Pour Ready Release Party This Thursday!

Crafthouse & Kitchen

On this year’s 414 Day, we will honor Milwaukee and bring to life the distillery’s “Crafted to Gather” mantra when co-founders Evan Hughes and Pat McQuillan host a release party for their new Pour Ready Premium Cocktails, the first-ever line of craft, Midwest-made ready-to-pour cocktails.

“There’s no better way to honor and celebrate all that Milwaukee is than by raising a glass of a new locally-made product,” McQuillan said. “On 414, every Milwaukeean is a VIP and we can’t wait to unveil our first two Pour Ready Premium Cocktails to the world right here in our hometown.”

The release party will be at Central Standard’s Crafthouse & Kitchen, 320 E. Clybourn St. in downtown Milwaukee, on April 14 from 4 – 6 p.m. At the event, there will be a free toast of the first two cocktails in the new product line, the Pour Ready Door County Cherry Vodka Lemonade and the Pour Ready Door County Cherry Vodka Mule.

“For us, there is so much to celebrate this April 14 – Warmer weather, the return of baseball to Milwaukee, locally-crafted cocktails, and of course, finally being able to offer everyone in Milwaukee a taste of our new Pour Ready Premium Cocktails,” Hughes said.

With the launch of the Pour Ready Premium Cocktail line, Hughes and McQuillan are out to elevate the booming ready-to-drink category by adding a handmade, locally craft twist.

“Our new Pour Ready Premium Cocktails are true game-changing products,” McQuillan said. “We aren’t just unveiling a great tasting new beverage, we are introducing a whole new category to the industry: Ready to Pour Craft Cocktail. Think of our new Pour Ready Premium Cocktails as the convergence of ready-to-drink convenience with the handcrafted quality and elevated ingredients you’d receive from a veteran bartender at our Crafthouse here in Milwaukee.”

The Pour Ready products honor Central Standard’s commitment to support local Midwest organizations. Each bottle is handcrafted in Milwaukee with our famous Door County Cherry Vodka, sourced from cherries right in Door County, Wisconsin. The Pour Ready Door County Cherry Vodka Lemonade is made from 100% organic lemon juice and botanicals, and the Pour Ready Door County Cherry Vodka Mule combines Central Standard’s Door County Cherry Vodka with organic ginger juice and lime juice. It’s a perfect blend of ginger spiciness with the cool refreshment of cherries and lime.

Pour Ready Premium Cocktails from Central Standard Distillery are 15% ABV, 30 proof and will hit retail shelves starting in April. Each 750-ml bottle makes about four cocktails. We have also created 1.75L unbreakable bottles to ensure you don’t run out of Pour Ready at your tailgate, beach, or backyard party.

“They’re smooth, balanced and refreshing, no matter the weather or time of year,” Hughes added. “We can’t wait for folks to come out to the Crafthouse on Milwaukee Day for a free first taste.”

Photo credit – John Magnoski Photography

Get your North Brandy Old Fashioned with your Friday Fish Fry at these fine locations and supper clubs across the state

North Brandy

So man new locations! Is your favorite on the list? If so, head down, grab a Central Standard based cocktail and thank the bartender, manager or owner for bringing us on!

3RD STREET MARKET HALL
ALPINE VALLEY RESORT
BALISTRERI’S BLUEMOUND INN
BEACON TAVERN + GRILL
BONOBO AMERICAN BISTRO
BUTTERMINT-FINER DINING+COCKTAILS
COCOS SEAFOOD + STEAKHOUSE
CORNER HOUSE ON THE LAKE
CRAFT BEER CELLAR-PEWAUKEE
CRAFTY COW
CRAFTY COW-HOT HEAD FRIED CHICKEN
CUP O JOE
DIPLOMAT
DRUNKEN COBRA
FLYNN’S
FORK + TAP
GENEVA INN-GRANDVIEW RESTAURANT
HOTEL METRO
LAKE TICHIGAN’S HILLTOP BAR+RESTAURANT
LAUGHING TAP
LEGENDS
LEVY AT BUCKS ARENA
LOWCOUNTRY
MAXWELL MANSION
MILWAUKEE MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN
NATTY OAKS PUB + EATERY
NEW HORIZONS SPORTS BAR + GRILL
OMEGA FAMILY RESTAURANT
OSCAR’S PUB AND GRILL
PALOMINO BAR
PARKSIDE 23
PIER 290
POTAWATOMI CASINO
PRITZLAFF
Q
RED OAK RESTAURANT
REGANOS
SAFE HOUSE
SAINT KATE-THE ARTS HOTEL
SAN CAMILLO
SKIPPY’S SPORTS PUB
SPANKYS SPORTS BAR AND GRILL
LAKE CITY SOCIAL RESTAURANT AND PUB
TAYLORS
TIED HOUSE
TOFTES TABLE
TRANSFER
TUPELO HONEY CAFE
TWISTED CUISINE
WATERFRONT WAREHOUSE
WESTIN MILWAUKEE
WICKED HOP
CAFE CENTRAAL
MARCI’S ON MAIN
NORTH 48
NORTH 48 LAKE COUNTRY INC
SPORTCLUB NOMAD
THIRD COAST PROVISIONS

Brewmaster Series To Return

Brewmaster Series

To say the Brewmaster series was a hit is an understatement. We are actively working with breweries both big and small to bring the next great things to you our customers. You will be the first to know, before the products are even released. Look for the next Brewmasters Series to come out in the second quarter of 2022, with additional releases coming in Q3 and Q4.

