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Minnesota Craft Distilleries Begin Direct Sales of Bottles to Consumers

Friday, June 26th at exactly 4pm, Wander North Distillery (NE Minneapolis), Du Nord Craft Spirits (South Minneapolis), and Vikre Distillery (Duluth) will become the first distilleries since prohibition to sell craft spirits directly to Minnesota consumers. The coordinated sale by Minnesota craft distilleries comes in the wake of state legislative changes, and actions taken by their respective municipalities, to allow Minnesota micro distilleries to sell bottles of their spirits directly to consumers.

Vikre Distillery Duluth Minnesota
Vikre Distillery

Progress made during the 2015 legislative session resulted in Governor Dayton signing a law allowing micro distilleries to sell one 375ml bottle per person per day directly to the public. The law removed a prohibition on direct sales that had been on the books since the mid-1930s. The Minnesota Distillers Guild sent members to St. Paul to explain the need for the law change.

“People were shocked when they came to our distilleries and learned that they couldn’t buy what we made,” said Shanelle Montana, co-owner of Du Nord and president of the Distillers Guild, “thankfully, state leaders agreed that this outdated law needed to change.”

The law change will move Minnesota craft distillers closer to parity with small breweries and farm wineries in the state. Larger bottle sizes and expanded days of sale are a few of the inequities that will need to be addressed in coming legislative sessions.

The idea for the coordinated sale was the brain-child of Wander North’s owner, Brian Winter, and Du Nord’s co-owner, Chris Montana. “This is a big step for micro-distilleries,” said Winter “this will allow the small craft guys to grow, create jobs, and give the people what they want.”

To commemorate the event Vikre Distillery is releasing their first aged product, Voyageur Cognac Barrel Aged Aquavit.

Wander North Distillery is located at 771 Harding St NE Suite 150 in Minneapolis 

Du Nord is located at 2610 East 32nd St in Minneapolis

Vikre Distillery is located at 525 Lake Ave S. in Duluth

Bottle sales will start promptly at 4pm, Friday, June 26th, at each location.

Related:

Chris Montana from Du Nord discusses the grand opening of Du Nord’s cocktail and their new cocktail club on the Minnesota BeerCast.

Du Nord, MNBeer, Craft Brewers Guild
Chris Montana – Du Nord, Ryan Anderson – MNBeer.com, Dan Schwarz – MN Craft Brewers Guild, Lift Bridge Brewery
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Dream Jobs

Still looking for that dream job? Several local companies are looking for qualified help. Don’t bother hitting Craigslist.org, we have the careers you want right here!

Sociable Cider Werks Taproom Bar | Northeast Minneapolis | Mn Beer Activists

 

Sociable Cider Werks

Nordeast Minneapolis fermenting mavericks Sociable Cider Werks is hiring for a Customer Service Rep/Delivery Driver.

For this position you’ll need a strong back and the ability obtain a CDL. Other job requirements include a clean driving record, weekend availability, and some inventory management.

Full details and application here
*Hint – Nobody beats Batman. Nobody.

 

 Nord Craft Spirits

Du Nord Craft Spirits is hiring a Production Assistant

A full-time position, the Production Assistant helps the Head Distiller with the day-to-day operations of the distillery. Duties include, but are not limited to, cleaning, mashing grains, setting up spent grain for farm pickup, distillation, errands, etc. The production assistant occasionally serves as a tour guide for Saturday groups.

Full details and application here

Castle Danger Brewery

Castle Danger Brewery is currently seeking Seasonal Part-Time Bartenders.

There are several open seasonal positions that run from the end of May – October.
Applicants should have craft beer knowledge and previous experience.

Full details and application here

Related articles across the web

Herkimer Brewpub

The Herkimer Pub & Brewery is currently accepting résumés for seasonal wait assistants and servers.

This Uptown Minneapolis nightlife mainstay is looking for people with positive energy, interest in craft beer and experience in high volume service. Résumé should include prior and current work history. Industry experience is required for all server positions and recommended for wait assistant positions.

Bring your résumé to The Herkimer, 2922 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408 or email

Related articles across the web

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Du Nord Craft Spirits Opens First Minneapolis / St. Paul Cocktail Room

Du Nord Craft Spirits, one of Minnesota’s first micro-distilleries, is now the first licensed cocktail room in the Minneapolis / St. Paul metro area. The cocktail room will open to the public on January 9, and will serve craft cocktails made using Du Nord’s Fitzgerald Gin and L’etoile Du Nord Vodka.

