Located at the edge of Lake Michigan, Traverse City has been a popular spot among travellers due to its laidback vibe and endless adventures such as boating, paddling and beachcombing. More than just the adventures, one must explore the thriving food scene of Traverse City and enjoy the creative and fresh cuisine. Ingredients used are from farm-fresh where the produces are farmed locally, so you can expect unprocessed, natural delicacies. Good news for alcohol lovers out there! Traverse is also known for its amazing distilleries, which includes the farm-to-table concept as well. So look forward to a wide range of fresh spirits that are locally sourced and brewed, here are the top distilleries in Traverse City, Michigan!
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1. Mammoth Distilling Cocktail Lounge
Giving you an all-rounded experience, Mammoth Distillery provides you with a tour and offers a lounge area where you get to have a taste of their artisanal classic cocktails. However, don’t just stop at touring and exploring the distillery - experience making it as well! Live the distiller life just for a day and get to make your very own blend of bourbon or rye. Sample and taste the various blends that have been prepared for you by their master distiller, choose up to 10 of your favourite ones, blend them and there you have it - your very own custom blend where you can personalize your label as well!
Mammoth Distilling Cocktail Lounge
Address: 221 Garland St D, Traverse City, MI 49684
Website: Mammoth Distilling Cocktail Lounge
Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 3pm - 10pm; Wed: 3pm - 11pm; Thu - Sat: 12pm - 12am; Sun: 12pm - 10pm
2. Grand Traverse Distillery
The oldest distillery in Michigan’s craft spirit industry, Grand Traverse Distillery has received multiple awards since their early days. It also achieved the title of one of the best distilleries in Michigan. By way of locally grown crops, Grand Traverse produces a wide range of spirits which includes vodka, gin, rum and whiskies. They also sell unaged whiskies, so you can get to experience the process of ageing of the spirit from the comfort of your home. Book a tour with them to have a better understanding of how the oldest grain-to-bottle distillery works, to learn about the busy yet fulfilling life of the distillers, and to explore all five tasting rooms where you get to sample their products!
Grand Traverse Distillery
Address: 781 Industrial Cir STE 5, Traverse City, MI 49686
Website: Grand Traverse Distillery
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 5pm (closed on Sun)
3. Traverse City Whiskey Co.
Traverse City Whiskey Co. is a distillery that specializes in whiskey and whiskey cocktails. Said to be using conventional techniques passed down over three generations before, Traverse City Whiskey Co. produces spirits and cocktails with local and handmade ingredients in a rustic space that comes with a patio. They also offer limited-edition whiskey. So be sure to drop by their speakeasy bar or book a tour and have a better understanding of how they produce their signature whiskeys.
Traverse City Whiskey Co.
Address: 201 E 14TH ST, Traverse City, MI 49684
Website: Traverse City Whiskey Co.
Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 12pm - 9pm; Wed - Thu: 12pm - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 12pm - 12am; Sun: 12pm - 8pm
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Nearby distilleries
4. Northern Latitudes Distillery
A small distillery that produces creative and unique spirits such as horseradish vodka and jack pine gin, Northern Latitude Distillery serves up 14 different spirits and custom cocktails which are created by their own bartenders. The cosy distillery also allows diners to try up to four different spirits for free before they decide on their choice of drinks.
Northern Latitudes Distillery
Address: 112 E Philip St., Lake Leelanau MI49653
Website: Northern Latitudes Distillery
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 6pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 7pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm
5. Ethanology
A distillery opened by a lovely couple, Ethnology Distillation has set itself different from others by emphasizing how their spirits are different from the usual bottles that most distilleries present. Instead, they make use of fruits, grains and botanicals from Northern Michigan. Hence, marketing their spirits as a bottle of Northern Michigan. Focusing on mainly gin, vodka, whisky and mel, their very own honey spirit, Ethnology definitely does serve up easy-to-drink spirits that make you want to go back for more. Take part in their distillery tour where they provide a detailed explanation of their unconventional distillation process!
