The Spirits are Restless!
Mike Shannon – President, Restless Spirits Distilling Company, LLC
Kansas City’s rich Irish history and Craft Distilling collide at Restless Spirits Distilling Company – the country's only craft distillery focused on the production of whiskies with an Irish flair.
Mike is a 5th generation Kansas City Native of Irish descent – his great-great grandfather Michael Joseph Shannon came to America from Ireland in 1853 settling first in Pennsylvania. Following the expanding Intercontinental Railroad as a laborer, Michael Joseph eventually settled in Kansas City by 1890, and the family has been in Kansas City ever since. Mike’s great-grand father Oliver Shannon owned a small company in KC known as Shannon Storage & Moving Company (see attached photo).
While born in KC, Mike moved with his parents to Colorado when he was 8. He attended the University of Colorado where he studied saxophone performance and business. There he met his wife Benay. They have been married 28 years, they have one son, one daughter and 2 grandchildren all living in the state of Missouri.
Mike is a long time brand and product development expert – having worked with well know brands including Bic, Newell Rubbermaid, H&R Block, and Avery-Dennison. He has international consulting experience and has facilitated the import of numerous products into the US market from the UK and Ireland.
Mike and Benay became interested in the emerging craft distilling industry in 2010. After a long journey of research and immersion into the distilling industry, they put pen to paper and developed a business plan for Restless Spirits Distilling Company. Funded through private equity, they began building the distillery in June of 2015. The distillery was built in a record 5 months and was operational in October of 2015. 12 months later, Restless Spirits is now distributing 2 whiskies, Vodka and an award winning Gin in 2 states and can be found on nearly 400 shelves at bars, restaurants, liquor stores and pubs in Missouri and Kansas.