Central Standard Craft Distillery will shut down production at the state’s largest distillery.
But that shutdown will only be for one day in celebration of Brandy Old Fashioned Day across Wisconsin.
The Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen at 320 E. Clybourn St. will remain open.
On Sept. 22, Central Standard co-founders Evan Hughes and Pat McQuillan along with their team will travel across the state to surprise local establishments with free Brandy Old Fashioned cocktails. It’s all with a key goal “to encourage Wisconsinites across the state to request hand-crafted brandy from local, family-owned distilleries whenever they order a Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned cocktail.”
Hughes and McQuillan worked with Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers to make Sept. 22 Brandy Old Fashioned Day and September Brandy Old Fashioned Month. Thursday also marks the start of the fall season.
“Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Day is all about showcasing and connecting Wisconsinites with great local distilleries,” Hughes said in a press release. “Here in Wisconsin, the spirits industry supports more than 39,000 jobs from family farmers and truck drivers to glass-bottle makers and those in the hospitality industries. In all, Wisconsin distilleries impact billions of dollars in economic activity each and every year in our state.”
The Central Standard team will also continue its work to create the inaugural class of the Brandy Old Fashioned Hall of Fame, which will be displayed at the Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen in Milwaukee. Nominations are accepted through Sept. 30. A panel of judges will select the hall of fame winners, which will be announced in mid-October.
These hall of fame inductees will receive a year’s supply of Central Standard North Wisconsin brandy, a custom bottle of North Wisconsin brandy and lifetime VIP status at Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen. The hall of fame inductee will also have his or her photo displayed in the Brandy Old Fashioned Hall of Fame in the Founders’ Room of the Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen.