Missouri Spirits to open tasting room next week

With city, state and federal liquor licenses now in hand, Missouri Spirits House LLC is planning a launch next week of its cocktail tasting room in downtown Springfield.

Co-owner Scott Shotts said the spirit production and distribution company has scheduled a soft launch Jan. 6, with a public opening the following day.

Missouri Spirits finished construction last month at 507 W. Walnut St., an 8,000-square-foot property that formerly housed auto body shop Dodson and Williams Automotive Inc., Shotts said.

He said the company invested over $250,000 in its move downtown from southwest Springfield. The company is on its last month of a lease at 3119 S. Scenic Ave., where it has operated since its founding in March 2011. Shotts said Missouri Spirits completely renovated the interior but kept the original walls of the downtown building it leases near Springfield Brewing Co. from Neil and Christina Chanter.

Shotts said the company secured liquor licenses for the tasting room and distillery last week.

“We’ll be selling our products straight from the back right out the front,” he said of the company’s bourbon, vodka and corn whiskey selections.

Missouri Spirits also is planning a February rollout of gin, as well as rum by April, Shotts said.

Shotts said the property, which also can serve as event space, is separate from the Brewery District Lofts Redevelopment Corp. project planned around SBC. The planners of that project - including the Chanters - received tax abatement approval from City Council in November 2013.