Women Who Whiskey Presents: Black Frost Distilling and France44

Join us this September as we take over the France44 Event Space and learn about the unique northern terroir featured in the Black Frost Distilling portfolio!

Tickets are $52 and include a privately reserved lounge and event space where guests will receive a welcome cocktail, 6 neat tasting pours from the Black Frost Distilling portfolio, small bites from France44 Catering, and a guided spirits education from Owner & Master Distiller Jace Marti. This event is a great opportunity for members to explore a new event venue, expanded catering services from the France44 team, and an up-and-coming Minnesota Distillery with a unique portfolio offering!

Food for the evening will be arranged and served grazing-style by the France44 Events catering team. Our dining menu for the night includes:

• Gyro Spiced Meatballs
• Vegetarian Arepas
• Caprese Skewers
• Cheese and Charceuterie (bread and crackers (GF))
• Brownie Bites

Members of our chapter will be introduced to the unique production methods and environmentally localized sources that owner/founder Jace Marti uses in his distillation process. Tasting pours for the night have been curated to pair with our educational format for the evening and include neat pours of the three individual blending components that make up the Black Frost Distilling whiskey portfolio, along with samples of the blended finished products - 6 samples in total! Learn how Canadian-style whiskey production influences the way the Master Distiller creates and expands the Black Frost Distilling portfolio. Featured spirits throughout the evening include:

• Black Frost Bourbon (Released in November 2024)
• Black Frost Rye (Released in March 2025. Rye-lover or not, trust us - you'll want to try this rye!)
• Black Frost Barrel Aged Rum (utilizing a unique yeast strain and Louisianna style molasses)
• and a special surprise! (utilizing UofM research for varieties of grains that withstand the extreme changes in MN weather patterns)

Attendees of this event will also have the opportunity to purchase bottles of Black Frost Distilling products featured throughout the evening at the France44 retail shop!

Programming Schedule:

6-6:30 Check-in, welcome cocktail, light bites are served

6:30 Program begins, education by Jace Marti, owner of Black Frost Distilling

7:30 Program concludes, guests are encouraged to stay to socialize and make any purchases from the France44 liquor store

8:00 Event Concludes

About the Distillery Black Frost Distilling was founded in 2022 by a 6th-generation brewmaster and a 6th-generation family farmer with the goal of creating spirits with a distinct sense of northern terroir. After starting their portfolio utilizing a unique yeast-strain for its Molasses-based Rum, Black Frost Distilling officially launched their first bourbon in November of 2024 where the Twin Cities Co-Chairs also got a first-taste of their yet-to-be-released rye while attending the MN Distillers Guild event. The Twin Cities Co-Chairs are excited to FINALLY get to bring their portfolio to our members as we feel they are truly an original Northern Minnesota palate.

About the France44 Event Space Founded in the 1950s as a small downtown bottle shop, France44 has grown over three generations of the Anderson family into a Minneapolis destination for wine, spirits, cheese, whole animal butchery, and education. The business was eventually taken over by Red’s son, Rich, who evolved the operations to focus on wine. The Anderson's razed the building and erected the existing structure in 2000 allowing France44 to take its first foray into food with the opening of the Cheese Shop in 2001. The food business went through several iterations and currently includes a cut-to-order cheese counter, a fully stocked whole animal butcher shop, a curated gourmet grocery, and a scratch deli that offers made-to-order sandwiches, salads, and cheese boards. Rick, Rich’s son, took over the family business in 2007 and most recently expanded to include the event space addition in 2022. This beautiful new space now allows for teaching cooking and wine classes, hosting weddings, celebrations, and corporate gatherings, and bringing community together at their themed pop-up nights.

The Women Who Whiskey - Twin Cities Co-Chairs are excited to support two new and budding entities in the industry and welcome you to join us on the front-end of both brands' latest ventures. We look forward to hosting you at this event!

Women and non-binary folks only, please. All women are welcome!

Host or Publisher Women Who Whiskey Twin Cities