Photography by Sarah Reeves
A once-forgotten orchard is now the heart of a small-batch distillery in Baldwin City
The apples growing in the orchards at Baldwin City Distillery are more than they first appear. The same holds true for the passionate people who transformed this overgrown, neglected farm into a spirited sanctuary.
As one of Kansas’ few micro distilleries, Baldwin City Distillery has carved out a niche with its crop of heirloom apples, which they pick and ferment into apple brandy.
“Not many people know about apple brandy,” says Glynis Murphy, the distillery’s founder, president and owner. “There are a million and one whiskeys, vodkas, tequilas and rums, but you don’t see apple brandy often.”
The orchard grows 47 different varieties of heirloom apples for making their brandy, giving each batch a unique flavor. Visitors can sip brandy cocktails in the two-year-old distillery’s tasting room or take home a bottle of their own.
Just south of Baldwin City, this picturesque property catches the eye of passersby with its tidy orchard, idyllic pond and classic red barn. Amy Adamson, who lives just down the road, visits often. “It’s a place to go to be social, and it’s not showy or in the middle of everything,” she says. “It just feels comfortable. Everybody is there to just relax and enjoy.”
The small-batch operation started as the dream of Glynis and her husband, Rory Murphy. Glynis grew up in India, in a family of distillers, and came to the University of Kansas on a scholarship from an Indian philanthropy to earn her master’s degree. She later completed a PhD in communicative disorders from Wichita State University. At KU, she met Rory, a psychiatrist. They married and raised two children in Overland Park before facing an empty nest.
“We didn’t want to get sucked into a sedentary lifestyle,” Glynis explains. “We started looking for farmland where we could work with our hands, enjoy nature, plant apple trees and distill.”
After five years of searching, they found a property “with character,” Glynis says. Uncovering it, however, proved difficult. The sturdy two-story farmhouse suited Rory’s psychiatric practice and later became the couple’s home, but the overgrown acres were a different matter.
“There was an abandoned apple orchard on the land, but we couldn’t see even one tree until we finally stumbled upon one in the brambles,” Glynis remembers. “Thrilled about our discovery, we worked in our free time to clear the unruly grove.”
They saved a few original trees and planted 1,500 heirloom apple trees of their own. “We researched root stock, tree heights and which would grow in Kansas, then amended the soil,” she says. “Some of our varieties date back to the 1800s, and each has a wonderful story.”
After securing their distiller’s license, the couple tested their product in 2023 with small test runs. But tragedy struck that summer when Rory passed away, bringing the project to an abrupt halt. Glynis took six months off to weigh her next steps.
“Ending the distillery is not what Rory would have wanted, not after putting so much time, effort and love into this beautiful farm,” she says. So she decided to carry on.
In 2024, Glynis hired master distiller Daryl Kleitz, whose two decades of experience helped her turn the dream she and Rory shared into reality. She also enlisted Jim Langford, the former Hallmark art director, to design the bottle labels.
“Glynis and I are an excellent team,” Kleitz says. “We’ve worked closely to create 30 products within two years.”
The distillery now sells bottles on-site and in 32 Kansas liquor stores. Recent brandy releases include cinnamon-vanilla and jalapeño, as well as a peach-vanilla liqueur. Beyond brandy, the distillery makes rum, agave, vodka and bourbon whiskey.
On warm days, guests can stroll the grounds with a drink in hand. On cooler days, they can find a cozy seat indoors. Although the distillery doesn’t serve food, brand ambassador Katie Wooge notes that local pizzerias and restaurants deliver.
“It’s a tranquil and peaceful experience,” says patron Susan Schiffelbein. “The atmosphere is beautiful, and the drinks are yummy. Glynis is such a knowledgeable, gracious hostess.”
Expect a warm welcome at the door. “Glynis always greets me with a hug,” Adamson says. “The whole place is a gem, and Glynis is what makes it shine.”
baldwincitydistillery.com / 913.484.4045
