Peoria has a long history of “making things”... and among the earliest “Made in Peoria” products were whiskey and beer. In fact, Peoria was well known as the whiskey capital of the world. Whiskey was big business for a small town such as Peoria, Illinois. You could say that whiskey put Peoria on the map. With the first local distillery being built in 1843 by Almiran S. Cole at the foot of Oak St., Peoria quickly became the hub for making beer and whiskey. River access, good water, an abundance of corn and barley, and good means of transportation, all contributed to the unprecedented success of Peoria’s alcohol industry.

 

Another reason for the prosperity of the distilleries and breweries was the city’s eagerness to facilitate the growth. The local government at that time welcomed distillers and brewers with helpful incentives which in turn created an atmosphere that supported business growth and success for all. The result was a thriving city, full of jobs and numerous employment opportunities of all kinds