A One-Night-Only Event of Whiskey and Art

Art of the Sip is a sensory experience. It's where whiskey meets the artists whose work is inspired by its ingredients and history. Think gallery setting, but with the warmth of a neat pour and the kind of conversations that only happen when people are able to slow down for a sip.

For this special evening on December 12, a group of the region’s most talented ceramic artists created handcrafted whiskey cups inspired by our American Single Malt expressions: Silver, American, and Cold-Peated®. Each cup has its own personality: a curve that invites your hand, a glaze that catches the light just right, or a texture you only notice once you’re holding it.

You’ll get to meet and talk with the artists, sip some whiskey, and if you fall in love with one of the artist's creations you can purchase it and take it home to elevate your whiskey ritual, or to gift to someone special.

Samuel Johnson (Photo by Jackie Sedlock)

Featured Artists

We’re honored to welcome and incredible line-up of curated artists who have shown, including:

Richard Bresnahan, renowned Artist-in-Residence at St. John’s University, the first living potter featured at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the subject of the Emmy-winning documentary Clay, Wood, Fire, Spirit.
Samuel Johnson, potter and former apprentice to Richard Bresnahan known for richly textured, deeply intentional forms.
Plus, a curated group of artists who have shown through their art that the cups we drink from can hold meaning, not just liquid. Click on each artist’s name to visit their website to learn more about them and their work.

These artists aren’t just making vessels. They’re shaping moments. The pause before a sip, the weight of a cup resting in your hand, the way clay and spirit influence each other.

Why We’re Hosting This Event

Brother Justus Founder & CEO, Phil Steger, says it best: “In the rush and pressure of digitized, algorithmatized and now AI-slopped life aggressively splitting our attention into a million tiny bits, artists of everyday beauty and physical connection are freedom fighters. Moments to pause and unify our attention on form and sensation are acts of independence.”

Phil sees ceramics much like whiskey. Clay begins in the earth. It’s opened by air. It’s hardened by fire. It holds water, which is life itself. And American Single Malt isn’t far off. Barley grows from the earth, shaped by water and transformed into spirit.

Put the two together and you get a rare thing…a moment that brings you fully back into your senses.

What to Expect

You’ll move through the distillery at your own pace, whiskey in hand, with space to look at each artist’s work and connect with them. You can pick up the ceramic cups, feel the different forms and finishes, and hear a bit about how they were made. It will be a relaxed atmosphere. No pressure and nothing complicated, just a chance to slow down and enjoy the evening. Whether you're a whiskey fan, an art lover, or someone who just wants a night with less doom scrolling and more real human connection, this is it.

Art of the Sip: Inspired by Justus
Friday, December 12, 2025 | 6-8:30pm
The event is free to attend. RSVPs encouraged.

RSVP Today