You may be more familiar with Standard Proof Whiskey Co. through their flagship product Red Eye Rye, a delicious blend of rye whiskey, coffee and sugar that is the brainchild of former local bartender Robert Longhurst. Initially a hobby project that he played with while behind the bar, Longhurst finally developed his perfect infusion of flavors, sharing it with friends before turning it into a retail product.
The product became an entire company as Longhurst took on partners to create Standard Proof Whiskey Co. The infusion of capital allowed him to extend the line to include several new rye-based flavor infusions, including a popular Pecan Rye along with other flavors like honeysuckle, mint, ginger root and pineapple.
The next step was to open a combination retail shop/tasting room/bar, and Longhurst leased a space last November at 219 5th Ave. North in a building that previously housed an events space named Lola on the ground floor with loft apartments on the upper floors. Located across the street from the entrance to The Arcade, the location is close enough to Broadway to potentially draw some tourist traffic, but also in the middle of the downtown arts district which could attract more local clientele.
Longhurst spent the early months of the pandemic putting in some sweat equity. He built an attractive oval bar in the middle of the striking exposed-brick main space and constructed shelves to hold bottles of product available for retail sales. There are also branded t-shirts and swag, plus bar essentials and craft drink mixers from sister company Barsmith. Among the products for sale is a t-shirt reading “Support Your Local Bartender,” with all proceeds going to local United States Bartenders' Guild groups to support bartenders during the COVID-19 crisis. Visitors from out of town can even ask that the proceeds from their purchase be applied to the USBG chapter in their own hometown.
Now that Standard Proof’s tasting room includes a licensed and bonded distillery space in the back of the building where they rectify and package their product, they are permitted to operate their tasting room even while their bar remains closed. If you’re looking for a fun drinking experience that’s a little more refined and certainly safer than the honky-tonks of the neon valley of Broadway, meet some friends at the tasting room to make your way through their portfolio in an educational tasting for the price of a cocktail or two.
In addition to their regular offering, Standard Proof also features special editions of products for sampling and sale that will not be available anywhere else. During my initial visit, I tried an astounding version of Red Eye Rye that had been aged in red wine barrels for more than two years. Longhurst admitted it was a happy accident: an experiment that he set aside after it didn’t live up to his expectations after a few months, and basically forgot about until it was two years old. The result is a luscious spirit with a creamy mouthfeel, showing off a color and aroma reminiscent of a tawny port. If your preferred after-dinner beverage is coffee, whiskey or port, you can enjoy the best of all three with this really special spirit.
Once regulations allow, Standard Proof plans to open up the bar for guests, serving a menu of highballs and specialty cocktails. In another quirk of the state alcohol regulations, a bar at a distillery cannot serve any spirit they didn’t manufacture, so Longhurst has come up with some creative ways to feature his products without the need of ingredients like vermouth or other distillery’s products.
Longurst intends to open the bar “as soon as we legally can,” and when he does, it could be a very popular spot for downtown denizens. The space is filled with nice little nooks to hang out and enjoy a cocktail, and a mezzanine level will offer extra seating and a space to teach cocktail classes. The facility will also be available for private rental. A striking display of large glass infusion towers will be part of an eventual tour, showcasing the fresh ingredients that Standard Proof infuses into the rye/coffee blend. The company also intends to offer a straight rye product soon so that whiskey purists can experience the base spirit on its own.
Until the bar is officially open, drop by the Standard Proof tasting room Thursday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Taste through their products and take a bottle or two home plus a t-shirt, and you’ll be doing a good deed to help support the local cocktail and spirits industry.
