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Did you know that the Heaven’s Door brand of whiskies features a “Highway 61 Blend” of straight whiskey? We knew that Highway 61 brought us to God’s country but to Heaven’s Door? The WCTU was sure that whiskey was the door to hell.
Although bottled in Tennessee, the label says “blended by Ace Spirits” of Hopkins, Minnesota. (Son David introduced me to Ace Spirits—wall-to-wall distilled spirits, with the majority being an uncountable number of whiskeys of all kinds.)
The Heaven’s Door website says that these blends were “co-created” with Bob Dylan. Dylan says, “I wanted to create a collection of American Whiskeys that, in their own way, tell a story. I’ve been traveling for decades, and I’ve been able to try some of the best whisky spirits that the world has to offer. This is a great whiskey.”
Perhaps our local Muni liquor store will be able to stock the Highway 61 Blend?
The product name caused me to think about local sources of the devil’s brews. So here is what my visits and the internet poured forth for me.
There appear to be one and one-half distilleries on the North Shore. Vikre Distillery in Duluth’s Canal Park shares space with Duluth Whiskey whose founder was originally part of Vikre. You pay some more for these handcrafted libations., but I can say that Vikre provides a pleasant stop for a tasting flight with charcuterie. There are about 38 distilleries in Minnesota, ten north, five south, and 23 in the Twin Cities. Distilleries in Minnesota. Northern Minnesota, Southern Minnesota, in and near Minneapolis St. Paul, — Minnesota Distillery)
I found only one winery in the Minnesota Arrowhead—North Shore Winery located at 202 Ski Hill Road on the east side of the road leading to the Lutsen Ski area. Our family enjoyed a delightful narrated wine tasting. Minnesota has nearly 100 winery locations. The next closest to us is the Wine Tyme Winery in Superior. You can also find wineries in Bayfield and Cloquet.
But, if you want a brewery to take you to heretical heaven, Highway 61 can help you. In Grand Marais, we all know of Voyageur Brewing Company and The Gunflint Tavern. Near Two Harbors is the Castle Danger Brewery and tasting room. UpState Highway #1 in Ely is the Boathouse Brew Pub.
One internet commentator says, “Minnesota’s craft beer renaissance has reached the shores of Lake Superior (where it should be said, Fitger’s has been making a stellar craft brew product for over a century). In Knife River, Borealis Fermentery is a Belgian monastery-inspired brewery that offers soft-spoken and lovely Belgian-inspired beers on draft and by the bottle at a number of locations in Duluth and beyond. In addition, Bent Paddle Brewing features a large and lovely taproom near downtown Duluth, and the city is now home to more than half a dozen breweries.” They include— Blacklist Brewing Co., Hoops Brewing, Canal Park Brewing Co., Dubh Linn Duluth Restaurant and Irish Brew Pub, Carmody Irish Pub and Brewery, Brewfully Inspired, and Ursa Minor Brewing.
At a recent competition, Canal Park Brewing scored gold for its Trekker in the Belgian and Monastic Beer category. At the same time, Bent Paddle Brewing Company won gold in the Brown Ale and Porter category and took home the overall Best In Show award for its Roasty Toasty Porter. Consider the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild or the All Pints North craft beer festival for more information.
If you want to get to your spirituous heaven without driving so far, there are several liquor stores, including the Muni in Grand Marais and the Lutsen Liquor store, as well as Munis in Silver Bay and Two Harbors. And if you are in Duluth to see your favorite medical specialists, there are about 11 stores there and more in Superior, Wisconsin.
Whatever you do, do not accept a Googled suggestion that the Beaver Bay Club will sell you beer or ale or brew either for you. While the internet will give you an address and phone number for that Club, there is no there there—just well-to-do folk seeking anonymity next to the shores of our Lake.
Whichever door to alcoholic heaven you choose, remember to drink responsibly and use a designated driver so that your trip to heaven’s door is virtual and not actual.
Steve Aldrich is a retired Hennepin County lawyer, judge, and mediator, serving as judge from 1997-2010. He and his wife moved here in 2016. He likes to remember that he was a Minnesota Super Family Lawyer before being elected to the bench. Now he is among the most vulnerable to viruses. Steve really enjoys doing weddings, the one thing a retired judge can do without an appointment by the Chief Justice. Bouquets and brickbats to the editor or stevealdrich41@gmail.com. Copyright Stephen C. Aldrich and News-Herald, 2022
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