State Line Distillery has released its five-year Rye Whiskey, a limited-edition small-batch spirit available only at the distillery’s Madison, Wisconsin tasting room. The release represents founder and head distiller John Mleziva’s dedication to traditional whiskey craftsmanship and marks a significant milestone for the Wisconsin distillery.
The whiskey has been aging since State Line’s early days and will not be sold online, unlike the distillery’s other products available in 38 states.
Mleziva holds a Master of Science in Brewing & Distilling from Heriot-Watt University in Scotland and has applied his training to create this grain-to-glass expression.
“Whiskey has always been my true passion,” said John Mleziva, founder of State Line Distillery. “While we’re proud of our entire portfolio, this five-year rye reflects the lessons I learned in Scotland and everything I love about distilling.”
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The small-batch rye uses heritage grains from Wisconsin’s Driftless Region and follows traditional whiskey-making timelines with its five-year aging process.
State Line chose to make this an exclusive tasting room release to create a direct connection between visitors and the distillery’s craft.
“We want people to come to Madison, taste this whiskey in our tasting room, and understand the care that went into every step,” said Mleziva. “This isn’t a product you can just click and buy. It’s something you need to experience.”
Due to limited supply, the five-year Rye Whiskey is expected to sell quickly at the Madison location.
Visitors can also sample State Line’s award-winning Coffee Liqueur, which earned Double Gold and Best in Class honors at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
The distillery’s portfolio includes vodka, gin, rum, aquavit and aperitivo alongside its whiskey offerings.
State Line Distillery joins a growing number of American craft distilleries focusing on longer-aged whiskeys to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market.
