Distillery Spotlight: Panther Distillery

Panther Distillery is located in the gorgeous lake country of Osakis, Minnesota. It was the state’s first craft distillery, and the acclaim surrounding it isn’t undue. Let’s take a look at Panther Distillery, who runs it, what they make, and what makes it so special.

Panther Distillery: A Summary

Founded in 2011, it carries on Minnesota’s rich heritage of exceptional distilled spirits, a tradition dating back to the Prohibition era. This distillery is not just about producing spirits; it’s about crafting an experience with every bottle. Utilizing locally sourced grains, Panther Distillery brings a unique blend of history and flavor to its range of spirits, making it a must-visit destination for those who appreciate the finer aspects of whiskey and bourbon craftsmanship.

What Makes Panther Distillery Special?

As we mentioned above, Panther was the first distillery in Minnesota; however that’s not the only thing that makes this location special. In addition, they use locally sourced grains – from within 30 miles – to craft their spirits, helping to lower their carbon footprint (and giving each spirit a unique flavor profile that you can’t find elsewhere).

Being located in Minnesota also has its perks; the distillery benefits from the natural four-season environment, especially leveraging cold aging, a key aspect of their unique spirit-making process.

The Panther Distillery Team:

Panther Distillery was founded by entrepreneur and whiskey enthusiast Adrian Panther. Adrian uses his skill and passion for great spirits in Minnesota. Teaming up with Brett Grinager, a distiller trained by respected industry experts, the distillery brings unmatched creativity and expertise to its production. 

Aside from Adrian and Brett, there are many different team members who make Panther a well-oiled machine. Anthony Noetzelman, the lead manager, helps organize the distillery’s operations, along with Tim Collins. Lenore Hansen is the office manager, and Alexa Estes is the social media manager, responsible for representing Panther in social spaces. There are also a variety of distillers, gift shop associates, and production managers that all contribute to Panther’s success.

Panther Distillery’s Distillation Equipment & Process

“When it comes to distilling, the most precious metal is copper. Our three 500-gallon copper stills are American made and are the engine to our distillery. We use charred American White Oak barrels to age our spirits in because it’s the highest quality possible.”

The team at Panther Distillery is committed to producing the highest quality spirits. For this reason, Adrian decided to use all-copper stills and only age in charred American White Oak barrels. This gives all of their spirits a unique, bright quality that you won’t necessarily find in column-distilled spirits. But, what types of spirits do they produce?

All of the Panther Buildings

Panther Distillery has a variety of buildings where they store and keep their ingredients and barrels. In Browerville, they store and age their whiskey at an old Land O’ Lakes factory; they also age spirits at the Wedum Building in Alexandria. In downtown Osakis, they own a grain elevator where they mill all of their own grain. They also own a creamery in Osakis, where they have offices and bottle their products.

Panther Distillery has its operations in a variety of places, but they all come together to create the following delicious spirits:

What Spirits Does Panther Distillery Produce?

Their current lineup of products on their website shows six different bottles. However, they sometimes also produce seasonal spirits and specialty bottles. Make sure to be on the lookout for these gems. We will highlight some of their standard standout spirits here, though:

Ordeal Straight Bourbon

A bold and smooth bourbon that is aged for four years before bottling. According to Panther, the flavor profile is “soft-bodied and sweet, finishing with hints of caramel and vanilla.”

Minnesota 14 Whiskey

This is a unique whiskey that is cold-aged and made with the finest corn they can find. They don’t have any tasting notes up on their website, but this is a great all-around whiskey for mixing or sipping.

Saint Paul Straight Bourbon

This is a 3-year aged bourbon – which might not seem like a lot. However, it’s produced in small batches and only the best barrels are pulled to bottle. Be sure to try this one if you like a smooth, yet complex and spicy, high-rye bourbon.

Minnesota 14 Maple

This one is a fun twist on their Minnesota 14 Whiskey. A maple-flavored whiskey, the Minnesota 14 Maple is a unique take on the whiskey experience. Aged for two years, “it is a very smooth, balanced whiskey with a maple finish.” Pick this one up for mixing into maple cocktails – you won’t regret it.

Minnesota 14 Honey

Another unique twist on their original whiskey, the Minnesota 14 Honey is much like you’d expect from a honey whiskey; smooth, sweet, and just plain old warm and satisfying! Mix this one into cocktails like a whiskey lemonade or a honey lemon whiskey sour!

Minnesota 14 Apple

This is a delicious all-corn whiskey that has been infused with apples – red apples grown right in Minnesota. In flavor, this whiskey is very reminiscent of apple pie, with warm cinnamon and brown sugar notes. Of course, there’s a crisp apple taste to finish up. This whiskey is perfect in an apple cider whiskey cocktail or a harvest cider spritz.

Where to Find Panther Distillery’s Spirits

Currently, you can only get Panther’s delicious spirits in the state of Minnesota. Retailers like South Lyndale Liquors, Surdyk’s and more keep Panther’s spirits in stock.

Location & Operating Hours

The Panther Distillery gift shop and distillery is open from Monday to Saturday 10am to 4-m. Tours are free, and anyone touring the facility can stay for a tasting and a Panther shot glass for only $10. Be sure to stop in to pick up bottles, taste some spirits, and experience all that Minnesota’s first distillery has to offer.

You can find the distillery and gift shop at 300 East Pike St, Osakis, MN. This is where they offer tours and have a variety of gift options.

So, what are you waiting for? Pay Panther Spirits a visit today and pick up a bottle (or several) of their delicious spirits.