Story and Mission
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Two Northfield High School good friends Simeon Rossi and Mark Schiller...Had a great time one evening in January 2011 with Simeon's homemade coffee liqueur with many other fun people. Simeon's "Homemade White Russians" were absolutely delicious and Mark called Simeon to see how he could obtain more, and if Simeon were interested in bringing this talent to the market. After Simeon agreed, Mark met with the state of Minnesota's Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement agency (AGE) whom told him that rectifying someone else's vodka would require the same license that is needed to manufacturer whiskey, gin, and all other spirits ($30,000 per year for the state). "However", the AGE representative said
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"There is a clause in the upcoming Surly Bill, which would bring that down to $1,100 per year if you produce under 20,000 gallons". Simeon and Mark thought, well why don't we just make the liquor. Almost every day since, they both have been researching the biological, chemical and business sciences of the distilling industry. In November of 2012 they launch a reservation / micro-funding campaign which raised $11,500 from over 100 amazing people; which they leveraged with the angel investment to get a SBA Loan in July. While finalizing the build out in November of 2013 they were the only two folks in Southern Minnesota to receive Federal permission to produce spirits in over 100 years.
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To craft the most delicious spirits from organic, local suppliers while quantifiably improving social and environmental sustainability, and throwing in some humor from time to time
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Folks Who Made It Happen
"Fram! Fram!" From "The Nordlands"
A & J Rondeau "Excited to make loonshine manhattans!' Alaina Thomas “Meat dress to distillery Magic!”
Anna Henrichs "The dude is not in"
Beth and Jeff Hvass "Sunshine days, Loonshine nights. Ahhhhh…" Brandon Braden “We're all a little looney”
Brenton Hartung "Thrust on Neighbors!"
Caitlin Michels "To infinity… and beyond"
Cat & Loch "We'll Always Have Texas" Chad Benesh "It's got a good taste"
Craig Petzel "Oh Hey Neighbor"
Dan "He who does not work, neither shall he eat"
Dan and Erika Tallman "Nosmo King"
Dane Huber, Daddy's thirsty
David Hilbrich "Inconceivable!!" Pixie "Individually fleeting, collectively eternal"
Derin Riefesel "For those that could not"
Erin Lowinske "Eskeeskeeskeeskeechyafeelinshurt!"
Fiona C. Quick "Iechyd Da!"
Gerry Pellegrini "O, good luck!"
Griffin Williams "All in Good Time"
Jim and Judy love loons and liquor
John Eliason "Homegrown Dedicated Out-of-box Delectable Thirsty"
Jon and Sara Ketchum "Ketchum if you can!"
Juliann Schiller - Go For It, Mark & Simeon
Justin Johnson "Loonshine: best-name-ever!"
Kay "Pursue that flighty temptress, Adventure!"
Kitty Hough "Think local Drink local"
Leah Amundson
Lee Brennise "Mix me a salad"
Lori and Curt Petzel "Live life to the fullest"
Mackenzie Zimmer "Carleton 2012 rocks"
Matt and Landon "Get Buck"
Mike and Rosann Wold "Congratulations. A dream becomes reality"
Nate Morris "Today's rain is tomorrow's whiskey"
Nathan Grigsby "Sit back and drink up"
Patrick Rodeheaver
Ryan Noe "Ginship; reckoned masterpiece of nature"
Siddhartha Owens "Make sure it feels good!!"
Stevie Long “"I drink therefore I am"
Trischa Thorne "I'd rather be a vulture"
A & J Rondeau "Excited to make loonshine manhattans!' Alaina Thomas “Meat dress to distillery Magic!”
Anna Henrichs "The dude is not in"
Beth and Jeff Hvass "Sunshine days, Loonshine nights. Ahhhhh…" Brandon Braden “We're all a little looney”
Brenton Hartung "Thrust on Neighbors!"
Caitlin Michels "To infinity… and beyond"
Cat & Loch "We'll Always Have Texas" Chad Benesh "It's got a good taste"
Craig Petzel "Oh Hey Neighbor"
Dan "He who does not work, neither shall he eat"
Dan and Erika Tallman "Nosmo King"
Dane Huber, Daddy's thirsty
David Hilbrich "Inconceivable!!" Pixie "Individually fleeting, collectively eternal"
Derin Riefesel "For those that could not"
Erin Lowinske "Eskeeskeeskeeskeechyafeelinshurt!"
Fiona C. Quick "Iechyd Da!"
Gerry Pellegrini "O, good luck!"
Griffin Williams "All in Good Time"
Jim and Judy love loons and liquor
John Eliason "Homegrown Dedicated Out-of-box Delectable Thirsty"
Jon and Sara Ketchum "Ketchum if you can!"
Juliann Schiller - Go For It, Mark & Simeon
Justin Johnson "Loonshine: best-name-ever!"
Kay "Pursue that flighty temptress, Adventure!"
Kitty Hough "Think local Drink local"
Leah Amundson
Lee Brennise "Mix me a salad"
Lori and Curt Petzel "Live life to the fullest"
Mackenzie Zimmer "Carleton 2012 rocks"
Matt and Landon "Get Buck"
Mike and Rosann Wold "Congratulations. A dream becomes reality"
Nate Morris "Today's rain is tomorrow's whiskey"
Nathan Grigsby "Sit back and drink up"
Patrick Rodeheaver
Ryan Noe "Ginship; reckoned masterpiece of nature"
Siddhartha Owens "Make sure it feels good!!"
Stevie Long “"I drink therefore I am"
Trischa Thorne "I'd rather be a vulture"