Great Lakes Distillery

Great Lakes Distillery is Wisconsin's original craft distillery, founded in Milwaukee in 2004 by Guy Rehorst as the first distillery to open in the state since Prohibition. It pairs small-batch copper stills with locally sourced ingredients from regional farmers, producing vodka, gin, whiskey, Roaring Dan's rum, brandy, liqueurs, absinthe, and seasonal spirits alongside a non-alcoholic botanical option. Located on the edge of Milwaukee's Walker's Point neighborhood near the Menomonee Valley, just south of downtown, the distillery doubles as a gathering space for guided tours, tastings, and private events. Its tasting room features a copper-topped bar, seating with high-top tables, and an outdoor patio, while the working production floor, with spirit barrels and a pot still on display, can also be booked for private gatherings such as company happy hours, birthday parties, and family reunions. A retail area in the tasting room carries the full lineup of spirits along with glassware and apparel, and food service rounds out the experience for groups spending an evening among the stills.