Our Story

Even though “ordinary” is in the name, our story is anything but...

The Origin Of Ordinaries

In early America, the sign of an ordinary meant all were welcome to drink, rest or engage in lively discussion. Ordinaries served as an escape from the demands of everyday life.

Travelers came to relax, rebellious townsfolk came to plot. Our founding fathers met in ordinaries to discuss our independence. One could say the ordinary made America what it is today.

The History of Six-Mile Ordinary

Our owner Maury Allen’s fifth great grandfather, Isham Allen, owned and operated the Six-Mile Ordinary over 200 years ago in Virginia. On July 1, 1774, free holders congregated there and drafted the James City Resolves not to import British goods. Two years later, the same group gathered again to declare their support for American independence. Six-Mile Ordinary even served as a place where Col. James Innes and his troops retreated when hundreds of British infantrymen came ashore on April 21, 1781. Isham eventually left his ordinary to join the revolution.

Our Columbia, MO distillery pays homage to the iconic ordinary that served as a refuge for early Americans. We pay tribute to a family business that originated near the dawn of our nation, and is steeped in rich history, while also looking to the future.

We now look to the future to create spirits that our forefathers would have served and that modern-day people will savor.

Keeping The Tradition Alive in Columbia, MO

We exist to connect with Missourians over our shared love of tradition, community and of course, bourbon — but not just any bourbon. Like most good things in life, quality bourbon takes time and patience. Since the path to quality is long and the wait time is agonizing at best, we must find a way to keep the stills fired and the lights on while the bourbon slowly elevates to maturity. So, how do distillers like us pay the electric bill while bourbon slowly matures to perfection?

We choose to engage the community by offering Distillery Tours and a Tasting Room. We also source alcohol in bulk under a different label, Tavern Keep. The truth is, not all of the alcohol we offer, from vodka to rum to gin, is distilled by us. As much as we wish that we could do it all, we’ll never sacrifice our quality for financial reasons. It’s not fair to our bourbon or to you! Sign up to get the first taste of our bourbon, and in the meantime, check out the spirits we currently offer.

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