The distillery was born out of limestone caverns, a quarter of a mile from the Thornton Quarry. It was raised on water fed from an underground spring, discovered by Native Americans hundreds of years ago, which flows directly into the basement. The child it gave birth to was beer, starting in 1857 as the Bielfeldt Brewery and running until 1931. During Prohibition, it was run by Joseph Soltis, Public Enemy #9, who worked directly for Al Capone. Later, it was known as Thornton Brewing, McAvoy Brewing and later, White Bear Brewing, Inc. All this history can be tasted at The Well at the Distillery in the form of pecan whiskey and spiced rum, made from the same spring water, crafted on site and aged in oak barrels just above the limestone caves. You can sip it in the same weathered brick room where people have enjoyed beer for over 150 years. (David Witter)
