King Coil Spirits opened in 2018 in St. Paul’s Vandalia Tower, bringing the first legal distillery to Minnesota’s capital city in nearly a century. Founded by Tom Schroeder, a former brewing industry executive, and his business partner who saw an opportunity to fill the craft spirits gap in the Twin Cities market. The distillery occupies a 3,000-square-foot space on the ground floor of the historic office building, where they installed a custom 500-gallon copper still from Vendome Copper & Brass Works. They focus on small-batch bourbon, rye whiskey, and gin, with plans to expand into rum and specialty spirits. The operation reflects Schroeder’s methodical approach to spirit making, emphasizing quality control and consistent flavor profiles over rapid expansion. King Coil’s name pays homage to the copper coils essential to distillation, while their branding maintains a clean, modern aesthetic that feels more like a craft brewery taproom than a traditional distillery. The space features exposed brick walls, industrial lighting, and large windows that let visitors watch the production process. You’re looking at a serious craft operation that’s building its reputation one batch at a time, with the founders often on-site to talk shop with visitors who appreciate the technical side of distilling.
