It is not a stretch to say Cole Oxley was seemingly destined to become a distiller.
“By the time I was 16, I had been to every major brewery in the United States, and by 18 I had been to all the major distilleries except Jack Daniels and George Dickle,” said Oxley, whose parents were avid travelers and helped cultivate his interest in the craft. This early exposure sparked a passion that led him to devour books on brewing, distilling, and the history of spirits. His entrepreneurial spirit and unique upbringing set the stage for his journey into distilling and creating Red Ox Distillery.
And this weekend is Red Ox’s chance to celebrate it all.
Red Ox Music Fest 2024
Jefferson City is gearing up for a fantastic day filled with music, food, and drinks at this year’s annual event, which will take place inside the Capital Bluffs Event Center. This celebration promises something for everyone, especially if cocktails are your thing.
“I’m a cocktail guy, America invented the cocktail and it’s kind of a renaissance of cocktails and bourbon right now,” said Oxley. “Fifteen years ago, you didn’t see Old Fashioneds on menus as much as today; you had to go to a specialty bar or speakeasy. Now, it seems like everyone knows how to make them, so when we design our alcohol, we choose everything with cocktails in mind.”
A quick check of his product menu and you’ll see Oxley didn’t dive straight into producing spirits; instead, he began with cordials. This decision was inspired by the Prohibition era in the 1920s when cordials were immensely popular. At first, he focused on making three Italian-style liqueurs: Limoncello, Limecello, and Orangecello. Each liqueur is crafted with care, such as hand-peeling 300 Naval oranges for the Orangecello, ensuring they are 100% natural.
These cordials can replace traditional orange liqueurs in cocktails, offering a versatile and authentic ingredient for various drinks. This approach allowed Red Ox Distillery to cater to the cocktail culture, emphasizing sweet, natural flavors perfect for mixology.
At the event, the general public will have access to a variety of cocktails, including:
- Nutty Sour: Made with almond and pistachio liqueurs, featuring a naturally sweet and nutty flavor.
- Manhattan: A pre-made cocktail in collaboration with Blacksmith Distillery, using their whiskey and Red Ox’s orangecello.
- Gin Garden: A botanical mix of gin and Red Ox’s lavender liqueur.
- Gin Gimlet: A refreshing blend of gin and lime liqueur.
- Old Fashioned: Crafted with a wheated whiskey.
- Lemon Drop Martini: Made with limoncello.
- Cherry Limeade Slushy: Featuring limecello.
- Boozy Peach: Made with Red Ox’s almond liqueur.
- Purple Sun: A vibrant mix of Empress Gin, lavender liqueur, and lemonade.
Additionally, other slushies and seasonal cocktails like Pina Colada, Lavender Lemonade, and Margaritas will be available.
Food and Drinks
Along with Red Ox, you’ll find a host of other partner vendors, including Last Flight Brewing Company.
“We are thrilled to partner and collaborate with eight or nine vendors on some joint offerings. You’ll find boozy jerky, baked goods made with our alcohol, and soap crafted from our by-products, ensuring everything is Missouri-owned and showcasing our community’s talent,” said Oxley.
Support Local Vendors
- Red Ox Distillery: Serving their delicious mixed drinks all day long.
- Last Flight Brewing Company: Catering to beer enthusiasts with their finest brews.
- Rebel Tacos and The Gator Wagon: Offering mouth-watering food all day long.
- Snacks will also be available for purchase at the bar.
Several local businesses will showcase their unique products, including:
- Silvey Soaps: Bringing their Red Ox soaps, poison ivy relief, and various other great soap scents. Silvey Soaps takes pride in being made in Missouri and incorporates locally sourced products, emphasizing its commitment to the Buy Missouri Program and Missouri Grown.
- Sunflower Dreams Lavender: Offering lavender-themed products from their farm in Holts Summit, MO. Their shop includes body butter, bath salts, soap, etched wine bottles, sage bundles, and more.
- A Bushel and a Peck: Satisfying your sweet tooth with treats like boozy macarons using Red Ox cordials and bourbon, including flavors like Strawberry Limoncello-ade, Orangecello Cream, Cherry Almond, Honey Lavender, and White Chocolate Bourbon.
- Leighton’s at the Lake: Providing a relaxing lounge atmosphere for cigar aficionados and casual enthusiasts alike, offering premium cigars and exceptional service.
- Chamomile Liqueur: Made from Roman Chamomile grown in Missouri, be sure to try the Chamomileon cocktail.
- Blacksmith Artisanal Spirits: Three unique cocktails will be offered in collaboration with Blacksmith Artisanal Spirits, including a classic Manhattan, a Gin Gimlet, and the Gin Garden.
Live Music Lineup
- Chloe Hoecker: 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Rock Island Revival Band: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- The Spooklights (formerly known as MK Ultra): 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Ticket Information
General admission tickets cover the door fee and parking. Parking near the front door is limited, but additional parking is available near the golf course.
A VIP Ticket includes:
- Admission with early entry
- VIP parking
- Red Ox event glass
- Event shirt
- Drink ticket redeemable at the bar
- An exclusive tasting with Red Ox Distillery owners, Cole and Hunter, starting at 12:15 PM. Enjoy a guided tasting paired with desserts from local baker, Creatively Candice.
New this year, Premiere tickets offer:
- General Admission
- Event shirt
- Red Ox event glass
- Drink tickets redeemable at the bar
Note: VIP glasses are only available with VIP and Premiere tickets.
Supporting a Good Cause
We are excited to announce a special event basket raffle where 100% of the proceeds will go to the Red Slipper Warrior Project, an organization near and dear to our hearts. This raffle features contributions from our amazing local vendors, making it a fantastic way to support a great cause.
Location
Capital Bluffs Event Center 1616 Oilwell Rd, Jefferson City, MO 65101
