Nightlife news and notes: Cocktail rooms at distilleries

If distillers have anything to say about it, 2015 could be the year of the cocktail room. Following a law change allowing Minnesota distilleries to sell drinks for on-site imbibing, several spirit-makers are looking to open their equivalent to breweries' taprooms. Duluth's Vikre Distillery became the state's first, and Du Nord Craft Spirits will become the Twin Cities' first when its cocktail room opens at 4 p.m. Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The south Minneapolis distillery tapped bartender Mike Rasmussen, formerly of La Belle Vie and Marin, to create a menu of classic and signature cocktails using its Fitzgerald Gin and L'etoile Du Nord Vodka. Bottle sales are still prohibited, but the cocktail room will be open Wednesday through Saturday, and there will be local food trucks outside.

2610 E. 32nd St., Mpls., www.dunordcraftspirits.com

It's a rare night when First Avenue ditches wailing guitar solos or body-moving beats for body slams and flying elbows. But Minneapolis wrestling crew F1rst Wrestling presents Wrestlepalooza V Friday. A score of aspiring Hulk Hogans, including Playboy Pete Huge and Yabo the Clown, will hand out beat-downs in the ring. The fifth such event will also feature performances by World Class Burlesque, Queenie von Curves, Musette the Mistress of Mischief and Metallagher.

8 p.m., Fri., $20, 18-plus, 701 1st Av. N., Mpls., 612-332-1775, www.first-avenue.com

You've heard about beer dinners. Well, Icehouse is applying the concept to the most Instagram-able meal of the weekend. The south Minneapolis restaurant and music club will host a beer brunch on Jan. 17, pairing brews from Indeed, Fulton, Surly and a cocktail using a Norseman Distillery spirit with late-morning (or early afternoon) eats. The ticketed multicourse food fest also features live music from Gabriel Douglas and friends.

11 a.m., Jan. 17, $65 (includes tax and gratuity), 2528 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., 612-276-6523, www.icehousempls.com

MICHAEL RIETMULDER