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A roundup of Wisconsin-distilled spirits on our shelves — from rye out of Milwaukee to gin made 40 minutes north.
Wisconsin's brewing reputation gets all the headlines, but the state's craft-distillery scene has quietly become one of the strongest in the Midwest. Here's a tour of the Wisconsin distilleries on our shelves and what's worth your time.
Why Wisconsin distilleries are worth a look
Most local craft distilleries struggle with one thing: aging. Whiskey takes years before it's ready, and a startup distillery has to fund the front end before the first dollar comes back. The Wisconsin distilleries that survived have generally done one of two smart things — focused on fast-to-market gins and vodkas to fund the longer-aged spirits, or partnered with established names to share aging warehouses. The result is a scene with surprising quality at almost every price point.
Milwaukee & surrounds
Great Lakes Distillery — Milwaukee
Wisconsin's first post-Prohibition distillery (2004). They make a wide range — vodka, gin, rum, fruit brandies, and an excellent Kinnickinnic Whiskey. The brandy program is genuinely world-class and underrated. Their Rehorst Gin is a Milwaukee classic.
Central Standard Craft Distillery — Milwaukee
Younger but punching above its weight. Heritage Bourbon is approachable and well-priced. Their gin is solid in a martini, and they run a full tasting room that's worth the visit.
Twisted Path Distillery — Milwaukee
Organic-focused. The Organic Vodka and Organic Gin are both clean, character-forward bottles that hold up against any national brand. If you care about sourcing, this is the brand.
Beyond Milwaukee
State Line Distillery — Madison
The bourbons and ryes here have been getting serious attention from out-of-state buyers. State Line Bourbon is the calling card and worth seeking out.
Death's Door Spirits — Middleton
Made-in-Wisconsin, distilled with grain from Washington Island in Door County. Death's Door Gin is one of the most distinctive American gins on any shelf — heavy on coriander and juniper, with a citrus brightness. Their wheat vodka is also a sleeper.
Driftless Glen Distillery — Baraboo
If you have to pick one distillery to learn first, this might be it. Their Driftless Glen Bourbon and Single Barrel Bourbon consistently rate alongside national bourbons twice the price. Beautiful Baraboo location worth a road trip.
J. Henry & Sons — Dane County
Family farm-to-bottle whiskey. J. Henry Wisconsin Straight Bourbon uses heirloom red corn grown on the family farm, and you can taste the difference. It's pricier than mass-market bourbon but a different category of experience.
Yahara Bay Distillers — Madison
Strong gin and aquavit programs. Yahara Bay Gin has the kind of botanical balance that makes a martini sing.
Build a Wisconsin tasting flight
For a fun home tasting, line these up side by side:
- Gin: Death's Door + Rehorst (Great Lakes)
- Bourbon: Driftless Glen + State Line + J. Henry (this is the killer flight)
- Vodka: Twisted Path Organic + Yahara Bay
You'll learn more about Wisconsin distilling in one afternoon than reading reviews for a year.
Why we stock them
We stock Wisconsin distilleries because they're good and because the dollars stay close to home. When you buy a $40 bottle of national bourbon, the producer's share of that goes to a multinational spirits group. When you buy a Wisconsin bottle of similar quality at a similar price, the producer is sometimes a family business with five employees. That math matters to a lot of our customers.
Want a Wisconsin-only gift basket for an out-of-state friend? We do those — just stop in or message us with your budget and we'll build it.