Central Standard Craft Distillery To Launch Exclusive Rooftop Refresher Series At The Aviary

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (May 19, 2025) — Beginning Memorial Day weekend, Central Standard Craft Distillery will launch its brand-new Rooftop Refresher series at The Aviary, heading off a summer of exciting releases for the Milwaukee-based distillery. The Rooftop Refresher series will offer a rotating selection of innovative cocktails with a focus on creating a unique experience for guests, as bartenders will hand-sell a curated selection of craft and Ready-to-Drink (RTD) cocktails that change flavors each month. These specialized beverages will be exclusively available at The Aviary, the rooftop bar of Central Standard’s Crafthouse & Kitchen.

The Central Standard team designed the Rooftop Refresher concept to build on the success of its Crafthouse cocktails with a more specialized drink experience for guests. Visitors can enjoy sipping fresh, premium flavors mixed with Central Standard’s award-winning spirits as they soak in The Aviary’s scenic rooftop views of Milwaukee. The Rooftop Refresher’s monthly flavor will remain a surprise each month. The Aviary will also offer new, pre-packaged, à la carte food options to pair with drinks.

“Every year we are looking for new and exciting ways to elevate our guest experience,” said Central Standard’s Co-Founder & CEO Evan Hughes. “The Rooftop Refresher, along with our new à la carte food offerings on The Aviary, are sure to be a hit.”

Innovation in a Can

Each Rooftop Refresher will be packaged in a distinctive can featuring an old map of downtown Milwaukee, with the Central Standard logo marking the Crafthouse location. The top of each can will include the hashtag #RoofTopTime, allowing guests to share their experiences and to participate in a giveaway offering for a $100 Crafthouse gift card. View the packaging here, and full imagery here.

A Rising Star in the Midwest’s RTD Scene

The Rooftop Refresher launch follows a year of exciting growth in Central Standard’s new RTD line, created in partnership with Leinenkugel’s. Made with premium flavors mixed with Central Standard’s award-winning spirits, the distillery’s RTD line currently features brandy- and bourbon-based Old Fashioned styles and a Cherry Vodka Lemonade. In the spirit of summertime, Central Standard also recently released a limited-time canned version of its popular Rocket Pop Pour Ready cocktail, which blends award-winning Door County Cherry Vodka with refreshing flavors of blue raspberry and cherry.

Initially launched in spring 2024, Central Standard’s RTD distribution has since expanded from Wisconsin to Illinois, Minnesota, and now Iowa, with additional retail rollout planned in the coming months. In March 2025, Central Standard partnered with Amtrak’s Borealis line (connecting Chicago to Minneapolis/St. Paul) to further extend a taste of local Milwaukee, now offering its Brandy Old Fashioned RTD onboard for travelers.

Try the Rooftop Refresher at The Aviary!

The first Rooftop Refresher will be available to the public starting Friday, May 23 (Memorial Day weekend) at The Aviary, 320 E Clybourn St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Interested media can reach out to cmartin(at)trozzolo.com to coordinate interviews, tours and assets.

To stay up to date on all Central Standard products, events and happenings, visit thecentralstandard.com or follow on Facebook or Instagram. 

About Central Standard Craft Distillery 

Central Standard Craft Distillery, a small batch, craft distillery in Milwaukee and the fastest-growing top-10 Wisconsin-based distiller, handcrafts award-winning bourbon, whiskey, vodka and gin from locally sourced ingredients, including cherries grown in Door County and honey harvested in Germantown. Founded in 2014, Central Standard Craft Distillery has won 40 medals across multiple craft distilling categories. Learn more at thecentralstandard.com, or by following them on social at instagram.com/thecentralstandard/ or facebook.com/thecentralstandard.

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