cocktail is made with a Rittenhouse Rye, Meletti, Averna, dash of orange bitters, Luxardo cherry with an orange twist.
Manhattan
The regulars at Mowie’s dubbed the short stretch of businesses along Springfield’s south end of town as “The Toronto Road Corridor.” That’s where Mowie’s has served patrons for the last 30 years. Whether you are a neighbor or an out-of-towner looking for a relaxing cocktail and friendly conversation, Cody and his crew have a way of making everyone feel welcomed. Serving over 80 brands of bourbons, 18 beers on tap, a private gaming room, two pool tables, darts, and a recently remodeled bar including four 75” TVs, Mowie’s has a little of everything and is the perfect place to leave your troubles at the door and unwind.
Maple Old Fashioned
What to drink: MOWIE’S MAPLE OLD FASHIONED. Elijah Craig Kentucky Bourbon paired with real Vermont Grade A Fancy maple syrup, barrel-aged bitters, and a lemon twist garnish.
Mowie's Cue Bar
The Backroom Bourbon Society
For over 30 years, Riverton Party Store has been providing customers some of the best spirits at great prices. After several years of providing great customer service, proprietor Jeb Brown decided to give even more. With his love of music and love for his customers, Jeb opened the Backroom Lounge (BRL). BRL offers weekly up and coming music stars, comedy shows, bourbon tastings, and spoken word experiences, all in the old school small venue setting that seem to be disappearing in America. Jeb and the Riverton Party Store are now offering bourbon schools, bourbon social events, and Sunday wine socials for his loyal patrons. Stop by and try one of the Backroom Bourbon Society Signature drinks or incredible store picks.
What to drink: Try one of the picks done by the Springfield Area Bourbon Ambassadors or Back Room Bourbon Society. Drink it neat, drink it on the rocks. Always unique, constantly changing.
The folks at Slauterhouse Brewing Company take their whiskey as seriously as they take their beer. Whether you enjoy a pour in the taproom or on their expansive patio, they will be sure to have a drink for everyone to enjoy. They are especially proud of their Old Fashioned and Manhattan, so if mixed drinks are your thing, they’ve got you covered. Don’t forget to ask about their latest private barrel pick too. Cheers!
Blackberry Old Fashioned
What to drink: BLACKBERRY OLD FASHIONED. Made with Starlight Blackberry whiskey, a blend of orange and aromatic bitters, and simple syrup.
Slauterhouse Brewing Company's Bar
Vele's Bar
VELE (pronounced “vay lay”) is Italian for “blank canvas,” and a blank canvas of possibilities is exactly what Chef Justin Richardson envisions as he develops an ever-changing menu drawn from his Italian heritage and culinary studies in Italy, as well as his classical French training. With a focus on unique, flavorful Modern Coastal Italian dishes, VELE offers a multitude of small plates that are meant to be shared and paired with great bourbons and wines. VELE showcases close to 100 bottles of bourbon and rye, including monthly bourbon tastings and a wide range of rare, hard-to-find allocated bottles for you to try.
What to drink: DANHATTAN. Elijah Craig Small Batch bourbon, Dopo Teatro Cocchi Vermouth Amaro, Cherry-Bark Vanilla Bitters, and Luxardo Cherries served up.
Danhattan
Calling all bourbon lovers and outdoor enthusiasts! Westwoods Lodge is the perfect place to escape the city without actually leaving it. With an eclectic menu featuring everything from gator and duck to campfire favorites like burgers and chili, Westwoods has something to satisfy everyone’s taste buds. But the real star of the show for bourbon enthusiasts is the selection at the Big Timber Bourbon Bar at Westwoods Lodge. With over 300+ bottles, including many trophy bottles, this is the place for a neat pour or a finely crafted cocktail. If you’re new to the world of bourbon, Westwoods offers tasting flights so you can sample a variety of different expressions. And if you're a seasoned bourbon connoisseur, you’re sure to find something to your liking. Let one of our experienced bourbon guides pick a tour for you. With its casual, friendly atmosphere, Westwoods is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a good drink with friends. Whether you’re gathered around the Big Timber Bourbon Bar, enjoying the dining room, or slipping away to the Colorado Room for video gaming, Westwoods is sure to make you feel at home.
The Woodsman
What to drink: THE WOODSMAN. When a Kentucky Mule meets its wild side. Enjoy two shots of Woodford Reserve Bourbon in a copper mug with a splash of agave syrup, ginger beer, and fresh lime juice. Topped with a dash of a seasonal bitters, it’s stirred and served over ice.
Big Timber Bourbon Bar at Westwood's Lodge
Win, Lose, or Draught Bar
7004 Kingsmill Court, Springfield
217.679.1546
Win, Lose, or Draught (usually people call it WLD) offers patrons a friendly, relaxed vibe, and the staff strives to make everyone feel welcome. The bartenders use their knowledge of the large variety of allocated bourbons to take patrons on a journey of new tastes and experiences. WLD has doubled its size over the last couple of years with two new additions. “The Beercade” was added in 2021 and takes adults back to their childhood with retro arcade machines, pinball, darts, and air hockey. Owner Ryan Bandy proudly designed WLD’s patio using his experiences traveling to bars and nightclubs around the country. You’ll feel like you’re in L.A. or Miami, and it’s a great place to sit out on during the warmer months to sip the bar’s signature bourbon cocktail, the W-L-D.
What to drink:The WHISKEY LEMON DROP, also known as the W-L-D is our signature bourbon drink made with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbon, lemon simple syrup and orange bitters is the perfect mixer for a refreshing drink. Garnished with a Luxardo Cherry and a lemon twist.
WHISKEY LEMON DROP