Rockford, 1931. The mob war is hot. Repeal is coming. And someone in this room has been killing witnesses.
Prohibition is dying. The mob war between Rockford’s rival families has kept the city on edge for years. Someone is dead. And a killer has been hiding in plain sight — using the chaos of the bootleg wars as cover for something far more calculated.
Tonight, the people who built this city, broke its laws, reported its scandals, and buried its secrets have all been called to the same room. Every faction has a reason to be here. Every faction has something to hide.
“The people in this room on September 26 will be real Rockford. The history is real. The whiskey is real. The murder — that’s ours.”
— TIM FORD, MASTER DISTILLER & HOST
Rockford, Illinois. September 1931. The Great Depression has hollowed out the city. The mob war between the Musso organization and the Giovingo brothers has kept Winnebago County in a state of nervous tension for three years. Five men have been found strangled in the past eight months. The killings don’t fit mob business — the method is wrong, the victims don’t connect, and nobody is looking too hard.
Tonight, a private dinner has been called at the establishment of Edmund Ford — a man positioning himself to open Rockford’s first legal distillery the moment Repeal passes. Every faction with a stake in the city’s future has been invited. The industrialists. The press. The civic machine. The mob. And somewhere beneath the noise of a city unraveling, a killer is in the room — and the one man who can expose everything is sitting at the table without knowing it.
Full event details — timeline, ticket tiers, and character information — will be released as September 26 approaches. Join the waitlist to be first to know when tickets open.
Barnstormer requests the pleasure of your company at their table.
Upon Your Arrival (Presented at the door as the evening’s business begins)
Estate Cucumber & Smoked Salmon on Pumpernickel From the fields of Grant View Heights Farm
Barnstormer Whiskey Chicken Liver Mousse A proper gentleman’s bite — spirit forward and unapologetic
The Gathering Table Set and waiting as Forest City’s finest take their places
An abundant spread of fine charcuterie, aged and smoked cheeses, composed bites, pickled provisions, seasonal fruit, and dark bread — assembled in the tradition of a Rockford table that has never wanted for anything.
Available throughout the evening
The Evening Supper Served at the appointed hour — for a limited time only
Pulled Pork | Chicken Marsala | Captain’s Beans Slow cooked with Barnstormer Whiskey and Cucumber Vodka — a house secret worth knowing Charred Butter Corn | Egg Noodles
Available 630- 730
All spirits poured this evening are estate crafted at Barnstormer Distillery 6969 S Main St, Rockford IL 61102
Aviator Club members receive early access and member pricing. Join the waitlist to be notified the moment tickets are available.
Aviator Club members — early access guaranteed. Not a member? Join at the bar or through your Barnstormer account.