Great Lakes Distillery

In keeping with our theme of taste testing alcoholic establishments, Jackie, Kathy and myself recently checked out the Greats Lakes Distillery, located on 6th and Virginia in Milwaukee.

Great Lakes Distillery opened in 2004 and is Wisconsin's first distillery since prohibition.  We visited on a Saturday, where they have tours at 12, 1, 2, 3pm and taste testing on the half hour.  Since we arrived just before 1:30 pm, we did the taste testing first, then did the free tour.  Tasting costs $3.00, they collected our money, handed us a glass and it began.
Now, I know nothing about drinking alcohol straight, give me some rum with coke, brandy with 7up, or vodka and orange juice, that is what I would enjoy, so I wasn't really sure what I would gain from this taste testing.
First they poured Rehorst Premium Vodka, then Citrus Honey Vodka which is made with Wisconsin honey.  Strong stuff

Then on to Rehorst Premium Gin, made with sweet basil and Ginseng.
Next their rum, Roarin Dan's Rum, with Wisconsin's own pirate on the label.  Dan Sievy (sorry I am not sure of the spelling)..known for his piracy on the Great Lakes.  This was not as strong as the vodka and gin, and I was actually able to take a bigger sip.
Then on to Absinthe, a green version and a rouge version.  126 proof, (yeah, now is the time to laugh), and is served to us mixed with water.  It has a licorice taste, and the rouge was a bit milder.
Just a for your information, when I said they poured us samples, I am talking about an ounce maybe, and though many people in the tasting with us treated their sample like a shot, we were slight sippers only.
On to the tour:
 In 1920 prohibition started, making it illegal to make liquor in the hopes of stopping people from drinking, but there still was homemade brews, or moonshine that was made.  Some foreign made spirits came around this time, like Russian vodka.  Prohibition ended in 1943.  In 2004 Great Lakes Distillery was established and is similar to a Micro Brewery.  The tour director explained how Vodka is made.   It starts with active fermentation.  They use local ingredients whenever possible, and making a good mash is crucial to the outcome of a good vodka.

Then the kettle, or "Pot Still" raises the temperature, alcohol vapors go up the pipe, the coil circulates and cools, evaporation starts, condensation at the end.

 The more times the mash is distilled, the better the separation.  This distillery feels three times is typical.   The first liquid removed through condensation is called the heads, and the last cycle's  is called the tails.  Water is added and then it's bottled.  A batch makes about 700 bottles.  This is a very brief description but I hope you get the picture.
There were 27 people in our tour group, and most of them went to the bar as they walked in and ordered a drink first.  Most do the tour first and then the tasting, but we like being different.  We were always in the same room, just moved from the fermenting vat, to the still and then to the storage area.

Here the tour person explained that rum is stored in the barrels to add color and the oak flavor.  Whiskey is aged in barrels for 2 to 3 years.
Overall, it was fun, and in our opinions, an unusual type of tour.  We probably didn't appreciate the tasting as much as some do, but it was a good time.  They also have a small store, but none of us purchased anything.