An elegant curl of lemon zest garnishes this Old Fashioned. Photo: King Coil Spirits
Edina entrepreneur unleashes a spirited venture in St. Paul.
Built in 1918, the Vandalia Tower in St. Paul has been home to many businesses over the years. The Hamline-Midway neighborhood staple, recently renovated in 2020, continues to embody elegance and class while showcasing historical features, such as exposed brick, metal beams and large industrial windows. The hardwood floors and sunlit rooms create an approachable ambiance that welcomes visitors to stay a while.
Edina resident Jeremy Maynor is no stranger to the Vandalia Tower. He and his business partners opened Lake Monster Brewing in the building in 2015. After successfully mastering the brewery business and gaining a loyal following of beer enthusiasts, Maynor and his business partners started to entertain the idea of distilling. “The market in the Twin Cities is growing fast, so it’s a new challenge for us,” Maynor says. “Having an excellent brewery experience made us want to try spirits and then food.”
As an homage to the King Koil mattress factory that once called Vandalia Tower home, King Coil Spirits has become the newest tenant in the building. It comes as no surprise that the founding trio dove headfirst into research and preparations, resulting in a robust roster of craft cocktails and delicious food pairings.
King Coil got its name from the original occupant of the building, the King Koil mattress factory.
“We spent a lot of time making our cocktail menu, and we have some really amazing items on there,” Maynor says. “We then spent another three months building the pizza menu.”
Matt Lange, King Coil’s head distiller, worked tirelessly in partnership with cocktail consultant David Curiel to identify industry trends, brainstorm recipes and discuss how to reduce waste. Lange previously worked as an assistant brewer at Ale Asylum brewery in Madison, Wisconsin, before moving back to Minnesota.
“I was looking for a new challenge,” Lange says. “I get a little bit restless and like coming up with new ideas.”
The cocktail menu is the brainchild of Matt Lange, King Coil’s head distiller, and cocktail consultant David Curiel.
Lange approaches developing spirits with considerations, such as food pairings, future cocktail iterations or flavor profiles. All of the liquor at King Coil is made in house with natural and unfiltered products. With over 26 different spirits and liquors, the possibilities are practically endless.
The drink menu is split between classic cocktails and original creations. A customer favorite, Silk Road, is a frothy milk punch made with gin, Earl Grey tea and spices. The bartenders at King Coil have the unique opportunity to lean on their previous experience and get creative.
The Queen Coil and Highball frequently pop up on Instagram feeds.
“We empower our core bartenders to choose a spirit and a category and come up with a menu item for the season,” Lange says. “That’s how we got the Hygee Hot Apple Cider with gin and The Minnesota Nice with white rum, ginger, lime and mint,” a take on the Mint Julep.
For those looking for a new twist on pizza, look no further than the Roman-style pizzas with a thick focaccia-like crust. Similar to the cocktails, pizza options span from traditional to quirky, such as The Lake Monster, which swells with whitefish pâté, capers, pickled red onion and arugula. If pizza isn’t your pick, King Coil also offers salads and small plates, and every week has a special, including Lamb Lollipops. And if you truly can’t decide between dinner or drinks, pairing menus of cocktails and food or beer from Lake Monster has you covered. (Reservations required.)
In addition to the one-of-a-kind atmosphere, personable staff and incredible menu, the spacious patio (shared with Lake Monster Brewery) and ample parking welcome guests from near and far—it’s worth the drive.
Look for King Coil Spirits at Edina Liquor or France 44.
King Coil Spirits
550 Vandalia St. Suite 140, St. Paul; 651.300.9550
Facebook: King Coil Spirits
Instagram: @kingcoilspirits
Lake Monster Brewing Company
550 Vandalia St. Suite 150, St. Paul; 612.964.6288
Facebook: Lake Monster Brewing
X: @LakeMonsterBrew
