Jeff VanDam, a Roscoe Village resident and former attorney, announced on Mar. 18 the launch of Whiskey Trust, a whiskey blending and distribution company based in Avondale. The company began operations in January after VanDam spent two years sourcing barrels from Kentucky producers, building local partnerships, and securing a warehouse at 3065 N. Rockwell St. that meets Chicago’s legal requirements for alcohol production and sales.
VanDam said his goal is to celebrate Chicago’s lesser-known drinking history through his products while keeping operations small and focused within the city. He described the process of finding a suitable location as challenging due to zoning rules, aldermanic privilege, and restrictions on alcohol sales in certain areas. “I had to search the map far and wide for a unicorn space that fulfills all of these different legal requirements,” VanDam said.
Whiskey Trust is not a distillery; instead, VanDam blends full whiskey barrels sourced from Kentucky in steel tanks inside his warehouse for about three months before bottling. The first release, called Dynamite Batch, was inspired by the story of the Shufeldt Distillery’s destruction by dynamite in 1888—a move attributed to the Illinois Whiskey Trust group’s efforts to control the industry. “It tells the story of the Whiskey Trust being this venomous monopoly in the 19th century that would blow up distilleries that did not join them,” VanDam said.
The initial batch consists of only 260 bottles made from one barrel. Several bars in Avondale and Logan Square now serve Whiskey Trust bourbon by the glass, including Scofflaw, Heavy Feather, Village Tap, Avondale Bowl, Giant, Beer Temple, and Rose Mary. Bottles are available for purchase at Beer Temple for $75 and Keg N Bottle for $80. Chris Quinn, owner of Beer Temple and co-host of The Beer Temple podcast, said customer response has been positive: “We love when products that we stand behind move well,” Quinn said.
Looking ahead, VanDam plans to introduce a second brand called Couple Two Tree later this year with lower proof than Dynamite Batch’s 120 proof strength. He is collaborating with Anthony Hall of Harebrained on label design and intends to donate part of future sales to local nonprofits. “I’m hustling every day… I’m excited to keep doing that,” VanDam said.
