The Nebraska sun sets over waving cornfields, painting the sky in hues of amber gold. It is a fitting backdrop for a drink as distinctly Nebraskan as Golden Sheaf Bourbon, a pre-Prohibition brand brought back to life.
In Omaha, serial entrepreneur Shawn Ilg shares how his work in banking, law and real estate expanded to include the revival of a whiskey once woven into Nebraska’s history. What began as curiosity soon grew into a mission to restore a brand lost for more than a century.
“I got involved with something really special,” Ilg says. “Golden Sheaf is one of the state’s best-kept secrets.”
Golden Sheaf Bourbon started in 1866, a year before Nebraska became a state, and quickly became a major tax revenue driver for Nebraska. With deep ties to Omaha’s stockyards, the company’s whiskey flowed through the region and beyond. But when Prohibition arrived in 1920, the brand met an untimely end. Unlike some distillers that switched to making medicinal whiskey, Golden Sheaf refused to pivot and allowed the brand to fade away.
For Ilg, rediscovering the Golden Sheaf name was about more than launching a product. He saw a chance to restore part of Nebraska’s heritage and create something future generations could be proud of. Reviving the brand meant honoring its history while adapting to the tastes of modern bourbon drinkers.
Today, Golden Sheaf is produced as a small-batch, artisanal whiskey that combines craftsmanship with innovation. The team sources high-quality spirits and ages them in distinctive barrels, sometimes including red wine and maple syrup casks, to produce a portfolio of unique bourbons and ryes.
Each bottle carries a smooth flavor profile that reflects both tradition and creativity. Ilg is especially proud of the partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Co. in Kentucky, which has helped Golden Sheaf earn national recognition through awards and reputation. The partners are now working on bourbon made from scratch and products at varied price points.
Golden Sheaf is also building community around bourbon. In Omaha, the brand’s new event center, located south of 144th and Center Streets, hosts weddings, trainings, corporate gatherings and monthly invite-only networking events. With a tasting room and space for up to 85 guests, it has become a place where people can share stories and raise a glass.
“It’s about bringing people together, like Nebraska always has,” Ilg says.
Looking ahead, Ilg is focused on promoting Golden Sheaf as Nebraska’s bourbon and a reason to expand the Bourbon Trail. A 10-year plan developed with Bardstown includes expansion into different states and partnerships with regional food producers. The vision is for Golden Sheaf to become a brand synonymous not just with bourbon, but with Nebraska pride.
Ilg’s own story adds depth to the bourbon’s revival. His career has spanned technology, banking, law, movie production and real estate, but Golden Sheaf is the project that blends his business expertise with personal passion. And while he speaks with enthusiasm about the whiskey’s future, his greatest pride remains his family. He describes his grown children, Michael and Amanda, as independent and driven, though with a laugh he admits, “Sometimes they even listen to me.”
Golden Sheaf is more than a drink. It is a revival of history and a love letter to Nebraska, blending heritage, heart and craftsmanship in every pour. Like an amber sunset over the plains, it is warm, authentic and deeply tied to the good life the Cornhusker State embodies.
For more information about Golden Sheaf Bourbon, visit goldensheaf.com.