Moorefield micro-distillery brews up memories

Father and son Bill and Todd Roe started "Lazy RW Distillery" in the former schoolhouse in Moorefield in 2015. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

MOOREFIELD, Neb. -- It's a history that the family protects. It's a passion that has grown into pride of a product made now in the former schoolhouse in the tiny town of Moorefield.

Bill Roe of Moorefield explains that the "Lazy RW" whiskey that he and his son, Todd, started distilling in the schoolhouse in 2015 began with the recipes of his great-uncle who operated a still on Nebraska's Niobrara River during Prohibition. Bill said he was always interested in his great-uncle's recipes, and making them became his passion after he inherited the recipes. "Our corn whiskey is my great-uncle's corn whiskey recipe," Bill said.

Bill's son, Todd, became fascinated by the science behind the distilling of whiskey -- "The science of whiskey is pretty awesome," he says, grinning. "If you don't know what you're doing, it won't happen."

Todd leans on his great-grandfather's whiskey jug. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

Todd says that between his dad's passion and his own fascination with the process of making whiskey, the father and son's dream of starting and operating a micro-distillery came to fruition last year. "We're proud of our process, and of our finished product," Todd said.

Bill emphasized, "This isn't moonshine. Moonshine is illegal whiskey. We make a good, refined whiskey ... a gentleman's whiskey that doesn't burn because of the cleaning process we use."

Todd said, "Our process isn't 'secret.' It's just very labor intensive."

Bill shakes a half-gallon jar of whiskey to watch for big bubbles and the instant dissipation of them when he quits shaking, a sign of the purity of a whiskey. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

Because of the high quality of their whiskey, the Roes won't compromise in its production. "We could make more ... we could make it faster," Todd said. "But we'd lose the integrity ... the quality of our whiskey." Bill said, "Shortcuts won't work. They change the taste. And we won't do that."

Todd said, "We won't compromise it. It's our passion ... our pride."

Bill said they're proud that the distillery has cultivated many good repeat customers in its first six months. "We have lots of return customers who are impressed with our whiskey and share our story with others," he said.

The Roes don't disclose what they do to make their whiskey of such quality. Nor do they reveal the identity of their inspirational relative, or his recipes or the modifications they've made to his still design. Todd said, "We appreciate our uncle's recipes. He started this whole thing."

The Roes' micro-distillery is regulated and licensed by the State of Nebraska. The men keep their recipes and proportions accurate and consistent to meet federal regulations, they said.

The location of their micro-distillery had to meet federal regs as well; their first proposed location was too close to a residence. They've worked with the Village of Moorefield to lease the former elementary schoolhouse and to make whatever repairs, renovations and maintenance are necessary for the distillery and tasting room.

Todd and Bill will host group tastings of their whiskey -- Lemon Flavored Whiskey, Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey and Frontier Straight Whiskey. Bill instructs, "Shake the bottle of Lemon Flavored Whiskey, and see how quickly and how easily the lemon juice blends into the whiskey. This shows the purity of the alcohol," he said. "This is my great-uncle's 'Lemon Drop Whiskey,' but we have to call it 'Lemon Flavored Whiskey'."

Bill said the Frontier Straight Whiskey is a corn whiskey. "We're proud that it's so clear," he said. "It's washed. It doesn't 'burn' because it's clean." Todd agreed, explaining that their whiskeys are unaged.

Cinnamon sticks are steeped in distilled water to make the cinnamon-flavored whiskey using the corn whiskey as a base. "It's real close to my great-uncle's original recipe," Bill said.

Bill said they are also working on a rose hips whiskey, another recipe from his great-uncle's book of secrets.

Bill coached basketball and taught physical education and business in Brady, and retired as a district supervisor for the Nebraska Department of Revenue. He and his wife, Susan, live in Moorefield. Todd and his wife, Lisa, and their children live in Brady. Todd's a draftsman/engineer for Bloedorn Lumber in North Platte.

The Lazy RW Distillery is located in the former Moorefield schoolhouse at 519 S. Ash, on the main street of Moorefield. Though the distillery doesn't have regular business hours yet, customers and whiskey connoisseurs can contact Todd and Bill to purchase products or to schedule group tastings.

Call (308) 530-1800 or email them at lazyrwllc@gmail.com. Also, go to their Facebook page at Lazy RW Enterprises LLC, Moorefield, Nebraska.