Minneapolis' Tattersall Distillery Expansion Shifts To Wisconsin

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — After unsuccessful attempts to work with state officials for four years to have existing liquor laws changed, Tattersall Distilling announced Thursday that it will open a second production facility in destination distillery in Wisconsin in order to continue its operation in northeast Minneapolis.

Tattersall will open a 75,000 square foot facility in River Falls, Wisconsin this fall due to existing limits of how much liquor the company can produce, company officials said in a news release. In 2019, Tattersall’s production was on track to exceed Minnesota’s cap for production for micro-distilleries. Current state laws indicate that if a micro-distillery exceeds production of 40,000 proof gallons, they are unable to operate a cocktail room or sell products directly to guests, the news release said.

Tattersall and the Minnesota Distillery Commission has tried to work with state leaders to have the law changed, but as of now, the current limits remain in place. The new space in Wisconsin will include indoor and outdoor event space, an on-site restaurant and retail space and expanded production capabilities. The new site will focus on sustainability, the company said, and the move will allow Tattersall to maintain its current operations in northeast Minneapolis.

Jon Kreidler, Tattersall’s founder and CEO, said that the company has been looking to expand for the previous two years and had no choice to cross state borders to do so.

“Because of Minnesota’s restrictive liquor laws, to maintain our presence in Minneapolis, we were forced to look outside the state’s borders,” Kreidler said in the news release.

Tattersall plans to open its local cocktail room this summer after it has been closed since last March due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions. The site will include expanded seating which will provide more space for patrons to maintain social distancing guidelines.

Company officials said the Wisconsin location will look similar to the northeast Minneapolis location. The River Falls location will include a large amphitheater, which it says will be perfect for outdoor wedding ceremonies, festivals and other events as well as a grand ballroom which can be split into three areas or accommodate up to 420 people when used as one space. Kreidler said that he and other distillery officials have personal ties to Wisconsin and that the River Falls area shares the same commitment to sustainability and renewable energy as Tattersall does.

The majority of Tattersall’s production operations will be moved to River Falls. Wisconsin liquor laws allow for unlimited sales of spirits for guests as well as allowances for unlimited production. A small amount of production will remain in Minneapolis, the company said, which will allow Tattersall to supply the cocktail room.

The local space will also undergo several hospitality changes including a new reservations system, hosted seating and technology-driven menus.