Cantilever Events and News

Happy International Whiskey Day

3/27/2019

Whether you prefer it neat, on ice, or mixed, March 27 is the day to celebrate whiskey. For over a decade, drinkers across the world have raised a dram of their favorite whiskey for International Whiskey Day.

We get asked a lot... what is Cantilever?

Cantilever will feature a hotel, restaurant, cocktail room, distillery tours, and more. Whether you stay as a guest or for drinks, we promise an old fashioned good time.

We make spirits from scratch using the finest Minnesota grains and Minnesota spring water. Tour our distillery which features Minnesota-distilled bourbon, gin, and vodka. We are proud to use ingredients from Minnesota.

Enjoy a cocktail made with our in house craft spirits made from the finest local ingredients. Play a board game with friends, order a flight of bites, and make unforgettable memories.

When you subscribe to our newsletter, you will be the first to know when our hotel booking site is open. Please note we will not be taking reservations on dates until we are certain construction will be complete.

Featured in

Our General Manager and Controller sat down with the Star Tribune in January. We are honored to be a featured article. Read all about it!

Plus, the first train crossed the cantilever bridge on April 28, 1908 and 111 years later it is still one of America's busiest ports of entry. Read more about the bridge that inspired our project.

Thank you for your continued support.
We look forward to sharing our spirits with you. Cheers!

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Eggnog + Bourbon Recipe

12/18/2018

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Eggnog is a quintessential part of the holidays. However, the best way to enjoy this classic isn't the mix in the store. Enjoy the yuletide by combining eggs, sugar, milk and cream, with bourbon and rum. When you make it from scratch, you start to wonder, who came up with eggnog?

According to Time magazine, most culinary historians agree eggnog originated from the early medieval Britain "posset," a hot, milky, ale-like drink. In the 13th century, eggnog was used in toasts to prosperity and good health, and usually reserved for the wealthy.

In the United States, eggnog became a traditional holiday beverage in the 1700s, with the first printed mention in 1788 in "The Jersey Journal." American colonies were full of farms which made it easier (and possibly necessary) to produce eggnog.

Include bourbon and rum for more holiday cheer!

Enjoy and Happy Holidays from the Cantilever crew.

RECIPE

6 Eggs, separated
3⁄4 cup Sugar, divided
32 oz Whole milk
16 oz Heavy cream
8 oz Cantilever Straight Bourbon
4 oz Spiced Rum
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon clove
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Garnish: Garnish with a cinnamon stick or gingerbread cookie
Glass: Punch or tea cup

DIRECTIONS
It's strongly recommended to make this eggnog a day before you need it. The extra time allows the tastes to "merry" for an impressive drink.

In a blender, blend the eggs for 1 minute
Add the sugar and spices and blend for an additional 30 seconds to incorporate
Slowly add the liquors and blend another 30 seconds
Add the milk and cream and blend 1 minute more
Cover and refrigerate

RIM GLASS

Line the rim of the glass with simple syrup or Cantilever Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup
Turn the glass over on a plate sprinkled with 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Cantilever® spirits are always ready and can be enjoyed on their own or mixed.

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The Cantilever Bottle Design

12/8/2018

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If you were on our newsletter, you would have received this first! There is more to come before our opening this summer, subscribe now so you don't miss a thing.

It's the number one question we hear, "Why Cantilever?" Learn more about the historic event that inspired the hotel and distillery.

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The Great Whiskey Raid of 1932 - Part 2

12/6/2018

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Read Part 1 of The Great Whiskey Raid

The next morning, Harry Erickson warmed up his sturdy ton-and-a-half Ford and parked it alongside the boxcar. Charles Houska directed the men to roll the barrels onto the truck. They stood them on end, one by one, until there were six or seven aboard.

Harry was instructed to drive down to the village dock in front of Duluth Street. The government officials were there waiting, standing around a large hole chopped through a foot of Rainy River ice beside the dock. By this time, a crowd of bystanders was following Harry’s truck.

“Drop the barrels so that they break on the iron cleats on the edge of the dock,” an official instructed, but the men dropping the barrels were poor marksmen and some of the barrels landed on the ice, still intact. The customs officials foresaw misses, and they were poised with axes to break the intact barrels. One by one, the barrels were ruptured and the golden whiskey flowed out onto the ice.

They intended for the whiskey to flow into the hole that the men had worked so hard to chop, but the law of physics worked against them. The liquor rather spread into a wide pool, contained by a rim of whiskey-candied snow.