Du Nord Craft Spirits logoDu Nord’s cocktail room will feature craft cocktails ranging from the simple to the extravagant and feature local food. Du Nord worked with Mike Rasmussen (La Belle Vie, Marin, Bluestem Bar) to envision a cocktail menu that highlights Du Nord’s spirits through classic and new drinks. The cocktail menu will change with the seasons.

“We have something for everyone” said co-owner Shanelle Montana, “we’ve worked hard to do the classics well and create signature drinks you won’t find anywhere else.” Their location in the Hiawatha-Lake area of Minneapolis puts Du Nord in a ideal spot to work with local eateries and food trucks. Patrons will have plenty of food options to bring into or order to the cocktail room. “This area of Minneapolis is really taking off,” said co-owner and head distiller Chris Montana “we are surrounded by French, Indian, Ethiopian, Japanese, and American food, all of which go great with a cocktail.”

“We have something for everyone” said co-owner Shanelle Montana, “we’ve worked hard to do the classics well and create signature drinks you won’t find anywhere else.”

The cocktail room at Du Nord’s south Minneapolis location wasn’t possible before change to the law that allows micro-distilleries to sell drinks similar to how taprooms sell pints of beer. Prior to 2014, it was illegal to sell a cocktail directly to a consumer, micro-distilleries were mandated to only sell their products to distributors. “This is about common sense,” said Shanelle who is also President of the Minnesota Distiller’s Guild, “the cocktail room allows us to showcase our spirits the way most people consume them, but we have more work to do.” Minnesota law still prohibits micro-distilleries from selling bottles of their products to consumers, as well as operating a cocktail room on Sunday. Let’s hope this changes in 2015.

The ribbon cutting is scheduled for January 9th, at 4pm. After the ceremony Du Nord will be open for business. Get a look at their drink menu here. And, you can also listen to co-owner Chris Montana talk about the new cocktail room on the latest episode of the BeerCast.

Du Nord Craft Spirits
Cocktail Room
2610 E 32nd St #2
Minneapolis, MN 55406

Hours
Wednesday 4pm-10pm
Thursday 4pm-10pm
Friday 4pm-12am
Saturday 12pm-12am

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Du Nord Craft Spirits releases Fitzgerald Gin, asks Minnesota to decide final recipe

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Fitzgerald Gin hits store shelves, begins Du Nord’s community feedback program to decide “Minnesota’s Gin.”

 

Just in time for the late summer season, Du Nord Craft Spirits is releasing Fitzgerald Gin, Formula No. 1. Fitzgerald Gin, Formula No. 1, is a classic London dry style gin. Like any London dry style gin the lack of sugar lets the botanical elements impart most of the flavor and aroma. The traditional juniper flavor stands front and center in Fitzgerald Gin, Formula No. 1. It is supported by flavors of citrus, angelica root, and licorice root. The result is a gin that stands on its own, but is equally tasty in a bright summer cocktail. Gin and Tonic, anyone?

Fitzgerald Gin Du Nord craft SpiritsFitzgerald Gin, Formula No. 1, kicks off Du Nord’s unique quest to discover “Minnesota’s Gin.” Du
Nord will release three gin formulas for consumers to taste and judge. Each gin formula will be a different style. Formula No. 1 is a obviously a classic London dry. Formula 2 will be a new-world style that focuses more on herbs than Juniper. Formula No. 3 promises to be wild. Nothing is set in stone, but in co-owner Shanelle Montana says it may include hop oil. Visitors to the soon-to-open Cocktail Room will be able to sample each formula and vote for their favorite. The winning formula, to be chosen in spring of 2015, will be forever known as “Fitzgerald Gin” making Fitzgerald the first gin to be chosen by its consumers.

“We want to get the community involved,” said co-owner Chris Montana, “gin drinkers are particular about their style; what better way to find out what Minnesotans like then by letting Minnesotans choose?”

The release of Fitzgerald Gin, Formula No. 1, comes on the heels of L’etoile du Nord Vodka – Du Nord’s
first product – winning a Triple Gold Medal for taste at the 2014 Microspirits Awards in Beverly Hills. Like L’etoile du Nord Vodka, Fitzgerald Gin is hand crafted in small batches in the Minneapolis distillery, using grain from co-owner Shanelle Montana’s family farm in Ivanhoe, Minnesota.