Wauconda entrepreneur takes corn whiskey out of the back woods

David Cunningham of Wauconda aims to take the production of corn whiskey to new levels, just as craft beer became a growing industry in recent years.

Cunningham is the founder of Wondertucky Distillery and Bottling Inc. on East South Street in Woodstock and he has just bottled his first batch of corn whiskey, called Wondertucky Shine, and filled about 250 cases.

For a carpenter turned entrepreneur, Cunningham said it's taken a couple of years to see his dream materialize after dealing with government processes and enlisting investors. But it was worth it, he said.

"It's a different product than what you'll find with the bigger distillers," said Cunningham, 49.

With a change in federal laws a few years ago, he said such small distilleries like his could produce whiskey to commercially compete with the likes of Jim Beam and Jack Daniels.

Cunningham then raised about $250,000 with a group of investors, including those from Barrington, Crystal Lake and Woodstock, and began selecting the location for the new business.

He originally wanted to open the distillery in Wonder Lake, which influenced the company name and label. But later, he selected a facility in Woodstock that better fit their needs. He bought state-of-the art equipment, but it sat idle for about a year until he cleared federal, state and local licensing requirements, he said.

"We set up the equipment, but weren't running it yet, so it was almost like unwrapping a Christmas present when we could start," he said.

The legal craft distillery goes beyond the old-time image of a backwoods still. Cunningham said he brings the product to a new level by buying locally sourced grain and other ingredients and closely watches every stage of the process.

"It is a more smoother product in its most natural, purist form," he said.

He offers four kinds of Wondertucky Shine in 80, 90, 100 and 120 proof. The cases are awaiting finalized deals so Elk Grove Village-based Stoller Wholesale Distributing of Illinois can ship them to retail stores, he said.

Next Cunningham envisions building an adjacent bar and grill that could showcase the Wondertucky drink.

"There's a lot of passion that goes behind all of this, especially for a small craft distiller," he said.

Sweet smell of success

Karen Paquin of Arlington Heights, is the new full-time horticulturalist at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center in Oak Brook. She will oversee the sustainable ecology program that starts on Earth Day, Wednesday. The grounds include 150 acres of certified Audubon cooperative sanctuary and the Championship Willow Crest Golf Club.

FastTracks

Sandra Pierce, president of Phoenix Woodworking in Woodstock, and Terri Greeno, president of Crystal Lake and North Kane County Express offices were among those who listened to noted speakers actor Dan Aykroyd, "Shark Tank" co-star Daymond John, and From Homeless to Harvard author Liz Murray. They appeared at the annual retreat for Rosemont-based Express Employment Professionals, an international staffing franchise with locations in Crystal Lake and North Kane County.

Olavi Göös, Chicago honorary consul of Finland, Arlington Heights Mayor Thomas W. Hayes, Nokia Networks vice president for quality and others were at the debut of Nokia's remodeled offices at 1455 W. Shure Drive in Arlington Heights. The facility now has a new open office environment with a state-of-the-art energy efficient labs.

Arlington Heights resident Michael Lundeen has been named a principal at Legat Architects in Chicago. Lundeen has been with Legat for about 20 years. ... Robert A. Musacchio has joined the American College of Chest Physicians in Glenview as senior vice president of business development and chief operating officer of CHEST Enterprises Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Chest.

•There's more to business than just the bottom line. We want to tell you about the people that make business work. Send news about people in business to akukec@dailyherald.com. Follow Anna Marie Kukec on LinkedIn and Facebook and as AMKukec on Twitter.