WHAT/WHERE – You are standing in the main dining room of the Distillery restaurant. This is a full-service restaurant specializing in creative American cuisine with an exceptional cocktail and wine program. The restaurant seats approximately 150 people including the Pearson Event Room in the back section of the building. Reservations can be made on open table. Toward the front of the building is out gift and bottle shop, please feel free to browse our wide selection of products all available for carry out.

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HISTORY – Records show the stable was built in 1836 presumably at roughly the same time John Kugler was beginning construction on the Mill Street distillery (220 Mill Street) and the corn warehouse at 224 Mill Street which is still standing today. Historical accounts describe the stable as being used for various functions over the years including a horse stable, parking for wagons and buggies and later vehicles. It has also been used in numerous forms as a barroom and one source even cites evidence of it being used as a "bordello" although no independent verification has been found. Most recently the stable was home to a coffee shop.

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CONSTRUCTION – In order to create the opening you see between the stable tavern and the main dining area the stone wall had to be removed. The process to remove the wall included reinforcement of the corners and then excavation until the ground under the wall destabilized. All at once the wall dropped into the excavated foundation leaving nothing but a pile of individual stones with no mortar. The original mortar used was clay so it disintegrated to dust during the collapse making the reconstruction of the shorter walls that lead into the corners much easier since there was no mortar to clean. The glass tower is approximately forty feet tall and was positioned in order to showcase the vodka column that is mounted on the lower level. The railing around the column provides a vantage point to see into the distillery production area on the lower level. 

 

FUN FACT – All of the decorative wood cladding was reclaimed from the service wing of the building which was demolished during construction. All of the heavy wood tables were milled down and assembled from the beams and columns in the service wing. Riverside Cabinets, a division of Michaelson homes just two blocks from here milled all of the wood and built the tables.