You’ve likely heard of Tennessee whiskey, Appalachian moonshine and Kentucky bourbon. These spirits represent the character and heritage of their regions, with distinct recipes passed down through generations. But perhaps lesser known is Pennsylvania’s own The Wilds Sonshine Factory, a spirit made from sunflower seeds in Kane, PA. It is the only spirit of its kind in the world, and reflects the splendor and artisanal legacy of the Pennsylvania Wilds.
Owner David Conklin was farming barren agricultural lands and growing sunflowers for animal feed when the idea for sunflower spirits first struck him. He connected with some fellow farmers and buddies to hash out a recipe and, soon after, The Wilds Sonshine Factory was born.
We spoke with Taylor McConnell, General Manager, who shared more about the innovation behind this incredible distillery and gathering place.
Earning Superlatives
“We’re the only distillery in the world to make a spirit out of sunflowers,” says McConnell. “The trademarked product is called Sonshine.”
By acquiring a trademark, Conklin and his team established a uniquely regional brand. In the way that Tequila can only be from Mexico, and Scotch whiskey can only hail from Scotland, Sonshine can only be produced with sunflowers in the Pennsylvania Wilds region.
The initiative appealed to the local PA Wilds tourism board, which joined forces with Conklin and his team to enrich and promote the Sonshine brand identity. Its support enabled The Wilds Sonshine Factory to expand from one small building to a large complex with an agricultural education center, event venue, gift shop and a one-of-a-kind tasting room.
“The tasting room actually has the world’s longest table made from one piece of wood,” McConnell says. “It’s Eastern Hemlock, which ties right back into our PA-based theme as the Pennsylvania state tree.”
Local artisanal touches abound at The Wilds Sonshine Factory. When COVID-era supply chain issues disrupted its original construction plans, the company’s investors rolled up their sleeves. “The investors are local tradesman,” explains McConnell, “and they did about 90% of the work. We’ve got a landscape architect, a hardscape guy, a construction and an excavation guy. One is involved in the timber industry. So, the investors’ fingerprints are all over the facility. It really showcases not only their talents, but local products and local materials. All of the wood is from local counties, dried and processed nearby. We were already PA-proud, but we ended up making our whole facility fit with that theme, too.”
Sonshine products help highlight the spectacular Pennsylvania Wilds, known for vast forests, winding waterways, starry night skies and rural craftsmanship. As a partner, the PA Wilds Center receives royalties, which go towards tourism and economic development. McConnell says, “Purchasing a bottle of Sonshine is an investment right back into promoting our region.”
From a germ of an idea to a one-of-a-kind, full-scale operation, Conklin and his crew have certainly established a special product and destination. “He’s a ‘go big or go home’ kind of guy,” McConnell says.
The Sonshine Products
Making spirits from sunflowers is a cool idea, but required a serious learning curve to actually accomplish. While most distilled alcohol is made with grain, like wheat, corn or rye, Sonshine is made with hard-shelled sunflower seeds. “So, we had to tinker with the recipe a little bit,” says McConnell. While grains break down easily in the distilling process, sunflower seeds became sticky, gumming up the equipment. “We had to modify and fabricate a lot of it, kind of innovating the way we distill sunflower in order to produce a spirit.”
The Wilds Sonshine Factory now produces a range of double-distilled spirits, including Sonshine Original, Hunt Camp Whiskey and a variety of flavored Sonshines, like black raspberry, root beer and white peach.
Like other spirits, the Sonshine line is quite versatile, whether enjoyed straight or in a variety of mixed drinks. “You can use it as a base. If you have a recipe that uses vodka, Tequila or white rum, Sonshine can fit right into it,” says McConnell. “One of the most popular cocktails is a Sonshine margarita. You can use the original for a typical lime margarita, or any of the flavored Sonshines for sweet, sour or citrusy twists.” She says Camp Whiskey sours and highballs, mixed with ginger ale and a splash of cranberry, are also fan-favorites.
While the original and whiskey lines are very popular overall, McConnell says, “What’s creeping up, threatening to take the top spot is our Root Beer Sonshine.” It can be sipped straight, or made into a specialty drink. “The root beer float cocktail has really taken off. It’s Root Beer Sonshine with root beer pop and a little bit of heavy cream. It has a White Russian vibe and tastes like a root beer float.”
As the company grows and evolves, so does its product line, with new flavors added over time.
The Experience
The Wilds Sonshine Factory is a destination. Tucked in amidst unspoiled natural areas and public lands, and near historic, charming downtown Kane, it offers numerous experiences all its own.
Visitors can tour the facility and learn about natural resources and agriculture in the Agriculture Education Center. Interactive displays reveal information about sustainability and food systems. The artisan gift shop carries swag you can only buy there, including logo wear, local photography and wooden bowls, with all proceeds going to St. Jude.
Pull up a seat at the famed 43.5-foot hemlock slab bar in the tasting cave and sip on some of the Sonshine products. You can grab a bottle to go for gift-giving, or for adding to your home bar collection.
The main event at The Wilds Sonshine Factory happens later in August with the annual Sunflower Festival and Car/Bike Show. Held on August 22 – 24, 2025, it’s an epic, family-friendly throw-down with the spectacular sunflower fields as a backdrop. McConnell says, “We’ve got live music all weekend, with different bands running simultaneously on two stages. It was packed last year, with 30-some vendors offering everything from tumblers to jewelry and art. We had a live chainsaw carver, different educational organizations, a handful of food trucks with even more this year. We’re adding in some different kid activities with trucks and tractors. We figured we had close to 7,000 people over three days at our 2024 festival and we’re aiming to match or beat that this year. We just keep adding new things, trying different ideas and learning as we go.”
To toast Pennsylvania artisanship and check out this one-of-a-kind place yourself, head to The Wilds Sonshine Factory at 3480 Route 6, Kane; (814) 837-8083. Learn about its Sunflower Festival here, and follow WSF on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know!
- Photos: The Wilds Sonshine Factory
