Tucked into a historic brick building at 437 E South St in downtown Wooster, Minglewood Distilling Co & The Ice Plant occupies what was once Wooster’s actual ice manufacturing plant from the early 1900s. Founded by local entrepreneur Chad Gerstner, who left his corporate career to chase his passion for craft spirits, this operation opened its doors in 2017 after three years of planning, permitting, and renovating the century-old industrial space. The distillery produces small-batch bourbon, rye whiskey, and vodka using locally sourced grains when possible, while maintaining the building’s industrial character with exposed brick walls, original wooden beams, and vintage machinery displays that nod to the building’s ice-making past. The name itself pays homage to both the historic Ice Plant location and the idea of ‘mingling’ different spirits and flavors to create something unique. What started as Gerstner’s weekend hobby of home distilling evolved into a full-scale operation that’s become a cornerstone of Wooster’s growing craft beverage scene. The facility houses custom copper stills and fermentation tanks, while the tasting room maintains the raw, authentic feel of the original ice plant with polished concrete floors and industrial lighting that creates an unexpectedly warm atmosphere for sampling spirits.
