For the Gazette

KNOWLTON – A family-owned and operated distillery will be opening soon in Knowlton, offering distillery tours, classes, craft cocktails and food,

“Knowlton House Distillery” will be located across from Mullins Cheese, with a flagship product line called “TenHead,” which includes vodka and gin crafted from milk sugar (whey), a byproduct of cheese.

Founded by Luke and Heather Mullins, the distillery is a “marriage” of their respective professions and passions.

As a fourth-generation cheesemaker, Luke comes from a long line of dairy farmers and cheesemakers.

Heather, educated in distilling with a master’s degree in brewing science, has worked as a product development scientist aiding other distilleries and breweries.

“We’re not the first to distill spirits from milk sugar,” Heather Mullins stated. “There are a handful of distilleries that do it worldwide. But it just feels right that we distill from milk in Wisconsin. We’re confident that nobody is more committed to showcasing these spirits at their best,” she adds. “After all, dairy isn’t just the pride of our state. It’s the pride of our family.”

While the concept of distilling vodka and gin from milk sugar may seem novel, Heather points out that it’s a concept dating back nearly a thousand years and produces traditional-tasting spirits.

“Just like potato vodka doesn’t taste like potatoes, milk vodka doesn’t taste like milk. It’s still a very traditional vodka. However, it has a smoother, more velvety texture due to its source,” she added.

Knowlton House teamed up with Logan Erikson, of Paper City Studios, to assist in the design, along with Marawood Construction of Marshfield to bring the distillery to life.

“We’re excited to be working with Marawood Construction on this project,” Luke added. “It’s always great to work with another local, family-owned business. Keeping both the design and construction local helps us to create a space that feels authentically Wisconsin while still meeting our unique needs.”

Construction on the distillery began in September 2022, with an anticipated opening of spring 2023.