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Private by design
Designed around four guests rather than a crowd, preserving conversation, service and a sense of occasion.
The origin of Decanter
Before the first pour, there was a restoration.
Summer 2026 · Acquisition
A $1,000 vintage find
The AristoCraft was found on Facebook Marketplace in Griffith, Indiana. Original engine, decades of patina, and enough character to justify the trip. It came back to Chicago on a trailer with a new name waiting: Decanter.
Restoration begins · Chicago
Mechanical first. Beauty second.
The recommissioning started with the fundamentals: engine, ignition, cooling, fluids, wiring, trim and structure—while the original woodgrain, chrome and unmistakable 1970s proportions were preserved wherever possible.
Then, a coincidence
Wine racks in the alley
While work was underway beside the boat, six wooden wine-rack sections appeared in the alley. They were recovered on the spot. For a boat already becoming a floating wine experience, the timing felt almost too perfect—and the racks became part of the story.
