You walk into the tasting room and it hits you immediately. It's not just the smell of juniper or the faint sweetness of fermenting grain hanging in the air. It’s the velvet. It’s the gold leaf. It’s the feeling that if you turned around fast enough, you might catch a glimpse of a guy in a fedora bribing a city official in the corner booth. Tom's Town Distilling Co isn't just making booze in Kansas City’s Crossroads District; they are basically keeping a specific, rebellious era of the Midwest on life support. Honestly, it’s a vibe that most "industrial chic" distilleries can't touch because most of them don't have the history to back it up.
Tom Pendergast. That’s the name you need to know. He was the "Boss" of Kansas City during Prohibition, a man who famously said, "The people are thirsty." While the rest of the country was drying out under the 18th Amendment, Pendergast made sure KC stayed wet. Very wet. Tom's Town Distilling Co takes its name and its entire soul from this defiance. Founded by David Campbell and Steve Revare, the distillery sits in a restored 1900s building that feels like a time capsule. It’s gorgeous. But more importantly, the spirits they’re cranking out of their custom-built copper pot stills actually live up to the decor.
The Pendergast Legacy and Why It Actually Matters
A lot of places use history as a marketing gimmick. They slap a black-and-white photo on a label and call it a day. But Tom's Town feels different because the connection to the city's corruption—and its culture—is baked into the brand. During the 1920s and 30s, Kansas City was known as the "Paris of the Plains." Why? Because you could get a drink, watch a jazz show, and gamble your paycheck away without much interference from the law, thanks to Tom Pendergast’s political machine.
This wasn't just about crime. It was about an identity. While the East Coast was stiff and the West Coast was still finding itself, Kansas City was the epicenter of a gritty, soulful hedonism. When you sip a cocktail at Tom's Town today, you’re participating in that lineage. The founders, Campbell and Revare, aren't just businessmen; they have deep roots here. Revare is actually the great-nephew of Maurice Revare, who was a partner in Pendergast’s liquor business. That's not a made-up marketing story. That’s actual family history.
What’s Actually in the Bottle?
Let’s talk about the gin. Their McElroy’s Corruption Gin is probably the thing they’re most famous for, and for good reason. It’s a London Dry style, but it’s got this spicy, complex kick that makes it stand out in a Negroni. It’s named after Henry McElroy, who was Pendergast’s hand-picked city manager. The guy was legendary for his "country bookkeeping," which basically meant he moved money around however he wanted to keep the machine running.
Then there’s the Eli’s Strong Arm Vodka. It’s smooth. Really smooth. It’s named after Eli Ponchick, another cog in the Pendergast wheel.
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But the whiskey is where things get interesting.
The Tom’s Town Double Oak Bourbon is a standout. They use a proprietary wood-aging process that involves putting the bourbon through two different types of oak. You get the traditional charred American white oak, but they also use French oak. The result? It’s rich. You get those classic caramel and vanilla notes, but there’s a floral, spicy finish that you don't usually find in standard Kansas City whiskies. It’s won a ton of awards, including some heavy hitters from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
- Pendergast’s Royal Gold Bourbon: This one is a bit of a cult favorite. It’s finished in port casks, which gives it this deep, dark fruit sweetness that makes it almost dangerously easy to drink neat.
- The Botanical Component: They don't just throw juniper in a pot. Their gin uses a blend of botanicals that leans into the floral side, balancing the spice with a bit of brightness.
- The Distilling Process: They use a 500-gallon copper pot still named "Great Tom." It’s a beast. It allows for a level of control that mass-produced spirits just can't replicate.
The Tasting Room Experience
If you go to Kansas City and don't visit the tasting room at 1701 Main Street, you’ve basically failed your trip. It’s Art Deco perfection. The bar is massive, the lighting is moody, and the cocktails are genuinely inventive. They don't just do a standard Gin and Tonic. They do drinks like the "Corruption & Tonic" or complex seasonal flips that use house-made bitters and shrubs.
One thing people get wrong is thinking this is just a tourist trap. It isn’t. On a Tuesday night, you’ll see locals who work in the nearby tech offices or art galleries grabbing a drink. It’s a neighborhood staple. They also offer tours, which are actually worth the money. You get to see the production floor, learn about the science of the "hearts" and "tails" of the distillation process, and, obviously, taste the goods.
The staff usually knows their stuff, too. Ask them about the "ghost" stories of the building or the specific details of the 1930s election riots. They’ll tell you.
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Why This Distillery Saved a Piece of Kansas City
Before Tom's Town opened in 2015, that stretch of the Crossroads was a bit quieter. Now, it’s a cornerstone of the downtown revival. By leaning into the "Pendergast" era, they gave the city a way to celebrate its complicated past without whitewashing it. They acknowledge that Tom Pendergast was a crooked politician, but they also acknowledge that his "open town" policy is what allowed Kansas City Jazz to flourish. Without the clubs being allowed to stay open and serve booze, legends like Charlie Parker might never have had a stage to play on.
It’s about nuance.
The distillery acts as a bridge between the 1920s and the 2020s. It’s a business that understands that modern consumers want more than just a product; they want a narrative. They want to feel like they’re part of something. When you buy a bottle of Tom's Town, you aren't just buying 750ml of liquid. You're buying a piece of a city that refused to follow the rules.
Correcting the Myths
You’ll hear people say that Tom's Town is the "oldest" distillery in KC. It’s not. It’s the first legal distillery in downtown Kansas City since Prohibition, which is a very specific and important distinction. There were plenty of others before the 18th Amendment, and a few others popped up in the suburbs or surrounding areas just before Tom's Town, but they were the ones who broke the seal on the downtown core.
Another misconception? That they just source their bourbon from MGP in Indiana. While a lot of craft distilleries start out that way (and there’s no shame in it), Tom's Town has been very transparent about their aging processes and their move toward in-house production and unique finishing techniques. They aren't just slapping a label on a generic barrel. They are doing the work.
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How to Get the Most Out of Tom's Town
Don't just walk in and order a vodka soda. That's a waste of a trip.
Start with a flight. It’s the only way to understand the range of what they’re doing. Compare the standard gin to the barreled gin (which is aged in bourbon barrels and is absolutely wild). Then, move on to a signature cocktail. If they have anything with their "Pendergast" bourbon on the menu, order it.
If you’re a history nerd, bring a book. Or better yet, look up the 1934 Kansas City massacre while you’re sitting there. It adds a layer of grit to the velvet surroundings that makes the drink taste a little more "authentic."
What to Do Next
If you are planning a visit or just want to up your home bar game, here is the move:
- Check the Tour Schedule: They fill up fast, especially on weekends. Book online a few days in advance. It’s one of the few distillery tours that actually focuses as much on local political history as it does on grain bills.
- Look for the Barrel-Aged Gin: It’s their "secret weapon." It bridges the gap for people who think they hate gin but love whiskey. It has the botanicals of a gin but the caramel, woody finish of a bourbon.
- Visit the Crossroads: Make a night of it. Start at Tom’s Town, then walk to some of the nearby art galleries. The First Friday events in the Crossroads are legendary, and the distillery is usually the heartbeat of the evening.
- Buy the Merchandise: Normally, distillery shirts are tacky. Theirs are actually well-designed Art Deco pieces that you’d actually wear in public.
Tom's Town Distilling Co isn't just a business; it’s a middle finger to the dull and the dry. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the "bad guys" left behind the best stories—and the best drinks. Whether you're there for the high-end bourbon or just to soak in the atmosphere of a bygone era, it’s a place that demands you slow down, take a sip, and appreciate the corruption. Just a little bit.