I had heard of “Farm to Table” before, but never “Soil to Sip,” that is, until I recently visited Boot Hill Distillery in Dodge City, Kansas.
I am on a tour of the Distillery and learning about the famed Boot Hill and its history.
The site was once a pauper’s graveyard on this, the highest hill in town. My guide, Stephanie Dickson, explains that in the late 1800s, anyone who died wanted to go into the afterlife with their boots on. When Kansas winds blew, the topsoil blew away, leaving the tops of the shoes sticking out—thus the name Boot Hill. The location was used as a burial site from 1872 to 1879.
She also explained the origin of the city. With Fort Dodge becoming a rowdy home to soldiers, officials declared that there could be no alcohol within a five-mile radius. An industrious bar owner calculated five miles from the fort and set up a bar. This city was literally built on alcohol, as other businesses and saloons sprang up in the late 1800s.
As the city grew, city officials decided a city hall should be built on the highest hill. The graves were moved, and construction began. There was the office of the marshal, the fire station, the courthouse, the judge’s chambers, and the city jail.
When the city outgrew the building, the Distillery eventually took it over. The business opened in 2016.
Soil to Sip
So, where does the company’s logo originate?
The new owner, Hayes Kelman, and his father, Roger, farm 10,000 acres and want their grain to be used to create excellent spirits. Boot Hill Distillery exclusively uses grain grown on Kelman Farms, 50 miles west of the Distillery, to produce its spirits, including vodka, gin, whisky (red eye and white), bourbon, and bitters, says Stephaine as she takes us into the heart of the production.
She explains each stage of the distilling process as we walk by gleaming vats.
The last portion of the tour involves tasting each of the products created here.
I don’t drink, but from the reaction of the other tour members and the inevitable purchases at the end of the tour, back in the tasting room, it was obvious to me that the award-winning spirits are excellent.
A tour is an excellent introduction to Dodge City and Boot Hill Distillery.
For more information about tours and purchasing spirits, click here.
