At the Sioux City Distilling Co., founder Austin Foster taps into local history — and more. Photo courtesy of Sioux City Distilling Co.
Writer: Olivia Sigler
Austin Foster wanted to create more than a distillery. He envisioned a place where people could gather over a well-made cocktail — or no cocktail at all — in one of Sioux City’s historic buildings.
The self-described “IT geek turned cocktail slinger” founded the Sioux City Distilling Co. in 2023 and based its operations in a 1915 warehouse that once housed plumbing supplies. Today, the 46,000-square-foot building includes a 350-person ballroom, an 80-person event room and a cocktail lounge.
The company also owns 68 acres in the nearby Loess Hills, where they grow the juniper for the gin. The well-drained soil benefits the berries, which produce a gin with a bright and pure taste, Foster said. As he put it, “The juniper trees that grow on loess create really remarkable aromatic juniper.”
The distillery also produces whiskey made with corn and rye from local farms, along with a line of nonalcoholic beverages. All the spirits are distilled, aged and bottled on site.
“The inspiration behind the distillery was to build a hub for the community where everyone could feel welcome,” Foster said. “We also wanted to revitalize this beautiful historic building.”
