Central Standard Craft Distillery has opened its new location at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
Central Standard Tavern, located at Mitchell airport’s Concourse C, offers spirits and dishes from the Crafthouse & Kitchen location at 320 E. Clybourn St. It marks the company’s first major expansion since opening the consolidated Clybourn Street spot in 2021.
The Milwaukee-based business was founded in 2014 and is the largest craft distiller in Wisconsin, said co-founder Evan Hughes. Hughes said he’s excited to serve as one of the faces of Milwaukee for first-time visitors.
“We’re proud to be from Milwaukee, we’re proud to support the area, and we’re proud of our tourism,” Hughes said. “For us to be able to get people in the right mood when they get off the plane – or a happy sendoff with a Brandy Old Fashioned – it’s a lot of fun.”
The tavern includes 60 seats around the bar and drink rail. Its menu features a wide selection of cocktails and to-go food options, including sandwiches, wraps and muffins.
“Our big thing was trying to create the Midwest flavor for people that are coming in, tourists and local alike,” Hughes said.
Hughes and co-founder Pat McQuillan will expand food options in the fall, when construction is completed on a kitchen planned for the current Auntie Anne’s space in Concourse C.
Central Standard is also providing its drinks to other bars and restaurants at Mitchell as part of the airport’s push to feature more local businesses.
“We want people to have Wisconsin and Milwaukee-based experiences when they come through,” airport director Brian Dranzik said.
Central Standard also plans to open a new production facility at a 73,000-square-foot building recent bought from Harley-Davidson. The production facility, 3900 W. Juneau Ave., will open to the public for tours and guided tasting, Hughes said.
Construction is scheduled to complete in September.
Francesca Pica can be reached at fpica@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Central Standard opens new tavern at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
Reporting by Francesca Pica, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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