Beautiful Spaces: Norseman Distillery
Amid the grand chaos of life exists time for celebration. Celebration is best enjoyed in convivial spaces, and Norseman Distillery in Northeast Minneapolis fits the bill in that regard. Located in an unassuming industrial stretch near the city limits, Norseman’s house-distilled spirits make their way into inventive cocktails mixed by friendly barbacks. Moreover, the space is an art-studded beauty, a great place to gather with like-minded revelers, creators, thinkers and doers.
No details were spared on Norseman’s industrial chic decor. The interior is a mish-mash of periods and aesthetics that make the establishment feel like a mix between a cozy coffee shop and a swanky lounge. The large leather sofas in the commons area don’t seem befit a bar, until you check their swanky, louche design that beckons boozers to come hither into the temple of liquid wonders. The local art adorning the walls lends a D.I.Y. gallery vibe to the same room, and this portmanteau works because of the local grit that goes into both the spirits and the distillery’s paintings and photos. A painting of an astronaut spans the length of the bar, flanked on each side by a large menu that frames the tumbling spaceman. The lights on the ceiling provide inspiration for hundreds of bokeh shots on Instagram.
No details were spared on the drinks, either. Since I enjoy whiskey’s strong taste and slow burn, I opted for two cocktails that featured Norseman’s harvest whiskey. The liquor’s spicy notes added depth to a classic Old Fashioned, but sang most in the bar’s New York Sour. In the New York Sour, the whiskey is married with lemon juice, egg and tomato wine for a complex, zesty zinger ideal as both a complement to brunch and a nightcap. It’s the kind of drink you’d find solace in after a hard day at work, and the kind of drink you’d clink glasses to in celebration.
Norseman is a place to celebrate, but not in the sense of going hog wild. Rather, Norseman is more about gathering with good company, savoring cocktails crafted with intent (and distilled on site) and raising a glass or two to whatever occasion is at hand, whether it’s a birthday, holiday or another day in this crazy little thing called life.