Wisconsin Distilleries Guide: Northwoods Spirits Worth the Drive

Northwoods Spirits: A Guide to Wisconsin Distilleries Worth the Drive from Prentice

Wisconsin drinks beer. That’s the reputation, and it’s earned. We have more breweries per capita than any other state. But the distillery scene in the Northwoods is quietly doing something more interesting: making vodka, gin, and whiskey from the same grains and water that make the beer so good.

Here are the distilleries worth the drive from Prentice, what they make, and which bottles to bring home.

The Distilleries

Northern Waters Distillery, Minocqua (1 hour north)

What they make: Vodka, rum, gin, bourbon, whiskey. All crafted with Northwoods water and Wisconsin-grown grains, fruits, and botanicals.

The bottle to buy: Northern Waters Bourbon. Small-batch, aged in their facility in Minocqua. If they have their seasonal fruit spirits (cherry, cranberry), grab those too. They’re made with real Wisconsin fruit, not flavoring, and they’re limited releases that sell out.

Visit: 6167 US-51, Minocqua, WI 54548. Tasting room open year-round with live music on Thursdays. Dog-friendly. Lakeside patio in summer. northernwatersdistillery.com

Great Northern Distilling, Stevens Point (50 minutes south)

What they make: Vodka, gin, bourbon, brandy. All grain-to-glass from Wisconsin-grown grain.

The bottle to buy: Great Northern Bourbon. It’s young (they’re still working on aging), but the white whiskey. Unaged bourbon straight off the still. Is clean, corn-sweet, and mixes into an Old Fashioned that makes you understand why Wisconsin drinks more Old Fashioneds per capita than any other state.

Visit: 1011 2nd Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481. Mixology bar and tasting room open Wed-Sat. greatnortherndistilling.com

Old Sugar Distillery, Madison (2 hours south)

What they make: Rum, gin, aquavit, brandy. The only distillery in Wisconsin making aquavit. A Scandinavian spirit infused with caraway and dill that makes perfect sense in a state shaped by Norwegian immigration.

The bottle to buy: Old Sugar Honey Liqueur. Local honey, distilled and blended in Madison. Sweet enough to sip, complex enough to mix. It’s what you pour someone who says they don’t like liquor.

Visit: 931 E Main St, Madison, WI 53703. Tasting room open Saturdays at 1:30 PM. oldsugardistillery.com

The Northwoods Old Fashioned: Why Local Spirits Matter

At Ripsaw Saloon, we make our Old Fashioneds with Wisconsin brandy because that’s how Wisconsin does it. Sweet, muddled, with a cherry and an orange wheel. The spirit matters more than people think.

A Wisconsin Old Fashioned made with mass-produced brandy tastes like sugar with an alcohol burn. Made with craft Wisconsin spirits, the same drink has depth. The grain comes through, the barrel notes complement the bitters, and the whole thing tastes like it was made by someone who cares about what’s in the glass.

Our advice: pick up a bottle of Great Northern Bourbon or Northern Waters Bourbon, bring it home, and make an Old Fashioned the Wisconsin way. Muddle the cherry and orange with a sugar cube and a dash of bitters. Add 2 oz of good Wisconsin spirit. Top with Sprite (sweet) or club soda (sour). Drink it slow.

The Wisconsin Distillery Trail

If you’re making a weekend of it, here’s a route that hits all three distilleries:

• Day 1: Prentice → Minocqua (Northern Waters, 1 hr) → back to Prentice via Ripsaw Saloon for dinner
• Day 2: Prentice → Stevens Point (Great Northern, 50 min) → continue south to Madison (Old Sugar, 2 hr)

The full trail is a long weekend. But even one distillery visit is worth the drive. You’ll taste the difference that Wisconsin grain and Wisconsin water make, and you’ll bring back a bottle that you can’t find at any liquor store in the state.

See also: our 48-hour Northwoods itinerary, our summer events calendar and our signature Wisconsin Old Fashioned

Frequently Asked Questions

What distilleries are near Prentice, Wisconsin?

Several Wisconsin distilleries are within driving distance of Ripsaw Saloon, 1117 Railroad Ave, Prentice, WI 54556. Central Wisconsin’s craft spirits scene has grown significantly, with distilleries in Wausau, Stevens Point, and the surrounding region producing bourbon, gin, and brandy.

Does Ripsaw Saloon serve local Wisconsin spirits?

Ripsaw Saloon, 1117 Railroad Ave, Prentice, WI 54556 pours Wisconsin-made brandy in their Old Fashioneds — the Rail is $4.50 and the Double is $7.50. Supporting local distilleries is part of the northwoods bar tradition.

How far is Prentice from Wisconsin’s distillery trail?

Prentice is centrally located for day trips to several Wisconsin distilleries. Ripsaw Saloon, 1117 Railroad Ave, Prentice, WI 54556 at 1117 Railroad Ave makes a good starting point or ending stop for a northwoods spirits tour.

Can you tour distilleries near Price County?

Yes, several distilleries within 90 minutes of Prentice offer tours and tastings. According to 2026 visitor guides, most require advance booking on weekends and offer flights of their spirits.