By now, the cluster of interested citizens had grown to a substantial audience. Some of them pulled cups from their pockets and scooped up the stubborn whiskey and sipped it approvingly. Others lay at the edge of the whiskey puddle and lapped up what they could get. A few arrived with buckets, but Customs discouraged the carry-out trade and kicked over the buckets. Word spread quickly and soon nearly the whole town of International Falls was there scooping up whiskey. Some even came running with coal scuttles and wash tubs. A local bootlegger tested the liquid with his hydrometer - 100 proof.

Downriver, George Westermeier retrieved water for some tea from his water hole offshore from his house. As he boiled the water, his home smelled like a distillery. It was discovered that a crack in the river ice led from the whiskey hole to George’s water hole. Angry, he threatened to sue the government but never did get around to it.

The men rolled the last barrel of fine Canadian whiskey out of the boxcar and onto Harry Erickson’s truck, and they discovered something very peculiar. During the night, someone had drilled a hole up through the floor of the boxcar beneath where the barrels stood.

The barrels were dry.

There were no known fatalities from the whiskey dumping, but up to 79 barrels were added to the river that day. Which made everyone think about that odd number. Maybe the shipper in Winnipeg had overlooked the 80th barrel, or possibly Charles Houska knew where it went.

We will never know for sure.

Share your stories in the comments below!

Cantilever Distillery + Hotel is opening January 2020 and features a boutique hotel, a cocktail room, private events space, and distillery tours.

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The Great Whiskey Raid of 1932 - Part 1

12/4/2018

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We are commonly asked "why Cantilever?" The following story is the interesting mystery behind the name and inspiration.

Adapted from the Rainy Lake Chronicle article published on February 17, 1974

George Westermeier, the bridgekeeper of the Cantilever Bridge, watched across the bay from his home. He was technically off duty, but regardless he always had an eye on the bridge.

It was 1932. The last year of the Prohibition. Bootlegging was at an all-time high, and the Cantilever Bridge was at the center of importing Canadian contraband into the U.S.

The borderland was an ideal location for a “blind pig” (or speakeasy) for the illegal sale of whiskey and other spirits. Despite the occasional raid, resorts across the region sold alcohol to patrons. It wasn’t too difficult to smuggle whiskey across the border, partly due to its location and partly because police turned a blind eye.

But this particular day, the United States Customs wanted to set an example. A tip led them directly to the freight train as it was leaving Ranier, a little after 9:00 pm.

Eighty barrels of Canada’s finest whiskey were on a carload, hidden under bundles of shingles. The train coming from Winnipeg was on its way to Chicago for The Chicago Christmas trade. The bootleg was worth $63,200 wholesale if it had made its way to Chicago.

Across the bay, George noticed the huge flood lights were on full blast as government officials searched the train cars. The car of shingles was detached from the train, double padlocked, and quickly was surrounded by a mob of officials, guarding the contraband from anyone who sought to rescue the barrels.

Charles Houska, the Customs Inspector, noticed irregularities in the papers covering the particular freight car, the only one that mattered to the people of Chicago. The inventory of 400 shingles rather than the usual 1,000 was odd. His suspicions were confirmed when the train rolled across the Rainy River Cantilever drawbridge and they slid the door aside. The doorway was packed tightly to the roof with bundles of shingles.

“I know from experience that it takes 1,000 to 1,200 bundles of shingles to fill a car that tight” Charles said. “Search it!” he shouted to the officials.

The officials began unloading the bundles of shingles and soon discovered a strange frame arrangement holding them tightly in place. The bundles of shingles were removed and the investigators encountered curious wooden boxes, strapped with steel bands.

One of the investigators grabbed an ax and chopped at one of the boxes. It gave way, and they found sawdust. Another hit, more sawdust. Sawdust poured out of the box until they were able to peer inside and find a wooden keg. They moved the box and could hear the gurgle of the liquid moving inside.

Charles Houska said to an official, “Go to the nearest store and ask to borrow a brace and a bit, a siphon hose, and a cup.” The man went to Joe Oster’s bar where the lights were still burning bright. Joe retrieved the items and delivered them in person to Charles.

The investigators tapped the keg and filled the cup. There was no doubt it was whiskey, but they were unsure if it was good or bad. Whiskey is best to drink at room temperature, and it was around 20 degrees below zero. Drinking whiskey in these temperatures would mute the aroma giving them clues to its quality.

