Whiskey seems like a constant. You imagine that the bottle of Four Roses in your hands tastes the same as the one you bought last year, and will taste the same as the one you’ll buy next year. And for bourbons produced by the gigantic whiskey houses like Beam Suntory and Brown-Forman, that’s mostly the … [ Read more]
Duluth Whiskey Project launches line of flavored whiskeys, searches for its own distillery location
February 27, 2019 by
Anew spirits company called Duluth Whiskey Project released a trio of flavored whiskeys into the market in January. But while the products are new, the man behind it, founder and owner Kevin Evans, is anything but: Evans is a familiar face at Vikre Distillery, where he has helped with spirits production since Joel and Emily … [ Read more]
Craft Cocktail: Fleming Florey & Chain
May 29, 2018 by
For many drinkers who love a good whisky, the smokiest Scotches can still be challenging. When a distillery smokes their malt over peat moss, it can result in an intensity of flavor that’s hard to ignore. Unless, that is, you doctor it with some other intense flavors like ginger and lemon in a cocktail like … [ Read more]
The Mill: Book Club opens in Armatage
December 5, 2017 by
Book Club, a West Coast-inspired eatery led by restaurateur Kim Bartmann and chef Asher Miller, is opening today at the former home of Cafe Maude in the Armatage neighborhood of South Minneapolis. Miller, who has worked with chefs like Wolfgang Puck and Andrew Zimmern, is crafting a varied menu with everything from lemon herb chicken … [ Read more]
What We’re Drinking: November 2017
October 31, 2017 by
Welcome back to What We’re Drinking, wherein The Growler editorial staff look back on a recent remarkable beverage. What are you drinking, Growler Nation? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Brouwerij Rodenbach Rodenbach Alexander – Brian Kaufenberg, Managing Editor Each Thanksgiving, I search for a bottle of something special to share with my family members who aren’t beer drinkers. … [ Read more]
Spirits Close-Up: Aquavit
June 2, 2017 by
This month’s Craft Cocktail: Swedezerac at Fika uses anise-infused Skaalvenn Aquavit to complement to the fennel note that dominates the spirit, so for this month’s Spirits Close-Up we’re diving into locally-produced aquavits to learn more. Bourbon has Kentucky. Absinthe has New Orleans. But aquavit has no spiritual center in the United States. Minnesota could be on … [ Read more]
How to drink in the woods: Pro tips to elevate your beverage experience in the backcountry
April 26, 2017 by Leave a Comment
We’re approaching that glorious time of year when we shed what’s left of our winter layers and head north in search of fresh air and open spaces. What’s an adventure trip without some delicious drinks to enjoy after those long, summer days? We talked to some Duluth-based experts who shared their recommendations on the best … [ Read more]
The Barrel Brokers: How one couple found themselves at the center of Minnesota’s barrel trade
October 31, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Duluth Barrel Works owners Jon and Erin Otis never envisioned becoming “barrel brokers.” Yet today, they does just that for nearly every brewery in the Twin Ports area, including Bent Paddle and Thirsty Pagan, as well as Dangerous Man in Minneapolis. When Jon and his wife Erin purchased their first oak barrels eight years ago, … [ Read more]
Vikre releases Sugarbush Whiskey Lot 3
September 9, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Whiskey aficionados can raise their glasses to a new release of a Minnesota-made whiskey. Duluth’s Vikre Distillery is releasing Lot 3 of their Sugarbush Whiskey today, Friday, September 9. This is the third time the distillery has released Sugarbush; the first lot was released November 2015, while the second was made available in April 2016. And even though each version … [ Read more]
Vikre Distillery releasing second batch of Sugarbush Whiskey
March 22, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Vikre Distillery is set to release their second batch of Sugarbush Whiskey. The spirit, predominantly corn-based, and aged in port casks and bourbon barrels that once held maple syrup, had its first batch released last November. On Friday, April 1st, Vikre will open at 2pm, and bottles will be sold until 10pm that evening, with … [ Read more]
The State of Minnesota Whiskey
November 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The Minnesota craft-distilling scene is looking to find its place in the geography of whiskey. With a handful of distilleries now past that two-year mark, it’s nearing the time for many to make the jump from barrel to bottle and start bringing aged spirits to market. Adrian Panther of Panther Distillery in Osakis believes Minnesota’s … [ Read more]
Vikre Distillery to Release First Whiskey November 20
November 4, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Vikre Distillery has announced that their Sugarbush Whiskey will debut on November 20 in select liquor stores as well as their Canal Park headquarters. Sugarbush is Vikre’s first whiskey, made from 60% flaked corn, 25% barley and 15% rye. Those ingredients suggest a bourbon, but a maple-inflected aging process makes it wholly unique: “It’s shorter aged … [ Read more]
The Creepiest Cocktail of them All
October 22, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Emily Vikre knows a thing or two about cocktails. She is, after all, one half of Vikre Distillery, in Duluth. She’s also a contributor to Food52, and recently came up with a cocktail perfect for Halloween. Witch’s Brew combines gooey boba tea tapioca pearls, mint, chartreuse, and gin—as well as a few other ghoulish-looking ingredients—for … [ Read more]
Craft Distillery Bottle Sales Start Friday in Minnesota
June 26, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The rise of craft breweries and cideries in Minnesota has coincided with a renaissance of craft distilleries throughout the state. There are 14 microdistilleries currently in operation (or soon to be). But unlike taprooms, which can sell their beer directly to customers in growlers, distilleries were unable to sell bottles of their liquor on site. Until … [ Read more]
Craft Cocktail: Emily Vikre’s Norsk 17
May 26, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Emily and Joel Vikre started their Duluth, Minnesota, distillery after Emily had an epiphany New Year’s Eve 2012. She and Joel were at the Kitchi Gammi Club with her parents, and the conversation turned to the history of Swedish whiskey. At one point, Emily’s mom said the Swedes were sick of hearing the Scottish distillers … [ Read more]
