A retail liquor store with a tasting area and a ‘bottle your own bourbon’ experience is in the works for Germantown.
The Village Board on Aug. 3 approved the conditional use permit for Barrel & Bottle to open in Germantown Plaza. It will be in the former Pier 1 Imports location, which closed all its physical locations in the fall of 2020.
The projected opening for Barrel & Bottle is spring 2027, Tom Shippen, the husband of owner Emily Abel, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Shippen said they are currently finalizing the lease.
“It’s a liquor store, with a major focus on crafts and local [drinks],” Shippen said.
Here’s what we know, according to village documents:
Barrel & Bottle will have a ‘bottle your own bourbon’ experience: What is that?
“Bottle your own bourbon” is where Barrel & Bottle employees will let the customer choose one or two beverage recipes. The customer can then fill the bottle with that recipe. Shippen called it a combination of education and tourism. He said the ‘bottle your own bourbon’ experience is popular in Kentucky and will be a unique experience for Germantown.
Where will Barrel & Bottle be located?
Barrel & Bottle will be at N96 W18768 County Line Road, Germantown, in the former Pier 1 Imports location.
How big will Barrel & Bottle be and what will be there?
Barrel & Bottle will be 10,540 square feet. The majority of the facility will be for retail operations, which would include spirits and wine, cold beer storage, seasonal displays, customer service areas, and related merchandise. Plans include a 12-door walk-in beer cooler and a walk-in cigar humidor.
Barrel & Bottle will also have a tasting area which will be mainly for product sampling, education and customer engagement.
Barrel & Bottle is not intended to be a traditional tavern, bar or an entertainment venue.
What kind of retail products will be sold?
There will be a retail sale of packaged alcoholic beverages, including spirits, wine, beer and THC beverages with a focus on craft, local and specialty products.
What kind of production activities will be at Barrel & Bottle?
Designed as a full retail environment, Barrel & Bottle will not house distilling or fermenting activities. Production activities may include blending, infusing, proofing, bottling and labeling sourced spirits under a private label program.
What will its hours be?
Its hours will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New liquor store with a ‘bottle your own bourbon’ coming to Germantown
Reporting by Cathy Kozlowicz, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Cathy Kozlowicz, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
