We are on a roadtrip from Minnetonka, MN to North Dakota and stopped in the Osakis to check out the…read moreantique stores and saw a the sign and had to stop. Well worth the time. A quick taste testing and we were back on the road with a souvenir shot glass, a t-shirt, a bottle of bourbon and a good memory!

On our road trip we saw a sign for this distillery and I'm thrilled we did!! $10 tastings and a…read moretake home shot glass with extremely knowledgeable staff. The whiskey was delicious and everyone felt welcome (including my kiddos-- no shots for them, but it wasn't a problem they were there.) We had a wonderful time. Definitely worth the stop if you're driving along I94.

A fun stop on our drive home from the north. The space is dark, with an outer space theme. It also…read moreappears there is an enclosed patio, but it wasn't open the day we were there. There are some monthly specials, along with an extensive list of regular rotation cocktails. There is also a note, if you can dream it, they will try to make it. We had some BOGOs to use, so we tried a few different things. Hubs was a little disappointed that there was a drink with goat cheese that was sold out. It sounded so unique and interesting though! I had the Rover, a lemon raspberry gin fizz-like drink and the Peeps special. Both were light tasting, the Rover was delicious. Hubs tried the Gaia's Garden special, not my fave, but he enjoyed it. Worth the hour-ish drive from the cities or if you're up in the Collegeville area.

Welcome to the first stop of my Distillery Passport series! Obbink was an unexpected surprised…read morelocated in a somewhat industrial spot of St. Joseph. With family living near by I thought this would be a great location to begin my journey. As you pull up the spot looks quaint with a metal barn exterior and a large yard and tented patio. Walking in it felt very industrial chic, with wood and black metal interior design. The bartender was absolutely fabulous, we had great conversation and she was able to help my brother and I select a few cocktails that we could be interested based on our preferred pallets. The distillery has a main cocktail menu along with a seasonal menu with approximately 6-8 specialty drinks. My first choice 2.5/5 Rover Club - consisting of gin, egg white, raspberry, and lemon. The initial taste was nice, however the sweet of the raspberry and the sour of the lemon almost seemed to neutralize the drink leaving me wanting a bit more flavor. My brother's first selection 3.5/5 Golden Hands - consisting of whiskey, egg yolk, cinnamon, and lemon. I'm not a huge cinnamon fan like he is, however this had a nice consistency and could make a great drink for those looking for something outside of the box. My second choice 4.5/5 Aurora Haze - consisting of Aurora gin, grapefruit, and lemon. Their "grapefruit martini". This cocktail was right up my alley! The drink was slightly Tarte with a sweeter finish and the presentation was beautiful! I am a sucker for purple gins. Would most definitely return for this cocktail. My brother's second selection 4/5 French Toast - ingredients unknown. It was very creamy with a nice touch of cinnamon. It gave me the impression of drinking the leftover milk in your Cinnamon Toast Crunch bowl. This cocktail was my brother's favorite of the night. Overall this was a nice experience! Even though my first drink wasn't particularly my cup of tea, my last cocktail made me feel better about their selections! My brother also really enjoy his two cocktails. If you're looking for a new cocktail spot to try out, visit Obbink's!

To be honest, I would not have expected to find such a delightful distillery in a very plain box…read morelike building in the middle of Brainerd. But oh what a great spot to stop with friends. Like wineries in the Midwest, I'm also very cautious about distilleries. Just because you can make Jenn or bourbon doesn't mean that you should. Not the case for this place. We tried an assortment of cocktails. I ordered one variation of a Manhattan and really enjoyed it. This place is punching above its weight. Highly recommend stopping in.

Let me say that this place has only gotten better as it has aged. This is perhaps my favorite…read moreplace in the Brainerd Lakes Area. I recently had a really nice Boulevardier. They have increased their wine products and gotten more creative with their menu, AND they are great at making up new drinks not on the menu. What has not changed is Bill and the great staff's excitement for their product and service. You need to go here.