A century and a half after the first Irish immigrants settled in Minnesota, two enterprising fourth-generation descendants are behind the country's first American whiskey to be made in the Irish style, right in Minneapolis' Prospect Park.
But, as cousins Patrick and Michael O'Shaughnessy are quick to point out, it is not an "Irish American" whiskey.
"For technical [and branding reasons], what we make in the United States we cannot call Irish whiskey, so what we are making is an American whiskey in the Irish style," said Michael O'Shaughnessy. "We don't want to get in crossways with our partners at the Irish Whiskey Association over in Ireland," he added with a laugh.
Patrick, Michael and Michael's father, Jerry, have been preparing their distillery since 2018, and are finally opening the doors of O'Shaughnessy Distilling Co. — a 27,000-square-foot facility located in an old potato factory at 600 Malcolm Av. SE. — this week. (Conveniently, it will neighbor Surly Brewing Co., allowing for one-stop tasting.)
Although their Tower Hill vodka and Guard & Gate gin will be available on-site, the distillery's pride and joy will be its Irish-style whiskey, the idea for which Patrick O'Shaughnessy said began somewhat as a lark.
"We were at a family reunion … drinking some Irish whiskey, and joking around: 'Wouldn't it be great if we had something like this to share with our family?' " he recalls.
The O'Shaughnessy ancestors escaped the notorious Irish Potato Famine in the mid-1800s, ultimately settling in Stillwater. Now, four generations removed, that family reunion numbered more than 300 relatives from all over the country, not just in Minnesota.
Michael, who is based in Wichita, Kan., is president of Globe Resources Group consulting firm; Patrick is a general partner at Brightstone Venture Capital in the Twin Cities. The cousins had worked together before, but they saw a Minneapolis-based distillery not only as a solid business idea, but a way to create something together with family.