Previous Spirits
Hibernation Series Batch 4
Kinnickinnic Whiskey Finished in Milk Stout Beer Barrels Since the humble beginnings of Great Lakes Distillery’s whiskey production, we have been laying select batches aside for an extended “hibernation.” Each batch features a unique cask finish and an extended aging period. We release batches every year as winter comes to an end and we look forward to the coming spring.
Batch 4 of this year’s exclusive, one-of-a-kind spirit is our Kinnickinnic Whiskey – a blend of straight bourbon and malt and rye whiskeys we produce at Great Lakes Distillery – rested in milk stout beer barrels.
Enjoy this fine, smooth crafted whiskey neat, on the rocks, or in your favorite cocktail.
- 100 proof | 50% ABV
- Limited to ~250 750ml bottles
Available beginning 2/29/24
Still & Oak Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Vanilla Porter Beer Barrels
Still & Oak Bare Bones is our flagship straight bourbon finished in Bare Bones Brewery’s vanilla porter beer barrels. The result is a harmonious blend of classic bourbon warmth with indulgent dessert-like nuances.
Silky and layered with flavors of caramelized brown sugar, creamy vanilla, and toasted oak, all beautifully balanced by subtle coffee and cocoa undertones from the porter beer barrels.
Enjoy this fine, handcrafted bourbon neat, on the rocks, or in your favorite cocktail.
NOTE: Not chill filtered. Some cloudiness or sedimentation may occur. Simply shake the bottle to disperse.
45% ABV | 90 Proof
Chicken Shack Straight Rye Whiskey
In conjunction with WMSE’s Chicken Shack Radio Show, Great Lakes Distillery will be releasing our 3rd batch of Chicken Shack Straight Rye Whiskey, a single barrel of our flagship straight rye whiskey, bottled at 91.7 proof, giving a polite nod to collaborator WMSE 91.7FM. A portion of each bottle sold benefits the anti-established radio station, WMSE 91.7FM.
100% fermented, distilled, and matured by Great Lakes Distillery in new charred 53 gallon barrels.
100% rye mash bill: 80% malted & 20% non-malted.
Distilled with Wisconsin-grown grain.
Aromas and flavors of rye toast, candied yams, gingerbread, caraway, and tarragon with a satiny, vibrant, fruity medium body and a peppery, complex, long finish with notes of caramel, dark chocolate, rosemary, and peanut butter finish. An herbaceous, rye-lover’s rye that boldly expresses the grain.
Non-chill filtered which may lead to cloudiness in the bottle, a light shake will disperse.
45.85% ABV | 91.7 Proof
Available beginning 6/1/2024
Hibernation Series Batch 5
Still & Oak Bourbon Finished in Zinfandel Wine Barrels Since the humble beginnings of Great Lakes Distillery’s whiskey production, we have been laying select batches aside for an extended “hibernation.” Each batch features a unique cask finish and an extended aging period. We release batches every year as winter comes to an end and we look forward to the coming spring.
Batch 5 of this year’s exclusive, one-of-a-kind spirit is our flagship Still & Oak Straight Rye Whiskey rested in Zinfandel wine barrels.
Enjoy this fine, smooth crafted whiskey neat, on the rocks, or in yourfavorite cocktail.
- 100 proof | 50% ABV
- Limited to ~250 750ml bottles
Available beginning 2/29/24
Still & Oak Hibernation Series Batch 3 – 2023
Since the humble beginnings of our Still & Oak Whiskey production, we have been laying select batches aside for an extended “hibernation.” Each batch features a unique cask finish and an extended aging period. We release batches every year as winter comes to an end and we look forward to the coming spring. This year’s exclusive, one-of-a-kind spirit is a unique blend of bourbon, rye and malt whiskeys rested in Baltic porter beer barrels.
Enjoy this fine, smooth crafted whiskey neat, on the rocks, or in your favorite cocktail.
- Our Still & Oak Straight Bourbon Whiskey aged in charred new oak casks with an additional 18 months aged in spent Baltic porter beer casks.
- Nose of brown sugar, toasted nuts, and stone fruit. Taste of roasted barley, Belgian candy sugar, chocolate, and cinnamon.
- Limited to 250 750ml bottles.
50% ABV | 100 Proof
Still & Oak Hibernation Series Batch 2 – Whiskey Finished in Old Vine Zin Casks
- Straight bourbon, rye whiskey, and malt whiskey blended and then aged an additional 18 months aged in spent Old Vine Zinfandel casks
- Makes for a rich sipper or a premium base for whiskey cocktails that call for a hint of fruit
- Limited to five hundred and sixty four 750ml bottles
- Rich & flavorful with notes of chocolate, dry wood, malt, walnuts, and a hint of dried fruit
50% ABV | 100 Proof
Still & Oak Hibernation Series Batch 1 – Straight Bourbon Finished in Cognac Casks
- Our Flagship Still & Oak Straight Bourbon aged in charred new oak casks with an additional 18 months aged in spent cognac casks
- Makes for a rich sipper or a premium base for whiskey cocktails that call for a hint of fruit.
