Great Lakes Distillery – Resume for Whisky Enthusiasts and Investors

History

• Great Lakes Distillery was founded in 2004 by Guy Rehorst; Wisconsin's first post-Prohibition distillery and is described as Wisconsin's original distillery.

• The distillery is located in Milwaukee and is described as a pioneer in Wisconsin's Craft Spirits industry.

• Established as part of the vibrant Midwest culture with a focus on craft, locally sourced ingredients, and storytelling through the beverages.

• The company highlights a long-term commitment to environmental responsibility and community engagement as a central part of its identity.

Production

• Uses two small copper pot stills in production.

• Production emphasizes in-house fermentation and distillation as well as maturation in oak-barrel-aged finishes (53-gallon new American oak barrels for bourbon and rye; various finish histories in some products).

• Focus on local ingredients, where wheat for vodka and fruits for brandy often come from Wisconsin farms; a large portion of the business operates within roughly 100 miles of the facility.

• Green initiative: Bottle Conservation Program (buy-back program since 2010) to reduce bottle manufacturing and energy use; the company also mentions reuse of packaging and local suppliers as well as using excess heat for heating and other energy-efficiency measures.

• Community and sustainability philosophy: a building partially underground for energy savings; waste management and composting (Yuppie Hill Farm) and local procurement with a strong regional sales focus.

Whisky Products

Below are the whisky-related products, selected and explicitly mentioned in the material. Price information is not always given in the text.

• Still & Oak Straight Bourbon Whiskey

• Still & Oak 6yr Bourbon

• Still & Oak Bottled-In-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey

• Dirty Helen Barrel Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey

• Still & Oak Touch of Honey Whiskey

• Still & Oak Amburana

• Still & Oak Black Friday Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Imperial Stout Beer Barrels

• Still & Oak Straight Rye Whiskey

• Still & Oak 6yr Rye

• Still & Oak Bottled-In-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey

• Dirty Helen Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey

• Repeal Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey

• Kinnickinnic Whiskey

• Still & Oak Smoked Malt: Straight American Single Malt Whiskey

• Still & Oak Smoked Malt: Straight American Single Malt Whiskey #2 (RELEASE DATE 12/9/25)

• Still & Oak Smoked Malt: Straight American Single Malt Whiskey #1 is noted as sold out, and is thus also part of the listed whiskey lineup.

• Pumpkin Seasonal Spirit (Whiskey-like, seasonal product distilled by the distillery from Lakefront Pumpkin Lager and aged in oak; seasonal releases each year around Harvest Fest)

Note: Some of the above products have specific release dates noted in the text (for example RELEASE DATE May 21, 2025 for Still & Oak Straight American Single Malt; RELEASE DATE 12/9/25 for Smoked Malt #2; Black Friday releases announced 11/28/25 and 12/5/25 for other seasonal releases).

Tasting Notes

• Still & Oak Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Aroma of roasted grain and spiced wood; palate of corn, vanilla and honey; finish with caramel and roasted peanuts.

• Still & Oak Straight Rye variants: Still & Oak Straight Rye Whiskey – aroma of toasted rye bread, candied sweet potatoes, gingerbread, curry and tarragon; mid-palate with fruity notes and finish with caramel, dark chocolate, rosemary and peanut butter.

• Dirty Helen Barrel Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Nose with vanilla and corn; palate dominated by charred oak, roasted malt and sweet corn.

• Amburana: Hint of spice cake and cinnamon; complex herbs and spices such as cloves and thyme give a unique character.

• Black Friday Straight Bourbon (Finish in Imperial Stout finish): Nose of roasted grains and aged wood; palate of chocolate and caramel.

• Kinnickinnic Whiskey: Slight haze and pale amber sheen; notes of butterscotch/caramel, brown spices and chocolate with oatmeal-like notes; clean finish with hints of mocha and granite-like tones.

• Still & Oak Smoked Malt: Straight American Single Malt Whiskey #1 and #2: Smoky notes and peat-tinged malt; #1 described as toffee, roasted almonds and dried fruit; #2 (12/9/25) highlights layers of smoke, peat, chocolate and coffee.

• Pumpkin Seasonal Spirit: Notes of cloves, nutmeg, candied ginger and a hint of pumpkin; flavor profile notes a whiskey-like experience with caramel and spice.

Events and News

• Copper Still Society: Annual membership program with free bottles, exclusive events and special cocktails; 2026 benefits announced and available from Black Friday (11/28); membership is limited.

• Harvest Fest Block Party & Pumpkin Seasonal Spirit Release: Annual event where the Pumpkin Seasonal Spirit is released; limited edition bottles.

• Release dates and seasonal releases in 2024–2025:

• RELEASE DATE: May 21, 2025 – Still & Oak Straight American Single Malt Whiskey.

• AVAILABLE 12/9/25 – Still & Oak Smoked Malt #2.

• AVAILABLE 12/5/25 – Repeal Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey (5-year aged).

• AVAILABLE 11/28/25 – Black Friday Straight Bourbon Finish in Imperial Stout Finish (Limited).

• Several older limited releases and private party options are mentioned as part of the product portfolio (for example, Hibernation Series and KK releases).

• Tours and visitor experiences: Guided tours include the distillation process and full tastings; tours last about an hour; walk-in tickets are available in limited quantities daily; opportunity to purchase products in the on-site retail shop during the visit.

• Distributor information: Wisconsin distributors listed (Capitol-Husting and Allstate Liquor & Wine Co.) for the region.

• Private events and parties: Availability of private tours and rental of spaces in the production and tasting rooms; Still & Oak's location and West Allis ordinances.

Company Philosophy and Values

• Quality and craftsmanship are at the core: Timeless traditions and craft, paired with modern expertise, to create exciting and characterful spirits.

• Innovation and interpretation: Product development includes unique finishes (Amburana, Imperial Stout finish, Zinfandel/wine finish, milk stout finish, cognac finish, etc.) and hibernation series; experiments with non-traditional ingredients and layered flavor profiles.

• Local focus and sustainability: Use of Wisconsin-grown grains and local ingredients; focus on keeping production and distribution within a short distance; environmentally friendly measures such as Bottle Conservation and recycling/waste management.

• Community and experience: Tasting rooms, guided tours and private events help build a community around the distillery and its products; Copper Still Society emphasizes the community aspect and appreciation of customers and partners.

• Responsibility and ethics: Not only quality but also sustainability and social engagement (donations to local organizations and partnerships) are part of the business philosophy.

(This summary is based purely on information from Great Lakes Distillery's website texts in the specified sections and linked pages.)