AMANS BEER + WINE
ANTIQUE LIQUOR
ANTLERS SPORTS BAR AND GRILL
AYRA’S – FRANKSVILLE
AYRA’S LIQUOR+CIGAR
BEACON
BOTTLE SHOP OF GRAFTON
CHAMPPS
CONSUMERS OUTLET BEV CENTER
COSTCO WAREHOUSE
CRAFT BEER CELLAR – PEWAUKEE
DISCOUNT LIQUOR
FOX BROS PIGGLY WIGGLY – PORT WASH
HARTFORD WINE + SPIRITS
HY-VEE STORE
JEFF’S SPIRITS ON MAIN
MARKETPLACE – RICELK
MARKETPLACE – STCRXFALLS
MARKETPLACE – MENOMONIE
MCKNIGHT + CARLSON – OSHKOSH
METCALFE MARKETS
MUSKEGO WAREHOUSE BEER + LIQUOR
NORTH 48 LAKE COUNTRY INC
OAKEN HOGG
OCONOMOWOC LAKE CLUB
OLSEN’S PIGGLY WIGGLY
PEPIS PUB AND GRILL
PIGGLY WIGGLY – CEDARBURG
PIGGLY WIGGLY – SAUKVILLE
RAY’S WINE + SPIRITS
RIDGEVIEW LIQUOR
SAUSAGE PLUS
SENDIK’S
TIMERS #2 BEVERAGE CENTER
TOSA LIQUOR
TOTAL WINE
VILLAGE WINE + LIQUOR
WINE CELLAR
WOODMANS FOOD MARKET – GREEN BAY
WOODMAN’S FOOD MARKET – ALTOONA
WOODMANS FOOD MARKET – WAUKES

Brewmaster Series #2 – Toppling Goliath Barrel Aged Brandy In Assassin Barrel Aged Stout

Toopling Goliath

Our Brewmaster series rolls on with the next incarnation of the Toppling Goliath collaboration, this time featuring the Central Standard North Wisconsin Brandy aged in Toppling Goliath’s Assassin Barrel Aged Stout barrels.

Batch #1 was created by aging our already-delicious North Wisconsin Brandy an additional month in barrels previously used to create Toppling Waters stout.

Central Standard’s Toppling Goliath Barrel-Aged Brandy will be available in a limited supply at retailers in Wisconsin and Iowa. The first Brewmaster Series batches sold out faster than expected forcing the Central Standard team to pay visit to the Toppling Goliath brewery to pickup more and get it bottled for public consumption.

About the Brewmaster Series:

We live in the Brewers’ hometown, so we thought from a business perspective it was only natural to embrace Milwaukee’s great brewing heritage and launch a series of collaborations with brewmasters from across the Midwest.

Central Standard’s Toppling Goliath featured in Forbe’s “Holiday Gift Guide 2021: The Best American Brandies To Celebrate The Holidays”

Toopling Goliath

We’re always humbled to be included in “best of” lists but for our limited edition Toppling Goliath Brandy to be featured in a the Forbes “Holiday Gift Guide 2021: The Best American Brandies To Celebrate The Holidays” list was a whole new level of appreciation. The list included eight excellent picks of American Brandy’s which you think you should definitely checkout, after your bottle of Toppling Goliath Brandy.

ABOUT TOPPLING GOLIATH

Launched as part of our Brewmasters Series, this brandy is aged in barrels that previously held Toppling Goliath stout, from the famed Iowa brewing company, and before housing beer, the barrels were filled with maple syrup. This flavor combination imparts a subtle espresso aroma with hints of chocolate, caramel and just the slightest maple syrup finish. This Milwaukee-based distillery also makes a delicious North WI brandy, which is aged for at least two years in oak barrels before getting finished in bourbon barrels.

Central Standard hosts Zizzo Group’s annual #donutsmackdown

Donut Smackdown

The Zizzo Group’s #donutsmackdown held at our Mix event space on  featuring 16 area business executives who tried to be the fastest to eat six donuts. The champion was Joe Zizzo in an amazing 1:01, beating the defending (and one-time wonder) champion Jim Kanter by 44 seconds. The group of execs raised more than $56,000 for the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, led by the hard-working David Caruso, who was the top fundraising exec.

Congrats to Anne Arentsen Zizzo, her team and all the participants, who did an amazing job again this year for a great cause at the expense of their stomachs, including Gaulien Smith, Kate Schlesinger, Dan Jessup and Karen C Hung.
(photos courtesy of Mark Kass)

Winner’s Crowned At “Old Fashioneds Up North” Competition

Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioneds Up North in Eagle River Wisconsin is held at Eagle Waters Resort. After a two year hiatus, the 2021 competition over 300 attendees with over 30 contestants competing to take home the crown of the of the Traditional and Twisted categories.

Central Standard was the proud sponsor of the event providing both Red Cabin Bourbon and North Wisconsin Brandy. It was a great event to attend and support we will definitely be back for 2022.

Traditional Winner:

Pike's Pine

Pike’s Pine Isle Lodge
Jim Pike and Josh Pike

Twisted Winner:

Blue Heron

Blue Heron Restaurant
Adrian Adams and Shannon Stapleton

Hello Iowa – Find Us Select IA Hy Vee’s

Hy Vee

We’re proud to now be carried by select Hy Vee’s in Iowa. This is just the start but because of your love and demand for Central Standard products retailers are stocking us up on their shelves. Look for more announcements about increased availability in Iowa soon!

High Demand Means A Trip To The Source

Toppling Goliath

When we launched our first Brewmaster’s Series with Toppling Goliath creating the Toppling Goliath Barrel-Aged North Wisconsin Brandy earlier this month we had no clue how popular it would be! To make sure we had plenty of supply on hand for our loyal lovers of this limited release Brandy we headed to the source to go grab some more (and maybe a few TG pints!).

Make sure to grab a bottle while supplies last at our Crafthouse & Kitchen tasting room, Costco and select Milwaukee locations.