Kennay Farms Distilling 2024: Family Crafted Spirits

Aubrey Quinn is the marketing lead for Kennay Farms Distilling and plays a vital role in overseeing daily operations across the farm and distillery. A graduate of the University of Illinois with a degree in Agricultural Economics, Aubrey applies her expertise to managing the family business while raising her three children. She is a proud sixth-generation member of the Kennay family, dedicated to producing high-quality, sustainable spirits crafted from their locally grown grain. DeliveryRank offers you an exclusive interview.

Kennay Farms Distilling prides itself on a "farm-to-table" process where every stage, from planting to distilling, involves family members. How does this approach influence the quality of your spirits and set your distillery apart from others in the industry?

This approach affects the quality because there no variables that can vary or we are not aware of that can affect the quality and create an off-tasting spirit.  With craft brands, there are often distinct flavor notes that seem “off”.  This is because smaller brands cannot compete with the large brands in terms of purchasing and producing in bulk to take advantage of discounts and blending techniques.  They rely on outsourcing and outside employees and therefore lose control of several steps of the production process.  At Kennay Farms, my brother plants the seed, Mom transports the grain, Dad dries and stores it at the home farm, and my cousin mills and distills it.  We control every aspect of the process.

Your vodka and 100% corn bourbon use corn grown exclusively on your sixth-generation family farm. How do your specific agricultural practices shape the flavor profiles of these products, and what role does sustainability play in your production process?

Kennay Farms is very sustainable focused.  We understand that the land was God-given and it is our responsibility to ensure it remains productive for years’ to come.  In 2021 we were designated as a Certified Sustainable Farm because of our practices.  10% of our acres are enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program and we have a strategic partnership with The DeLong Company’s  ‘Grown Climate Smart’ Initiative.  Our farm uses responsible irrigation practices , topsoil regeneration through reduced & no-till practices, and crop rotation and split nutrient application encourages biodiversity.  At the distillery, recent solar panel installation saves 6 tons CO2 emissions monthly.  The combination of these practices ensures we are being as efficient and productive as possible with the resources available so we don’t have to cut corners elsewhere in the production process. 

Distilling whiskey at Kennay Farms is described as a blend of art and science. How do you balance introducing innovative techniques with preserving the traditional craft of spirit-making?

My cousin and Head Distiller, Adam Kennay, uses his biology and chemistry background to create our spirits. He understands how different ingredients such as yeast, enzymes, and grains affects yield and taste.  He combines this knowledge with craft industry leading methods such as agitation to ensure even temperature profile during fermentation, closed top fermentation to ensure a controlled environment and infusion mashing to allow for each grain to be cooked at its proper gelatinization temp.  All harmful and off-tasting alcohol is removed and the spirit is carbon filtered for a smooth finish.

Kennay Farms Distilling actively engages with the local community through initiatives like brewing Homefront IPA to support Soldier’s Angels. How do these community partnerships reflect the distillery's mission and values?

We have been greatly blessed both personally and professionally and feel it is our responsibility to pass these blessings on to our surrounding communities.  My husband is deployed overseas so we know how important it is to partner with an organization such as Soldier’s Angels to bring joy and hope to soldiers.  These initiatives ensure positive relationships both locally and around the globe.

Your first batch of bourbon, barreled in 2020, is aging for four years before release. What challenges or highlights have come with producing a spirit that requires such patience, and how do you cultivate anticipation among your customers?

Our distillery is the culmination of six generations of farmers perfecting their craft. Decade after decade we till the land, plant the seed, nurture the plants, and harvest the crop.  Being farmers we know the patience and up front costs associated with the harvest.  We used this history when waiting for the bourbon to mature.  For many years we hosted Rickhouse tours and complimentary bourbon samplings to customers could taste the product during the maturation process.  After four years the Bourbon Release party was held on November 1st, 2024 and attended by 100s that have been anticipating the bourbon for the past 4 years.  It is now available in the Tasting Room and by the bottle.

If you would like to find out more about Kennay Farms Distilling, please visit https://kennayfarmsdistilling.com/