- Limited to four hundred and sixty eight 750ml bottles
- Rich in flavors of plum, oak, brown sugar, toasted grains, and honey
50% ABV | 100 Proof
Menomonee Valley Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Released in late 2016 our very limited Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a very rare find.
This Bourbon is the oldest whiskey made and sold in Wisconsin at 7 years of age. The Bourbon was completely produced and aged at our distillery in Milwaukee.
The Specs:
Our Menomonee Valley Bourbon is a straight bourbon whiskey aged 7 years (8 summers) in 53 gallon barrels. It was produced from a mash bill of four grains including 52% corn, 30% rye, 6% wheat and 12% malted barley. It was bottled at 90 proof, only 1010 750ml bottles were produced from the four barrels produced. Get it while you can.
Testing Note:
Floral nose with hints of green apple. Vanilla, oak and walnut on the palate.
About Menomonee Valley:
Always productive, Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley was once a wetland cut by the Menomonee River where rice grew in abundance. Over the years it became a center of various endeavors including farming, railroading, and distilling. In 1882 there was a distillery on Menomonee Valley’s north bluff. Back then it was a lush valley with fresh water ideal for the production of whiskey and the cattle that devoured the distillery’s spent mash.
Today Milwaukee’s Menomonee valley is as productive as ever including, once again, a distillery – Great Lakes Distillery.
Menomonee Valley Bourbon recalls a time when whiskey was made in the valley over 100 years ago. We produced this bourbon shortly after we moved and we’re happy to share this limited run of history with you.
Contains 45% Alcohol by Volume (90 proof)
Porter Beer Finished Kinnickinnic Whiskey (SOLD OUT)
(Very Limited Release)
We took our award winning Kinnickinnic Whiskey and aged it in porter beer barrels for an additional 2 years.
While you may be familiar with beer aged in bourbon barrels, we decided to try a spin on this practice. We wondered what whiskey aged in beer barrels would be like? Delicious is the only word we can use to describe this whiskey.
The result is a smoother, richer and maltier Kinnickinnic Whiskey, with tasting notes of more honey than vanilla. The beer barrels are from Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Milwaukee Brewing Company. Using their Admiral Stache Baltic Porter Beer barrels. Only two barrels were produced making this a very limited release – so hurry into the distillery to try this special version of our award-winning whiskey!
45% ABV | 90 Proof
Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Finished “KK” Whiskey
Released November 17, 2017
We took our award winning Kinnickinnic Whiskey and aged it in Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels for 2 additional years. The result is a one of a kind Kinnickinnic Whiskey, with warm fruity notes coming at first taste from the wine barrel with a lingering fruit and caramel finish. This special Kinnickinnic Whiskey is aged in French oak wine barrels from Algoma, Wisconsin’s Von Stiehl Winery. These Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels empart a warm reddish hue, and delightful wine tasting notes into the whiskey. Only two barrels were produced making this a very limited release – so hurry this special version of our award-winning whiskey will not last long!
- Less than 550 bottles produced
- Exceptionally smooth, with warm undertones of wine
- Delicious rich fruity overtones
- Hints of caramel on the nose and finish
- Unfiltered to preserve maximum taste
(Note: Some cloudiness and/or sediment will occur, just shake bottle to dissolve. See Video )
45% ABV | 90 Proof
Amerique 1912 Blacksinthe
(Absinthe Noir)
Amerique 1912 Blacksinthe (Absinthe Noir) is an authentic absinthe hand crafted in small batches in our copper potstill. This special Fall 2017 limited release (only 459 bottles produced) pours a sinister rich black color. This dark coffee like color is achieved by a natural supplement call Black Catechu an extract made from the leaves and young shoots of Uncaria Gambier (Roxb.)
Absinthe Noir is based on a pre-ban recipe that is made with 16 botanicals including anise, grande wormwood (Artemesia absinthium) and fennel as well as a proprietary blend of specially selected botanicals. After distillation, more botanicals are infused in the absinthe giving it additional flavor. The botanicals that Amerique 1912 Blacksinthe provide are a complex range of tastes that start with anise then flow into spice, herb, bark or root flavors.
The special black bottle features a unique ink that will glow in the dark. This absinthe will be a great addition to any Halloween party and will be sure to add to the vibe of any noir based party you are throwing.“ on the “Amerique 1912 Blacksinthe
66.6% ABV | 133.2 Proof