Charles ordered the Customs officials to seal up the boxcar and stationed a guard to protect it. They needed a truck. That would have to wait until morning...

Part 2

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New Distillery and Hotel Launches in Northern Minnesota

11/7/2018

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New Distillery and Hotel Launches in Northern Minnesota

Local stakeholders and supporters Friday joined development partners to celebrate the launch of The Cantilever Hotel and Distillery – a 31-room boutique hotel, cocktail room and distillery.

Developer Marty Goulet kicked off the ceremony by talking about the positive momentum in Ranier and the motives for the development in the community.

“There is a reason we are having this event at Loony’s Brew Pub and Rainy Lake Grill is catering the event, they are both part of the positive story that is unfolding and the momentum that allowed our development team to make this investment in the community,” said Goulet. "The approximate 100-invited guests in attendance received an inside look into the project, an introduction to the first two Cantilever employees, the release of two new brands, followed by a non-traditional ground-breaking ceremonial christening of the site. If you are here today, it is because you have helped or supported and are a part of the Cantilever Hotel and Distillery project.”

The Cantilever Hotel and Distillery, anticipated to open summer 2019, is a new 26,000 square foot boutique hotel and distillery located at 2078 Spruce Street in Ranier. The facility amenities include 31 upscale boutique hotel rooms, state of the art spirits manufacturing plant, cocktail room (only serving Cantilever products), restaurant, private events spaces, rooftop bar with sauna and hot tub, distillery tours, yoga studio, treatment rooms, and electric car charging station.

"A physical location, complete with a tour and tasting, is the biggest marketing asset a distilling company will ever possess," said Goulet. "As such, our distillery will be an extension of the brand. This requires that every element the consumer contacts will reflect the thinking and philosophy of the brand.”

The Cantilever Distilling Co., will offer single malt whiskey, bourbon, and gin made with local peat, local grains, and local water that showcase the skill and expertise of the distiller. The Cantilever Bridge located only feet away from the distillery is symbolic of the bootlegging history and connection between Canada and the U.S.

Released publicly for the first time Friday, Woody’s Fairly Reliable Spirits Co., will produce honest, reliable spirits and premium canned cocktails that are focused on lake life and the outdoor lifestyle. These products will be known for premium quality with affordable pricing so that that they can over-deliver on taste and price while always considering lake lifestyle.

“We are excited to announce for the first time with the personality of Ranier's own Barry "Woody" Woods – Woody’s Fairly Reliable Spirits," said Goulet.

General Manager Ed Gackley announced a partnership with Wyndham Hotels’ Trademark Collection Brand.

“The Cantilever Bridge Hotel – a trademark collection allows us to leverage the benefits of being associated with a world class hotel franchise while keeping total independence," said Gackley. He also introduced distiller Charlie Fuller who expressed his excitement for the project.

Developer Duane Cridland revealed the first artwork for the distillery called “Busted 1932” by Cher Pruys. In 1932, a train crossing the Cantilever Bridge with 79 barrels of Canadian whiskey was seized and destroyed in a public ceremony before it could reach its destination in Chicago. The artwork depicts the event and the locals who showed up to get a taste but were prohibited to use any cups or containers and resorted to slurping it off the ice.

Participants later Friday went outside to the site of the new hotel and distillery. Mayor Dennis Wagner, Hall of Fame Fishing Guide Woody and the Director of the Koochiching County Economic Development Agency Paul Nevanen, each took a swing with the ceremonial golden ax and attempted to break a barrel of whiskey. After a few attempts with the ax, the liquid from the barrel was released and the site christened.
Back inside Loony’s, developer Pat Bracken walked the attendees through an inside look at Cantilever’s first bourbon, explaining the mash bill (recipe) and finishing with a toast.

Mark Twain once said, “too much of anything is bad, but too much whiskey is barely enough."

Learn more about the Cantilever Story!

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Happy International Whiskey Day

Featured in

Eggnog + Bourbon Recipe

The Cantilever Bottle Design

The Great Whiskey Raid of 1932 - Part 2

The Great Whiskey Raid of 1932 - Part 1

New Distillery and Hotel Launches in Northern Minnesota

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Happy International Whiskey Day

Featured in

Eggnog + Bourbon Recipe

The Cantilever Bottle Design

The Great Whiskey Raid of 1932 - Part 2

The Great Whiskey Raid of 1932 - Part 1

New Distillery and Hotel Launches in Northern Minnesota

Author

Archives

Categories

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