Gin · Wisconsin
Gin Distilleries in Wisconsin
Tour 7 gin distilleries in Wisconsin. Each offers visits, tastings or experiences you can book directly — including Great Northern Distilling, Central Standard Craft Distillery, 45th Parallel Distillery.
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About gin distilleries in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's gin makers tend to think the way the state's farmers do: locally, seasonally and with a stubborn pride in what grows here. Many distilleries work grain-to-glass, building a neutral base spirit from Wisconsin-grown grain before redistilling it with juniper and a botanical mix that often nods to the surrounding landscape, whether that's orchard fruit, foraged herbs or a softer, more floral profile suited to the long northern summers. The result is a category that ranges from crisp, classic London Dry styles to gentler, contemporary gins where citrus and spice lead and juniper plays a supporting role. Across the seven distilleries gathered here, you'll find gin treated as a serious craft rather than a sideline to whiskey. Great Lakes Distillery in Milwaukee was the first to open in the state since Prohibition and helped set the template; New Richmond's 45th Parallel followed soon after with grain-to-glass spirits including a well-regarded gin. Add Central Standard, Driftless Glen, Door County, Dancing Goat and Great Northern, and you have a tasting trail that rewards curiosity and a designated driver.
What makes gin here special
The defining trait of Wisconsin gin is its connection to place. Because so many distilleries grow or source their grain locally and distil it themselves, the base spirit carries real character before a single botanical is added. From there, makers lean into a regional larder: Door County is cherry country, the Driftless area to the southwest is rolling, spring-fed farmland, and the northern counties bring foraged and orchard influences. You'll notice the spread in styles too. Some houses, such as 45th Parallel and Great Lakes Distillery, produce clean, juniper-forward gins that work beautifully in a martini or a simple tonic. Others, including Great Northern Distilling in Stevens Point and Central Standard in Milwaukee, explore contemporary recipes where citrus peel, coriander and softer aromatics share the spotlight. Driftless Glen, working grain-to-glass in Baraboo, applies the same precision to its gin that has earned its whiskeys wide recognition. The through-line is that these are small-batch spirits made by people who can tell you exactly where the grain came from.
What to expect from a gin tasting
Most Wisconsin distilleries pour gin as part of a flight rather than on its own, so a visit usually means tasting several spirits side by side. A typical session begins with the base vodka or neutral spirit, which lets you appreciate the grain before the botanicals enter, then moves through one or more gins and often a whiskey or two. Staff will usually walk you through the botanical bill and may let you nose the raw juniper and citrus. Many sites, such as Driftless Glen and 45th Parallel, pair tastings with a full tour of the still house, and several have restaurants or cocktail bars on site where you can try the gin properly built into a drink. Expect tastings to be informal and conversation-led; this is a community where the founder or distiller is often behind the bar. Pours are small by design, and most venues will happily make you a cocktail afterwards so you can judge the gin in its natural habitat.
Planning your visit
Wisconsin gin distilleries are spread widely, so it helps to plan around a region rather than try to see them all. Milwaukee gives you the easiest cluster, with Great Lakes Distillery and Central Standard both in the city and walkable to food and drink. For a countryside outing, the Baraboo and Driftless area around Driftless Glen pairs naturally with Devil's Lake State Park and the Wisconsin Dells. Up north, Great Northern in Stevens Point and 45th Parallel near the Minnesota border in New Richmond suit a road trip, while Door County Distillery rewards anyone already heading to the peninsula. Check tour days and times before you go, as smaller producers often run tastings only on certain days and may take groups by appointment. Always arrange a driver or rideshare, and consider visiting in the warmer months when tasting rooms, patios and the surrounding scenery are at their best.
Frequently asked
- Which Wisconsin distilleries are known for gin?
- Great Lakes Distillery in Milwaukee, one of the state's pioneers, and New Richmond's 45th Parallel both have well-regarded gins, while Central Standard, Driftless Glen, Door County, Dancing Goat and Great Northern all distil their own. Styles range from classic juniper-forward to softer contemporary recipes.
- Is Wisconsin gin made from local ingredients?
- Frequently, yes. Many distilleries work grain-to-glass using Wisconsin-grown grain for the base spirit, and several draw on regional botanicals and orchard fruit such as Door County cherries. The local sourcing is a point of pride across the scene.
- Can I tour the distilleries as well as taste the gin?
- Most offer guided tours of the production area alongside tastings. Sites like Driftless Glen and 45th Parallel pair a walk through the still house with a flight of spirits, and several have on-site restaurants or bars for cocktails afterwards.
- Do I need to book a gin tasting in advance?
- For larger sites, walk-ins are often fine, but smaller producers may run tastings only on certain days or by appointment, especially for groups. It is always worth checking each distillery's hours and booking policy before you travel.
- What's the difference between the gins I'll taste?
- You'll find a spread from crisp, juniper-led London Dry styles to gentler, citrus- and spice-forward contemporary gins. Tasting flights are designed to show this range, and staff will usually explain the botanical mix behind each one.
- Are the distilleries close together?
- Not especially. Milwaukee has the tightest cluster with Great Lakes and Central Standard, but others are scattered from Baraboo to Stevens Point, Door County and New Richmond. It's best to plan around one region per trip rather than chase them all at once.
- Can I buy gin to take home?
- Yes. Almost all the distilleries sell their gin on site, and buying directly is a good way to pick up bottles or limited releases you may not find in shops, as well as supporting the maker.