Central Standard Kicks Off Milwaukee Rooftop Season May 11 with Live Music and New Pour Ready Bourbon Smash Cocktails

 

Central Standard Distillery Co-Founders Evan Hughes and Pat McQuillan contend if you own a rooftop, open it and now. To officially launch the rooftop season here in Milwaukee, Hughes and McQuillan will host local musician Joe Wray for a special happy hour acoustic set on the Central Standard Crafthouse & Kitchen rooftop, 320 E. Clybourn St. in downtown Milwaukee, May 11 from 5-7 p.m.

“While Pat and I love tailgate, lake house and hunting seasons, our No. 1 favorite time of year in Milwaukee is rooftop season,” Hughes said. “There is nothing better than gathering good friends, drinking craft cocktails and enjoying live music outdoors on a great rooftop in our city.”

McQuillan and Hughes recently announced the expansion of their successful Pour Ready Premium Cocktail line with the addition of Lemon Honey Bourbon Smash and Peach Bourbon Smash Cocktails. Both are made with Central Standard’s award-winning Red Cabin Bourbon. The new cocktails join the original cocktails in the lineup of Pour Ready Door County Cherry Vodka Lemonade and the Pour Ready Door County Cherry Vodka Mule as the cocktails served atop the Crafthouse & Kitchen rooftop.

“While our Pour Ready Premium Cocktails are perfect atop our rooftop, the best part is folks can also enjoy them at home or wherever they make their own drinks,” McQuillan said. “With all four of our Pour Ready Premium Cocktails, there’s no peeling, measuring or shaking needed, simply pour them over ice for the perfect cocktail every time. It’s like having a bartender in every bottle.”

The new cocktails hit retail shelves starting in April and all four come in unbreakable 750-ml and 1.75L bottles to fit any occasion.

Along with enjoying Pour Ready Premium Cocktails May 11 on the Crafthouse rooftop, local legend Joe Wray, a Milwaukee-based acoustic guitarist, will play from 5-7 p.m. as sunset draws near over the Crafthouse view of the Milwaukee skyline and Lake Michigan.

“On May 11, we’re officially launching the rooftop season at the Crafthouse & Kitchen,” McQuillan said. “We can’t wait to get folks – Pour Ready Premium Cocktail in hand – up on our roof to enjoy the 360-degree views of the city and the lake. It’s truly a unique spot, especially in summer, here in Milwaukee.”

The Midwest’s First Urban Distillery & Restaurant

In August 2019, Hughes and McQuillan opened the Crafthouse & Kitchen, the Midwest’s first new urban distillery and restaurant. The distillery’s new home, complete with a tasting room, tour operation, restaurant, private-events space and rooftop patio, replaced the formerly vacant Wisconsin Leather Building, which was built in 1874 and remains one of the oldest structures in downtown Milwaukee. In addition, the 11,700-square-foot, three-story Crafthouse & Kitchen houses a 100-gallon pot still that will produce all spirits served and sold on site.

Central Standard: Your Local Midwest Craft Distillery

Central Standard Craft Distillery, a small batch, craft distillery in Milwaukee and the fastest growing top-10 Wisconsin-based distiller, handcrafts award-winning spirits from locally sourced ingredients. Founded in 2014, Central Standard spirits have won 40 medals across multiple categories for their craft distilling.

“For us, it’s not about the awards or accolades,” McQuillan explained. “It’s about making the best-tasting craft spirits with the finest ingredients that bring to life the outdoor lifestyle of the Midwest.”

Central Standard’s portfolio of premium spirits* includes Red Cabin Bourbon, Door County Cherry Vodka and North Wisconsin Brandy. Door County Cherry Vodka is a blend of Central Standard’s award-winning 100% handcrafted vodka infused with Door County cherries, which are mellowed with a touch of local-harvested, fresh honey. North Brandy, which is handmade in small batches and aged for a minimum of two years, is finished in Central Standard bourbon barrels.

Red Cabin Bourbon is aged to perfection and then finished in California Cabernet wine barrels. Thanks to the red-wine-barrel-finishing, Red Cabin Bourbon – which won a Gold Medal at the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits competition in 2019, delivers a complex-yet-approachable taste.

“When you think of our entire lineup – Door County Cherry Vodka, North Brandy and Red Cabin: They’re all perfectly handcrafted for enjoying here in the Midwest or wherever your travels take you,” McQuillan concluded.  

*You must be 21-years-of-age or older and a fan of great craft cocktails to enjoy. Please drink responsibly.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.