Harmony Spirits sits in the small town of Harmony, Minnesota, about 20 miles south of Rochester in the heart of bluff country. Founded by Paul and Michelle Wiese in 2018, this craft distillery operates out of a converted building on First Avenue Northwest. Paul, a former engineer, and Michelle, who worked in healthcare, decided to chase their dream of creating quality spirits after years of home brewing and experimenting with distillation. They officially opened their doors to the public in 2019, making them one of the newer additions to Minnesota’s growing craft spirits scene. The journey wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. The Wieses spent nearly two years navigating local regulations and converting their space into a proper distillery. Paul handles most of the production side, working with a custom-built copper still system, while Michelle manages the business operations and visitor experience. Their philosophy centers on using local ingredients when possible and keeping production small enough that they can control every step of the process. They focus primarily on whiskey and bourbon, though they’ve experimented with other spirits as their confidence and customer base have grown. Visitors get a genuine small-town distillery experience here. The tasting room has that comfortable, unpretentious vibe you’d expect from a couple who left corporate careers to follow their passion. You’re likely to meet Paul or Michelle during your visit, and they’re genuinely excited to talk about their process and share their spirits. The space isn’t huge or flashy, but it’s authentic. You can see the production area during tours and get a real sense of how hands-on their operation is.