45th Parallel Distillery sits on Madison Avenue in New Richmond, Wisconsin, about an hour east of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Founded by Randy Schiller in 2010, this craft distillery operates out of a converted building that houses both production facilities and a welcoming tasting room. Schiller, who transitioned from a career in manufacturing, brought his engineering background to bear on creating precise, small-batch spirits with a focus on bourbon, rye, and vodka. The journey from concept to opening took several years as Schiller navigated licensing requirements and built out the production space. He installed a custom 500-gallon copper still and created a climate-controlled aging environment for his whiskey program. The distillery’s name reflects its location near the 45th parallel north, halfway between the equator and North Pole, which Schiller felt represented the balance he was trying to achieve in his spirits. Visitors find themselves in an intimate setting where you can see the entire operation from grain to glass. The production area flows directly into the tasting room, so you’re watching the process while sampling the results. Schiller and his small team are usually on hand to explain their methods and share stories about the early days of getting the distillery off the ground. It’s the kind of place where you leave knowing more about distilling than when you arrived.