Twelve years.
In 2026 we will celebrate twelve wild, beautiful, exhausting, inspiring years since we first opened the doors of a little log cabin in Udina, Illinois and called it Plank Road Tap Room.
Back then, the “tap room” was just a dream fueled by long hours, a whole lot of faith, and a passion for quality beverages that could bring people together. We didn’t brew beer, we curated it. At a time when there weren’t many places in our area focused solely on craft beer, we built a taproom dedicated to showcasing the breweries we loved. We poured from our tiny bar, hosted strangers that quickly became regulars and friends, and built a community that has continued to evolve, grow, and celebrate with us every step of the way.
Over those twelve years we’ve added nature trails, fire pits, food trucks, wine pairings, Wine Wednesdays, a Whiskey program, holiday traditions, Oktoberfestivities, countless events, and an endless stream of memories. We’ve seen marriages, first dates, lifelong friendships, and the kind of nights people talk about for years.
And now, heading into year twelve, we decided we wanted to do something special…something that honors the past, celebrates the present, and becomes a collectible piece of Plank Road history.
Enter: Our 12-Year Anniversary Barrel Select
To mark our 12th year in business, we’re thrilled to announce the release of a limited edition Bottled-in-Bond Single Barrel Bourbon from Whiskey Acres—hand-selected by us and bottled exclusively for this milestone.
This isn’t a whiskey we flipped through a catalog for. This is a whiskey we hunted for.
The Barrel House Adventure
Earlier this Fall, Alan and Breanne drove out to DeKalb to visit our friends at Whiskey Acres, one of Illinois’ most respected grain-to-glass distilleries. We spent the day with their team doing exactly what you’d expect a couple beverage nerds to do: combing through barrel houses, rolling out candidates, and tasting our way through an array of single barrels.
Barrel after barrel, sip after sip, notes were taken, eyebrows were raised, debates were had, and a few “we might have just found it” moments were quickly followed by “wait, taste this one.”
Finally — there it was.
A barrel of bourbon that checked every box: depth, character, warmth, and a finish that made us say, This is it. This is the one that tells the story.
Why Bottled-in-Bond Matters
There’s something poetic about Bottled-in-Bond for an anniversary release.
To qualify, a whiskey must:
Be made by one distiller
In one distilling season
Aged at least 4 years
Bottled at exactly 100 proof
Under government supervision
It’s a mark of quality, consistency, and authenticity… values we’ve held close since day one.
A Label Worth Collecting
This anniversary barrel will be released in a limited run and will feature our custom Plank Road Tap Room Barrel Select Anniversary Label — a label that will only ever be printed for this project.
Once these bottles are gone, they’re gone for good.
There will never be another batch with this label.
For our collectors, whiskey lovers, and longtime Plank Road supporters, this is one of those once-in-a-decade pieces of our story.
How to Secure a Bottle
Pre-sales are now open.
Price: $55 per bottle
Limit: 6 per customer
Pickup: We will email you when your bottle is ready (expected mid-February). Please provide a valid email during checkout.
Here’s to Twelve Years — And What Comes Next
If year one was about survival
…and year five was about growth
…then year twelve is about legacy.
This bottle is part of that legacy.
Cheers to all of you who helped write this story — and cheers to the stories still waiting to be poured.
— Alan, Breanne, & The Plank Road Tap Room Crew 🍻