Ethanology
Address: 127 Ames St. Elk Rapids, MI 49629
Website: Ethanology
Opening hours: Thu: 3pm - 10pm; Fri: 3pm - 11pm; Sat: 1pm - 11pm; Sun: 12pm - 4pm (closed from Mon - Wed)
6. Iron Fish Distillery
Iron Fish Distillery is Michigan’s first and only farm-based distillery. Providing you with two different tours to consider, Iron Fishgg allows you to have a sense of how their spirits are being crafted from the soil to your glass. Choose the distillery tour, where you get to travel back in time and have a better understanding of Iron Fish’s origin as well as to have a taste of their award-winning Michigan wheat vodka and Michigan woodland gin. Or opt for the private estate tour where you not only get to tour the distillery but also the Rick house where you get to taste two different whiskey casks and receive a 200 ml (6.8 oz.) whiskey bottle from the cask as a door gift.
Iron Fish Distillery
Address: 14234 Dzuibanek Rd, Thompsonville, MI 49683, United States
Website: Iron Fish Distillery
Opening hours: Mon: 2pm - 8pm; Thu: 2pm - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 12pm - 10pm; Sun: 12pm - 6pm (closed on Tue & Wed)
7. Long Road Distillers - Boyne City
Long Road Distilleries is a well-known name among many in Michigan. Despite having a total of three outlets, Long Road Distilleries, Boyne City, is the only outlet of the company that comes with a tasting room. Look forward to their wide range of handcrafted spirits, special tasting events, as well as to-go spirit bottles and merchandise! Definitely a not to be missed spot even if you’re not an alcohol lover!
Long Road Distillers - Boyne City
Address: 118 Water St NW, Boyne City MI 49712
Website: Long Road Distillers
Opening hours: Mon & Thu: 12pm - 5pm; Fri - Sat: 12pm - 7pm; Sun: 12pm - 4pm (closed on Tue & Wed)
8. Copper Kettle Distilling Company
Located by the gorgeous Houghton Lake, Copper Kettle Distilling Company serves up a variety of handcrafted spirits in a lodge setting. You can get to unwind in their very own cosy tasting room, where you get to enjoy the beauty of natural finished log building while watching the distiller in action. Despite being in an old log building that was built back in 1939, Copper Kettle is a relatively new distillery that started in 2017. However, the owner’s experience in making wine and beer dates all the way back to 30 years ago. So, you can definitely expect some quality, smooth spirit being served.
Copper Kettle Home Distilling Company
Address: 939 W Houghton Lake Dr, Prudenville, MI 48651
Website: Copper Kettle Distilling Company
Opening hours: Wed - Thu: 12pm - 8pm; Fri - Sat: 12pm - 11pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm (closed on Mon & Tue)
9. High Five Spirits
High Five Spirits is an award-winning distillery that aims to make spirits for the young and free-spirited explorers. From Petosky Stone Gin, a juniper berry and lavender-flavoured gin to Mackinac Island, a rum which is flavoured with cinnamon, nutmeg and chocolate, this distillery does not produce the usual spirit that you can get anywhere. Springwater and handpicked crops are used during the distillation process as well, it is no wonder that High Five Spirit has been recognized as one of the best distilleries in Michigan. With a trendy and casual bar located in the heart of Petosky, High Five Spirit is also a popular hangout spot for cocktail lovers as they serve out delicious cocktails such as vodkarita with pineapple jalapeno.
High Five Spirits
Address: 312 Howard St, Petoskey, MI 49770,
Website: High Five Spirits
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 4pm - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 12am (closed on Sun & Mon)
Drink responsibly
While we definitely don’t see a point in participating in countless distillery tours - it will surely be an eye-opening experience. We definitely do encourage you to head down to give their handcrafted spirits a try as they each have their own unique flavour and character! Nevertheless, be sure to drink responsibly and moderately!
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