Last month, the Distillery Dinner Club hosted its first event featuring five courses from Ottertail, Minnesota-based company Precision Catering paired with Little Round cocktails. Since officially opening last December, the microdistillery has hit the ground running with trivia nights, live music, and a bags league. Chuck was so happy it was brought back to the public,” Wilson says. “The mural shows the rich cultural history in Minnesota and Wadena. The mural has now been cut into two 52-foot pieces lined up vertically, and Richards worked on restoring his vibrant painting last summer. The painting was originally created by Wadena artist Chuck Richards, and first appeared on the backside of a nearby Super One grocery store building. The other visual draw in the distillery is a stunning 104-foot mural that depicts about 700 people representing the almost 100 cultures that have settled in Minnesota. The tabletops in the tasting room also have the distillery’s logo engraved on them. Aaron is president and CEO of Kern Technologies, which produces a line of CO2 lasers. Derek is president and CEO of Kern Laser Systems, a manufacturer of state-of-the-art laser cutting and engraving systems. The Kerns’ expertise in high-tech laser technology runs deep. The engraver produces charred white oak chips called “barrel breakers,” which can be placed in alcohol to infuse it with the smoky oak flavor while using less wood compared to aging in an oak barrel. “The distillery supports initiatives that have already been started in town,” says Wilson, noting that Drastic Measures Brewing opened across the street last year.Īs plans for their business grew, Wilson and Stormoen brought in Derek Kern, now Little Round’s president, and his brother Aaron Kern, as investors who also introduced a laser engraver as another part of the business. It had last held a bistro and small businesses on its three floors. The two kept in touch and the idea of Little Round came to life when they visited the empty 24,000 ft.
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