Wood Hat Spirits was born from the vision of its founder, Gary Hinegardner. With Missouri’s abundant forests of white oak, crucial for barrel aging in the whiskey industry, and a rich supply of locally grown corn and wheat, Hinegardner saw an opportunity to create a truly local distillery. Since its opening in 2013, Wood Hat’s commitment to local ingredients and innovative practices has set it apart. Hinegardner prefers chinquapin oak for their barrels and uses Hopi blue corn for their signature whiskey.
“It’s the corn. Plain and simple. A significant amount of the corn that goes into whiskey in this country comes out of Missouri,” said Hinegardner. “I wanted to show people that we can do this in Missouri. Imagine the industry we’d have if all the barrels we ship to the world were full of whiskey when they left Missouri.”
This heirloom grain, cultivated by the Hopi tribe, imparts a distinct flavor that sets their whiskey apart from the rest. Other unique offerings include their Bloody Butcher Red Corn Whiskey, all distilled by heating a specialized heat-transfer oil with scrap wood from a local stave mill.
A celebration at Wood Hat Spirits
With this rich background, it’s only fitting that Wood Hat Spirits celebrate Hinegardner’s 80th birthday with an epic bash! “Gary’s 80th Birthday Bash” is set for Saturday, August 10th. The celebration will be an open house-style event from 10 AM to 5 PM at the distillery at 489 Booneslick Road in New Florence, MO.
The celebration promises plenty for everyone. In addition to whiskey tastings straight from the barrels, Bucky’s Food Truck will serve delicious homestyle sandwiches throughout the day, while renowned wood-turned-hat inventor JoHannes Michelsen will showcase his craft, offering guests the opportunity to purchase miniature hats or place orders for custom pieces.
Exclusive Releases
One of the highlights of Gary’s 80th Birthday Bash is an exclusive release of Bourbon Rubenesque, a special 143-proof, 10-year-aged bourbon available for $224. This high-proof whiskey, also known as barrel-strength or cask-strength, is bottled straight from the barrel without any dilution with water.
For those who appreciate the bold character of high-proof spirits, Bourbon Rubenesque promises a rich and memorable tasting adventure. But act quickly—this rare bourbon is only available while supplies last.
“It is just going to be bold when you taste it. It’s smooth for 143 proof. We’ve been sampling it for 10 years. It’s just an explosion of taste like you haven’t had before,” said Hinegardner.
Attendees canl taste Bourbon Rubenesque for $20 for a 1/2 oz. pour of this distinctive spirit, which includes a complimentary Glencairn glass.
Samples of White Dog and future releases will also be available throughout the day.
Gary’s 80th Birthday Bash!
When: Saturday, August 10 · 10 am – 5 pm CDT
Where: 489 Booneslick Road, New Florence, MO 63363
Cost: $10 for general admission. Purchase tickets online.
