Our Story

Who We Are

A long time ago in a far off place—Belgrade Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota, to be exact—two local boys met and became friends. Through time and life adventures they moved along through life their own way until a chance meeting in 2021 when they realized that they lived only 5 miles apart. Through a few cocktails and conversations the idea of a startup distillery was born and a partnership formed. Now in 2022 with construction underway, a distiller hired, and opening close at hand, the reality of a distillery opening in a 100 year old building on the East Side of downtown St. Cloud is almost here. There is still much to do but so much fun and cocktails coming. Stop in to meet one of the owners or the distiller and sip on your favorite spirit. We look forward to meeting you!

Iron Street Distillery is Central Minnesota’s first distillery located in St. Cloud, MN. The people of Iron Street are passionate about doing things the right way, and our Whiskey, Rum, Bourbon, Rye, Gin, and Vodka are no exception.

Our Journey

In late 2021, our founders were on a mission to repurpose a historic building in East St. Cloud, Minnesota, as a place that many could enjoy. With their background in commercial construction and economic development (and a personal appreciation for fine whiskeys and spirits), a distillery came to mind. The name? Inspired by the historic railway that outlines three sides of the massive building we now call home. The rest is history! Recent history, but still.

Our Mission

At Iron Street Distillery, we are on a mission to make sure the cocktail tasting experience is surpassed by nobody else in the industry. We love a great cocktail and strive to do things the right way, for you, and for the namesake of happy hour.

John tells his three sons, “Work Hard and good things will happen.” His motto is that failure is not an option; you may not always get it right the first time, but that’s what do-overs are for. We learn from our mistakes and simply try again. With that kind of attitude, he believes you will get there in the end. John leads the way for engineering exceptional quality for our spirits and for our customer-centric business, all while having fun!

Kevin has been known to say, “I have an idea….” which has led himself and his wife Julie to embark on many creative ventures over the last 35 years. Startups are a very large undertaking but we are working towards some great cocktails and some adventures as well, which make for a full and fun life. Saving this beautiful historic 100 year old building was Kevin’s first goal. With that completed, we moved into the partnership with John and are excited for what’s yet to come.