It was a cold Friday afternoon and I decided it was time to explore something new. This led to a trip to Fortville, Indiana – To be honest, we were heading there for some Bone Marrow Fries and Foxy Old Fashioned’s from FoxGardin (one of my favorite restaurants in the world). On the way over to Fortville, I mentioned that the Moon Drops Distillery had just opened their tasting room, so I suggested we make a stop before heading for a late lunch.

My knowledge and connection to Moon Drops was limited. My wife and I saw the building a few months back and tried to stop in for a drink. It wasn’t open to the public at that time. So I followed them on Facebook and kept in the loop about their operations. From the occasional update, I knew the distillery was starting to distribute in the local area and there was a “cult” following for their lemon drop moonshine. So I went into the visit with an open mind and here is what I found:

The Tasting Room

Pulling into the parking lot, I could tell this was a large facility. I wasn’t 100% sure it was open, but it was also 2PM, but the door was unlocked and we walked up to the bar. I was greet quickly by a lady named Rachel (I cheated on the name by looking at the website) and she gave us the rundown on the menu and the distillery.

The tasting room was a little smaller than I expected from the outside, but it was nice and cozy. It was the blend of a tasting room, speak easy, and a view straight into the distilling process. As I was looking through the menu, I could see the still steaming and peppermint moonshine taking shape. You could tell this facility was a production first facility, but I’m always a fan of seeing the spirits being made right in front of me.

The tasting room could hold around 50 people (standing and sitting – maybe more) and it had a nice stage for some live music. As I was sitting there, I could see a beautiful outdoor venue that would be amazing in the warmer months. It was snowing, but I could imagine listening to a band with a cocktail on a hot July night.

Rachel was very nice and knowledgable about the products. As a bourbon guy myself, I could tell she knew her stuff. I saw a few other people stop by during our time there and they seemed to be treated nicely as well. I’m always a huge fan of a place that treats their customers well and makes sure your glass never runs empty.

The Bourbon (and other spirits)

During my visit, I ended up splitting two different flights with my friend. I wanted to try as much as I could and still be responsible at the same time.

One thing that was awesome – The flight came with snacks! I haven’t seen this before, so mad props here. It’s a lot of chocolate, but it’s good (I would have loved more pretzels).

I ended up trying the 7 different spirits (note – their bourbon is still aging, so it’s sourced at the moment – They have tried to match the mash bill as closely as possible – So I expect the taste profile to be similar, but better over the next 2-3 years):

1 – Black Label Bourbon – This was the one they sat on the black dot on the flight board and was pretty good. I could have drank this on the rocks, but I think this would be better served in a cocktail. It had some solid flavors of caramel, vanilla, and nuttiness. I would go back to try this again on the rocks, neat, or in a cocktail.

2 – Bourbon (Don’t remember the exact name) – This one was slightly different than the Black Label Bourbon, but you could tell they were similar in nature. If you paid me, I’m not 100% sure I could tell the difference between the two, but I wasn’t mad. I don’t think there was a ton of spice in either of these bourbons, but again tasty.

3 – Barrel Strength Bourbon – I knew this was going to be my favorite from the start and I wasn’t disappointed. It was hot (ABV wise), but that was to be expected. Once I got past the burn, I really tasted the oak, caramel, and vanilla. It was a flavor bomb. If this is a sign of their barrel strength products down the road, I want on the list to buy one of the first barrels. It’s going to be awesome.

4 – Vodka – I’m not a vodka guy, so take this review with a grain of salt. I wasn’t a fan of the vodka. I could see it in a mixed drink, but I’m not sure it should be tasted on a flight. I was told it was distilled 30+ times, so I imagine it might be good for those who like vodka. I’m just not a convert.

5 – Rum – I was expecting to not like the rum as well, but then I was given the story that it was made of 100% molasses and it was better than most other rums. So I gave it a shot. To my surprise, it was quite tasty with a little bit of a fruity finish. And like 0% burn. I don’t know the ABV, but someone could get in trouble drinking that rum in a cocktail. It would make a heck of a summer drink.

6 – Apple Pie Moonshine – If I was in the business of making bad choices, this one might be at the top of my list. I would get in trouble quickly drinking this. The ABV isn’t sky high with this, but it is as smooth as apple pie (pun intended). I am considering putting a bottle of this in my golf bag as some back up birdie juice.

7 – Lemon Drop Moonshine – Out of all of the spirits tasted, this is the one I bought a bottle of to take home to the wife. I can see why people enjoy this. It’s sweet, but not horribly sweet and the tartness of the lemon balances it out. My wife is going to take this and make martinis by adding vodka to it. The taste is killer and I think they have a winner here.

Overall Thoughts

I wasn’t here for a long time, but I’ll be back. I could tell this was a newer location and I think they have some good things lined up for the future. There are a few main things I took away:

1 – I think this is going to be “THE PLACE” to be in the summer. I think you are going to need to be there 3-4 hours early to make sure you get a seat once they have a great band playing in their outdoor space. Add that with the great rum, I think you will also want to make sure you have a ride home.

2 – I think the tasting room is going to be a little small once this place get popular. I would suggest coming early and getting a table if you are going to want to spend the evening there. There is seating, but it will fill up quickly.

3 – The spirits are good. I think there is room for improvement with the bourbon, but it’s hard to judge a distillery on their sourcing ability. I want to revisit this in 3 years when their bourbon hits the glass. In the meantime, I might stick with the rum or the barrel proof bourbon. Their moonshine kicks ass though. The stuff they make tastes good (non-vodka guy aside), so I think they know what they are doing.

4 – Food – I’m interested to see what happens here. They currently have food trucks at the location during the weekend, but I could see a kitchen happening sometime in the next 2 years. It’s that weird dynamic where you want to have some food and something elevated, but a food truck provides variety and ease. I’ll be interested to see how this plays out.

5 – Cocktails – I’ll be bring my wife back here to try some of the cocktails. I didn’t get a chance to try these and I think I’m going to be pleasantly surprised. The base (spirits) tasted solid, so I assume these will be solid as well.

And that’s my review of Moon Drops Distillery in Fortville, Indiana. I think there is a bright future ahead for this location. Thanks for the drinks and I look forward to visiting again.