State Line Distillery Releases Five-Year Rye Whiskey

State Line Distillery Founder and Head Distiller, John Mleziva, debuts highly anticipated small-batch whiskey, available only at Madison location

Madison, Wis., Nov. 15, 2025 — State Line Distillery announces the release of its five-year Rye Whiskey, a limited-edition spirit that represents founder John Mleziva's passion for traditional whiskey craftsmanship. The small-batch release will be available exclusively at the distillery's tasting room in Madison and will not be sold online.

A Five-Year Journey to the Glass

The release marks a significant milestone for State Line Distillery, which has been aging this whiskey since the distillery's early days. Mleziva, a Heriot-Watt University-trained distiller with a Master of Science in Brewing & Distilling, has dedicated years to perfecting this grain-to-glass expression of Wisconsin's agricultural heritage.

"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."

What Makes This Release Special

The five-year Rye Whiskey showcases State Line's commitment to quality and patience in an industry often driven by speed to market.

Key features include:

– Five years of careful aging, reflecting traditional whiskey-making timelines

– Small-batch production using heritage grains from Wisconsin's Driftless Region

– Limited supply available only at the Madison tasting room

Tasting Room Exclusive Experience

Unlike State Line's other spirits, which are available for online purchase in 38 states, the five-year Rye Whiskey will only be sold at the distillery's tasting room. This exclusive approach allows whiskey enthusiasts to experience the spirit in the space where it was crafted and to connect directly with the distillery's story.

"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. Visitors to the tasting room 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, along with the distillery's full portfolio of vodka, gin, rum, aquavit and aperitivo.

For tasting room hours and location information, visit the link below.

###

About State Line Distillery

Founded by John Mleziva, State Line Distillery is a grain-to-glass craft distillery in Madison, Wisconsin. Mleziva, who holds a Master of Science in Brewing & Distilling from Heriot-Watt University in Scotland, sources grains from Wisconsin's Driftless Region to create an award-winning portfolio of spirits. The distillery's Coffee Liqueur, created in partnership with Kin-Kin Coffee, has earned Double Gold and Best in Class recognition at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. State Line Distillery's mission is to honor traditional distilling methods while showcasing the agricultural richness of Wisconsin.