DISTILLERY PLANNED FOR PROSPECT PARK

Surly might have a new neighbor moving in next door as plans have been recently announced for a new distillery.

O’Shaughnessy Distillery is planned for 600 Malcolm Avenue SE. The site is currently home to a historic brick structure that was built in 1945. Plans for the project include the renovation of that historic structure along with a large expansion surrounding three sides of the building. In total the distillery would cover 27,000 square feet of space.

Michael and Patrick O’Shaughnessy are the two individuals behind the plans for the new distillery and they’ve partnered with Wall Companies to develop the project. The company has a number of other projects in the works for the area including a climbing facility across the street along with a food hall and a mixed-use project that would include apartments and a grocery store just down the road.

When complete the O’Shaughnessy Distillery will cover three different levels of space.

Guests will enter at ground level and will be able to walk straight ahead and directly into a large bar space or turn right and enter a retail store that will also be the start of the distillery tours. The ground floor will also include the majority of the fermenting and distilling spaces along with some catering/back of house space.

The upper level of the project will feature mezzanines to the distilling and fermenting spaces below, office space, a lab and a large space for private cocktails with direct access to an outdoor roof deck.

Last but not least, the basement level of the building will include space designated as a speakeasy, a tasting room and a barrel room.

When it comes to the spirits that are planned to be produced by the O’Shaughnessy Distillery theres a number of them. Right now, those plans include a potato-based vodka, an American bourbon, an American & Irish style gin and rum along with Irish style liquors and an Irish Single Malt whiskey.

At the moment the biggest challenge for the project is getting the city planning commission to approve a 122-space surface parking lot that would run behind the distillery and stretch behind Surly. However, there’s no need to worry as we expect to the city to approve that condition.

Work on the O’Shaughnessy Distillery is anticipated to begin later this year with an opening likely in Summer 2020.