Crafting Creative, Biweekly Specials on Tap at Journeyman Distillery

At Journeyman Distillery’s American Factory in Valparaiso, the cocktail menu is a curated collection of seasonal creativity and handcrafted innovation. With a new specialty cocktail unveiled every two weeks, the team invites guests to experience fresh flavors – many with recipes designed to be recreated at home.

“Our biweekly cocktails allow the team to showcase their own cocktails and keep us focused on R&D – to grow, stay seasonal and respond to what flavors are trending,” Beverage Supervisor and Front of House Manager Daniel Lagestee said.

Journeyman proudly crafts original cocktails that reflect seasonality, local ingredients and the heritage of Journeyman’s spirits. Each variation is made with Journeyman’s small-batch whiskeys and created with natural ingredients.

“What really attracted me to Journeyman was the history of the property and the company,” Lagestee said. “The fact that we monitor the process from grain to glass and use all organic products in our spirit production – it really spoke to me.”

This commitment to quality carries into every cocktail designed at the Valparaiso testing room. Lagestee and his team balance innovation with tradition in their offerings. As the summer approaches, the menu will feature bright, fruit-forward drinks with floral or herbaceous notes. In colder months, the selection will shift toward spice, warmth and creativity.

“We move into deep-rooted spices and things like brown butter fat-washes,” Lagestee said. “It’s all about evoking that seasonal feeling – whether that’s with slushies in summer or hot drinks in winter.”

A hallmark of Journeyman’s cocktail program is its focus on making drinks easy for guests to recreate at home. While some ingredients remain to be in-house secrets, including the distillery’s orange marmalade simple syrup, Journeyman offers kits and guidance that empower aspiring home bartenders.

“Using the best ingredients you possibly can and trying to do as much as you can on your own lets you grow your skill set and tweak the flavor profile exactly how you want it,” Lagestee said.

Journeyman’s innovation carries into seasonal events, where all experiences – from live music and country line dancing to fine dining – are paired with cocktails crafted around a central theme. With each event, the beverage team collaborates with chefs, explores new flavor profiles, and showcases their creativity through intentional pairing. The result is an immersive experience for guests that reflects the distillery’s commitment to craftsmanship and storytelling.

“With separate initiatives in Valparaiso and Three Oaks, we can focus on what our guests want,” Lagestee said. “We also host private, multi-course dinners where I get to design cocktails to complement the chef’s dishes.”

Journeyman’s community-first approach earned national recognition in 2023 when its Corsets, Whips & Whiskey won Best in Show at the ASCOT Awards for the second year in a row. To mark the honor, the team crafted themed cocktails, including a mocha-inspired espresso drink and the “Lemon Chiffon,” a five-ingredient mix of limoncello, whiskey and walnut liqueur.

“When I saw the mocha tone, I knew I wanted to do some sort of espresso cocktail,” Lagestee said. “By tweaking the iced coffee cube and adding more red hues, we were able to match the color pretty closely.”

For those who prefer to enjoy expertly made drinks on-site, The American Factory offers a full lineup of spirits and house cocktails with a special spotlight on its six Old Fashioned variations. These variations include a smoked version and a barrel-aged take using a five-gallon whiskey barrel. For consistency and speed, especially during peak nights, the crafters replace muddled fruit with the house-made orange marmalade syrup.

All guests can visit the distillery to enjoy handcrafted cocktails, explore seasonal events and experience the creativity behind every pour. Additionally, come out to Journeyman’s Valpo location to support its Cocktails for a Cause campaign, it’s monthly giveback program that highlights local organizations making a positive impact in their communities.

For more information and to see what cocktails you can try at home, visit journeyman.com.