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Lifted Spirits Distillery is a locally and independently owned craft distillery, cocktail bar, and tasting room in Kansas City’s East Crossroads, founded by Michael Stuckey. Built around the idea that spirits exist to bring people together, the distillery handcrafts gin, vodka, whiskey, and what it bills as Kansas City’s first absinthe — and was named Missouri Gin Distillery of the Year at the New York International Spirits Competition.

Description

Lifted Spirits Distillery is a craft distillery, cocktail bar, and tasting room in the East Crossroads at 1734 Cherry Street. The business distills its spirits on-site and operates a tasting room it describes as “an intimate, inclusive home for spirit-curious patrons,” serving craft cocktails and offering tours and cocktail classes.12 Its portfolio spans gin, vodka, whiskey, and absinthe — including a line of gins (Bright, Bold, and the navy-strength Supernova), and what local coverage credits as Kansas City’s first absinthe.345

The distillery practices grain-to-glass production, using grains selected and grown specifically for it in nearby Wellsville, Kansas.5 Its founding philosophy centers on community: founder Michael Stuckey has said he “fell in love with the idea of spirits first; this idea that spirits were inherently about bringing people together.”3

Ownership and history

Lifted Spirits was founded in 2016 by Michael Stuckey, a former pastor who serves as the distillery’s founder, CEO, and head distiller.32 The leadership team also includes Kyle Claypool as president, with the founding group rounded out in early coverage by mixologist/tasting-room manager Jason Dowd.5 The concept grew out of Stuckey’s observation that craft spirits and cocktails strengthened the bonds within his own friend group, which he sought to recreate for a wider community.3

The distillery opened its tasting room in the Crossroads and built a reputation on its artisanal gins. In 2022 it was named Missouri Gin Distillery of the Year at the New York International Spirits Competition, where its Supernova Navy Strength Gin earned a Double Gold (a unanimous-panel rating) and its Bold Gin earned a Gold.34 Around that time the distillery announced plans to expand distribution to additional states and grow its whiskey portfolio.3 Lifted Spirits remains an independent, locally owned operation with no corporate parent.13

See also

Sources

Footnotes

  1. Lifted Spirits Distillery — official site (home / tasting room) — https://www.liftedspiritskc.com/ — accessed 2026-05-31 (concept, address, tasting-room hours, contact, independent operation). ↩ ↩2

  2. Lifted Spirits Distillery — official site, spirits / about — https://www.liftedspiritskc.com/spirits — accessed 2026-05-31 (gin/vodka/whiskey/absinthe lineup, tasting-room concept). ↩ ↩2

  3. KCUR — “Lifted Spirits was named the best gin distillery in Missouri. Now they’re expanding out of state” — https://www.kcur.org/arts-life/2022-10-30/lifted-spirits-best-gin-distillery-kansas-city-missouri-whiskey-crossroads — accessed 2026-05-31 (founder Michael Stuckey, founding 2016, NYISC awards, expansion, community philosophy). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  4. Kansas City Magazine — “Kansas City’s Lifted Spirits Distillery Wins Missouri Gin Distillery of the Year” — https://kansascitymag.com/kansas-citys-lifted-spirits-distillery-wins-missouri-gin-distillery-of-the-year/ — accessed 2026-05-31 (Missouri Gin Distillery of the Year; Supernova Double Gold; Bold Gold). ↩ ↩2

  5. Old Liquors Magazine — “Get Your Spirits Lifted in Kansas City | Lifted Spirits Distillery” — https://www.oldliquorsmagazine.com/get-your-spirits-lifted-in-kansas-city/ — accessed 2026-05-31 (President Kyle Claypool; head distiller Michael Stuckey; mixologist Jason Dowd; grain sourced from Wellsville, KS; first KC absinthe). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

See also

Categories
  • Locally owned
  • Crossroads