Review: Great Lakes Distillery Tour in Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin is known as The Brew City and thus has many breweries to tour. However, if you are looking for something a little different, or do not like beer, consider touring the Great Lakes Distillery instead. As Wisconsin's first distillery since prohibition, distilled spirits are made by hand here in small quantities.

The Distillery is located at 616 West Virginia Street in Milwaukee. Tours are offered on Monday through Thursday and Saturday at 2 and 4PM. They also occur at 2, 4, and 6PM on Fridays. The Tasting Room is open Monday through Saturday from noon to 6PM. The tours last 45 minutes and are free to the public. If you would like to taste some of their products, a $3 fee will get you three samples to try. The brewery is easy to get to from the center of the city so you will not waste part of your vacation searching for it out in the suburbs.

While people are often familiar with the way beer is made, this tour is different in that it explains the processes that go into making vodka, rum, and gin. Our tour guide seemed genuinely excited to have us there and was very knowledgeable about teaching us this history of these different types of alcohol. The company is run by five men out of a small warehouse, so they are very familiar with everything that goes on in their business. While the tour only goes through one room of the warehouse, the information provided is interesting enough that you do not really feel the need to see more.

Great Lakes Distillery also makes and sells Absinthe and will be more than happy to tell you the story behind it.

If you have visited any of the upscale bars in Milwaukee, you will recognize the Rehorst gin and vodka from the Great Lakes Distillery. My favorite spirit was the pumpkin brandy because it was made from Lakefront Brewery's pumpkin beer. If you are interested in purchasing a bottle, they cost about $30 but you will receive a $3 discount for taking a tour and buying a tasting flight.

While the building is not very impressive from the outside, you won't be disappointed by the tour if you decide to give it a shot. It is a fun and interesting way to fill part of an afternoon while you are visiting the city of Milwaukee.