Micro distillery to open in Plainfield
By Madhu Mayer For The Herald-News May 22, 2012 9:38AM
Updated: July 2, 2012 9:24AM
PLAINFIELD — A microdistillery specializing in hand-crafted rum, liqueurs and tequila soon will make its home in Plainfield.
The Plainfield Village Board on Monday adopted an ordinance creating a Class S liquor license for Tailwinds Distilling at 14912 S. Eastern Ave., Unit 103.
Applicants Toby and Jillian Beall said by distilling each spirit in lower volume batches as opposed to larger operations, greater attention can be paid to quality. The distilling, fermentation, aging, blending, bottling, labeling and packaging will all be done on premises, making Tailwinds’ spirits a truly hand-crafted product, they said.
The applicants said there are no other distilleries within 30 miles of the Plainfield location.
Once it opens, the Bealls said visitors will be able to enjoy Tailwinds’ spirits in the tasting room bar and outdoor patio in a vintage aviation/island setting. The tasting room bar also will allow patrons to purchase bottles directly, buy merchandise and take weekly tours of the distillery operation.
The distillery process, according to village planner Michael Garrigan, will be conducted in an enclosed, secure setting, so as not to have a negative impact on the neighborhood.
The Bealls said the village stands to benefit from the new business as they described distilled spirits as a highly lucrative industry, grossing $19.9 billion in sales last year. Even in a struggling economy, they said Illinois distilled liquor sales have risen 6 percent since 2006.
Depending on its success, the Bealls also alluded to the possibility of having a full-service restaurant at the location. Tailwinds Distilling gets its name from Toby Beall, an experienced commercial pilot.
