A Spirited Walk Across Iowa: Celebrating the People, Places and Pours Behind Iowa Whiskey

Melisa Merrifield
Jul 11
3 min read

What if you could travel across Iowa—meeting distillers, discovering new spirits and hearing the stories behind every bottle—without ever leaving the room?

That is exactly what guests experienced during our latest Spirited Walking Tour, hosted by the Des Moines Whiskey Festival.

The evening brought together whiskey enthusiasts, Iowa distilleries and local spirit makers for a one-of-a-kind tasting experience. Guests moved from station to station, sampling a diverse selection of Iowa-made whiskey and spirits while connecting directly with the people who bring each bottle to life.

More Than a Whiskey Tasting

The Spirited Walking Tour was designed to be more than a traditional tasting event. It was an opportunity to explore Iowa one pour at a time.

Every table represented a different destination, story and approach to the craft. Guests sampled familiar favorites, discovered unexpected new pours and learned how Iowa’s ingredients, communities and entrepreneurial spirit influence what ends up in the glass.

Representatives from distilleries including Templeton Rye, Revelton Distilling Co. and T12 Distillery joined the experience, sharing their products, knowledge and passion with guests.

But the true spirit of the evening went beyond the whiskey. It could be found in the conversations happening around each table, the laughter shared between friends and the connections being made between consumers and the people behind Iowa’s growing spirits industry.

Celebrating Iowa Craftsmanship

Iowa knows agriculture. Iowa knows craftsmanship. And Iowa most definitely knows whiskey.

Across the state, distillers are creating bold and distinctive spirits that reflect the places they call home. From carefully selected grains and thoughtfully developed recipes to aging, blending and bottling, every pour represents years of hard work and patience.

The Spirited Walking Tour gives these producers a platform to share that work while giving guests the opportunity to experience the depth and variety of spirits being made right here in Iowa.

Supporting Iowa distilleries means supporting local jobs, entrepreneurs, farmers and communities. That makes every local pour something worth celebrating.

Great Whiskey Brings People Together

That is what we want every Des Moines Whiskey Festival event to create.

Whiskey may be what brings people through the door, but community is what makes the evening memorable. Whether someone arrived as a longtime collector, a casual enthusiast or a curious first-time taster, everyone had an opportunity to learn something new and find a spirit worth talking about.

The Road to October Continues

The Spirited Walking Tour offered guests a taste of what is coming during the 2026 Des Moines Whiskey Festival weekend:

Women & Whiskey — October 1
The Whiskey Reserve — October 2
Des Moines Whiskey Festival — October 3

Each event will offer a different experience, from curated culinary pairings and premium VIP tastings to an expansive festival featuring distilleries, educational experiences, entertainment and plenty of exceptional whiskey.

Thank you to our participating distilleries, partners and every guest who joined us for this spirited journey across Iowa. Your support helps us continue showcasing the makers, stories and communities shaping Iowa’s whiskey culture.

The road to October is heating up—and we are just getting started.

Ready to take the next spirited walk with us? Secure your tickets for the 2026 Des Moines Whiskey Festival weekend and come experience why Iowa deserves a place on every whiskey lover’s map.

All Des Moines Whiskey Festival tasting events are for guests 21 and older. Please enjoy responsibly.