45th Parallel Distillery sits in downtown Stillwater on Water Street, bringing craft spirits to this historic St. Croix River town. Founded by Paul and Angie Wenta, the distillery opened in 2014 after Paul left his corporate career to pursue his passion for distilling. The couple transformed a 19th-century brick building into their production facility and tasting room, creating a warm industrial space where visitors can watch the distilling process through large windows. They focus on small-batch bourbon, rye, and vodka using locally-sourced grains when possible. The Wentas built their operation around a custom-made 500-liter copper still from Germany, which allows them to control every aspect of their distillation process. Paul handles the production side while Angie manages the business operations and visitor experience. Their philosophy centers on patience and traditional methods—they don’t rush their spirits to market, instead letting them develop proper character through careful aging and blending.