Crystal Rain Distillery traces its roots to a family recipe formulated in 1939 and reportedly served to soldiers during World War II. The Wheeling-based distillery opened in 2018 and built its reputation around Kristone Vodka, a six-times-distilled, certified organic spirit made from winter wheat and purified through platinum and silver filtration. The result is the kind of clean, smooth vodka that keeps picking up medals at major competitions. Beyond vodka, the lineup includes a handcrafted gin and a small-batch brandy, with whiskey in the pipeline. The tasting room is a 2,500-square-foot space with floor-to-ceiling views of the distillation floor, which gives you something to look at while you taste. If you want to see where craft spirits fit in the Chicago suburbs, Crystal Rain makes a solid case for Wheeling.