NoDa gets its first distillery, and it’s a familiar name: Great Wagon Road Distilling
Ollie Mulligan, founder of Great Wagon Road Distilling Co. and The Broken Spoke, has announced plans to bring his distillery and cocktail bar to 610 Anderson Street — the space previously home to NoDa’s Bold Missy Brewery.
“I’m nervous about the road ahead, I know what’s involved,” Mulligan said. “But I’m excited to get going again.”
Mulligan had searched for a new home for his distillery since leaving Lower South End earlier this year. His business will once again enjoy the company of several breweries in the neighborhood, which was one of the things that attracted him to this location. That the building previously housed a brewery was another, since it will save him some work during the buildout. This will be NoDa’s first distillery.
Mulligan also purchased Bold Missy’s 15-barrel brewhouse. While he has worked with The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery in the past to produce the mash for his award-winning Rúa American Single Malt Whiskey, having his own brewery will allow Mulligan to produce his own mash (the liquid brewed prior to distillation). He will not change any of the recipes for his current spirits, but plans to soon add 704 Gin and later a bourbon and rye whiskey (those will need some time to age).
When Mulligan first opened, state law prohibited him from selling cocktails at Great Wagon Road Distilling Co. — which is why he opened The Broken Spoke next door. Now, he’s able to consolidate both operations under the same roof.
A lot of familiar sights
Expect much of The Broken Spoke’s furniture — the bar top, leather couches and Irish phone booth, for example — to make their way to the new location.
“It won’t be quite as fancy as The Broken Spoke, but it will fit the neighborhood,” Mulligan said.
First and foremost, Mulligan wants visitors to realize they’re in a distillery. A window will look onto the production still, and a smaller still will sit behind the bar. Whiskey barrels will feature prominently both in the taproom and behind the bar, where Mulligan will pour directly from three barrels: one filled with Rúa, one with Quinn’s Barrel Aged Whiskey, and one “guest barrel.” Mulligan also plans to offer “barrel selects” so that people can have a bottle filled from the barrel of their choice.
In addition to whiskey pulled right from the barrels, visitors can expect many of the same craft cocktails from The Broken Spoke. Some of the food options will move over as well, though since the kitchen is smaller the emphasis will be more on pizzas, flatbreads, charcuterie boards and salads. Mulligan plans to also have prosecco and Guinness on draft, as well as a few local beers on tap.
The building has 8,505 square feet, with the taproom accounting for 2,000 square feet. Mulligan said he anticipates a “phased opening” due to wait times on equipment, but hopes to serve patrons by August.
This story was originally published June 19, 2020 at 6:39 PM.
