Lauren and Steve Schulz, the owners of Milwaukee's Purple Door Ice Cream, wanted to partner with Great Lakes Distillery (GLD) for a while. Like Purple Door, Great Lakes is located in Walker's Point and both have a commitment to craftsmanship and community.

"We met Guy Rehorst (owner of GLD) a while back and after sampling the fantastic spirits he makes, we knew we wanted to try some of his liquors in our ice cream," says Schulz.

The result is a whiskey ice cream made with Purple Door's ice cream and GLD's Kinnickinnic Whiskey. It does, in fact, taste like whiskey, but not in an overbearing way. The whiskey pairs well with the sweetness of the ice cream and creates an overall very smooth flavor.

Modestly, Schulz attributes the pleasing results to GLD's product.

"What is special about this ice cream is the KK Whiskey. The high-end, locally made and excellently blended whiskey has a very smooth and full flavor. That combined with the sugars of the ice cream create an amazingly smooth whiskey flavor with a hint of sweetness with no edge to it," says Schultz. "The first time we all tasted it we knew we had something good."

Rehorst concurs that the final product turned out well and that the two companies are indeed a good match.

"I think it's pretty spectacular. The whiskey and vanilla are flavors that go together really well," says Rehorst. "I think it's great that two local, small food producers can combine their labors so well. I think we both make premium products that stand apart from our mass produced competitors and I hope we can continue to collaborate with Purple Door and other local producers, too."

A customer does not have to be over 21 to eat the ice cream – it is non-alcoholic – but it's most likely not a good choice for children because they might appreciate the taste and further suggest that whiskey ingestion is acceptable for young people.

"You won't get carded if you buy this ice cream, but we do recommend this flavor for the more mature ice cream lover," says Schulz.

Purple Door's Kinnickinnic Whiskey ice cream is available at the company's retail location inside the Clock Shadow Creamery, 138 W. Bruce St. A pint is $6.50 and a scoop is $3.50.

Steve and Lauren Schulz, who live in Bay View, started Purple Door Ice Cream company in the spring of 2011. Currently, they produce 500 gallons of Philly-style ice cream a month and many of their ingredients are locally sourced.
Great Lakes Distillery is located at 616 W. Virginia Ave. and its products are sold in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota.

Spirits include Rehorst Premium Milwaukee Vodka, Rehorst Premium Milwaukee Gin and Rehorst Citrus & Honey-Flavored Vodka. They also feature Roaring Dan's Rum, fruit brandies, a malt whiskey made with Lakefront Brewery's Pumpkin Beer and two kinds of absinthe.

The distillery opened an on-site tasting room in 2012.

"We are thrilled once again to find such an excellent craftsman in our own city. People like Guy Rehorst make our job look very easy," says Schulz.