Distilleries of Door County Ultimate Guide

Here are the distilleries of Door County:

Door County has a certain spirit that draws visitors from around the world, an intoxicating concoction composed of one part natural beauty, one part tradition, and one part local flavor. But, over the last few years, some Door County businesses have contributed to this spirit by distilling spirits of their own. Visit a Door County distillery to give some spirit to your next vacation.

This article will discuss introduce you to Door County’s distilleries and then talk about how these present-day businesses carry on an old Door County tradition.

Are you considering a vacation to Door County? If so, make sure to check out our article on the best hotels in Door County. This is your starting point to find lodging in Door County. Rooms book solid during the prime tourist season, so don’t hesitate to begin looking for hotels now!

whiskey barrels with the words "Distilleries HelloDoorCounty.com"

Door County’s Distilleries

Hatch Distilling Co.

The legacy of Doc Wahl, Door County’s famous bootlegger, lives on at Hatch Distilling Co. through a single-malt whiskey they say is their “very first whiskey fermented, distilled, and aged 100% on-site here in Egg Harbor.”

Hatch Distilling Co. was born out of the conviction that a distillery could bridge the gap between Door County’s agricultural tradition and its status as a major tourist destination. That conviction means that Hatch has a commitment to sourcing their ingredients as locally as possible; many of the grains and fruits used for their spirits come right from Door County.

Hatch Distilling Co. offers nine varieties of spirits, including vodka, gin, bourbon, apple brandy, limoncello, and agave spirit.

Their products can be purchased in many restaurants and grocery and liquor stores, but they would love for you to pay them a visit in their facility in Egg Harbor.

Website
Address: 7740 WI-42, Egg Harbor, WI 54209
Map
Phone: 920-543-3800

Door County Distillery

The first commercial distillery in Door County since prohibition, Door County Distillery produces an award-winning line of spirits from its headquarters in Carlsville. Door County Distillery is connected to Door Peninsula Winery, so those who prefer wine will not mind joining their spirit-loving friends for a visit.

Door County Distillery’s tasting room is open year-round, and tours are available for a nominal fee.

Vodka, gin, whiskey, rum, and brandy round out their line of spirits.

Website
Address: 5806 WI-42, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
Map
Phone: 920-743-7431

Door County’s Distilling Tradition

Local craft distilleries have been popping up all over the country over the last few years, and Door County is no exception. As of 2022, two commercial distilleries have been operating in Door County.

However, distilling is nothing new to Door County. In fact, Door County’s Living Museum of Rural America, the Farm, has an artifact testifying to Door County’s distilling tradition. Tucked into one of its historic log buildings is an old-fashioned copper still.

Image Depicting and Old Fashioned Still from Door County
Via Hello Door County.

While Door County isn’t as famous as Appalachia for moonshining, this is surely due to the more modest nature of the peninsula’s residents. Old-timers in the county report that stills were common in their childhoods. And, no wonder. With crops like wheat, barley, oats, corn, apples, and cherries in abundance, and given its remote geography far from the attention of federal agents, many farmers didn’t think twice about running a still in an outbuilding.

And, not just farmers. Evidence suggests that a brewing and distilling scholar, Robert “Doc” Wahl, secretly plied his trade from the solitude of a Door County farm during prohibition. Those same raw materials and remoteness that allowed Door County farmers to run a still brought him up from Chicago when prohibition prevented him from working in the open.

A fanciful image depicting a scene inside a Door County distillery.

The Final Word – Door County Distilleries

The distilleries of Door County are not just good places to go to obtain spirits, they are a good way to tap into the very spirit of Door County, all the way back to its roots.


About the author
Mark Stoneman
Hi! My name is Mark! I have been a resident of Door County for almost ten years now, and I'm glad to help you say "Hello" to Door County. I believe that travel helps to change lives, and because of that, I want to help you improve your life through travel.