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That's the Spirit! Michigan's Cup Runneth Over With Distilleries
By Jennie Miller - CandGNews.com | March 16, 2011
Distilleries are all the rage in Michigan these days, with establishments popping all over the state, many of them getting worldwide recognition for their products.
Kent Rabish, owner of Grand Traverse Distillery, got the bug back in 2001, after visiting a tasting room in Oregon.
"I'm Polish, I love vodka, and I was just amazed at the quality," Rabish said. "I've got a biology and chemistry degree, and I came home to Michigan and wondered why no one in the Midwest was distilling."
He spent four years doing research and meeting with equipment managers. He started construction on his distillery in 2006, and by June of 2007 had a product on the shelves. Rabish's vodka has since been ranked in the top 5 percent in the world, and has been rated among the best by the International Review of Spirits, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
"The big goal we want people to remember, No. 1, is that 10-15 years ago to get a world-class vodka you did buy something from Poland and Russia and France," he said. "But we've rated higher than those you find on the shelves. We raise local grains and we do it here. We can keep this money here at home. You've got to educate people that we can do it here. There's a new emphasis, and it's real strong in Michigan: Buy local. It keeps a neighbor employed and the money stays here. There's an emphasis on buying local on all types of goods - not just automobiles."
Rabish said his was the first stand-alone distillery in the state of Michigan, and currently is the largest.
"We're shipping outside the state - we're available in Illinois and Colorado," he said. "We'll probably pick up two or three more states this year. That's good for us, and that's good for Michigan. I bought probably 500,000 pounds of locally grown grain (last year). We probably do maybe close to 3,000 cases a year. That's all Michigan grown, locally grown grain. As I expand more, all this grain is going to be grown here. It keeps farmers farming. The bigger we get, the more people we employ, and it's good for Michigan."
The world of distillation opened up in Michigan a few years ago, when licensing fees dropped and guidelines loosened.
Chris Moersch, general manager for the long-running Round Barn Winery, said the company began looking into expanding its offerings in 1996.
"My family's been in the wine business in Michigan for 30-plus years," Moersch said. "When they changed those laws, my father started to look into it, (took) some classes ... and ended up traveling through Germany and Switzerland and parts of Northern France, and decided we wanted to get into it. We ended up purchasing a still in 1999, and started producing brandies and fortified dessert wines, and eventually that ended up with vodka, rum and bourbon. We were among the first, we were definitely in the first wave."
Laws and fees have continued to change, leading to more and more distilleries throughout the state in recent years.
"The cost of a Distilled Spirits Producer license was greatly reduced in 2005, so at that time it became a feasible venture," explained Rich Blair, regional spirits ambassador for New Holland Brewing Co., which expanded its products to include vodka, gin, rum and whiskey after the process became more practical. "In 2008 it became legal to distill from grain in Michigan. Previously, all distilled spirits had to be fruit-based."
Michigan now ranks second behind California in the number of distilleries across the country, with 11 licensed establishments.
"I think part of it is people are looking more and more for that handmade, unique product, and I think a lot of the people that maybe 10-15 years ago that may have gotten into wine and beer have started to look into the spirits," Moersch said. "For us, we had been making wine and wanted to get into the brandies, so it was kind of the next step. ... You have to ferment or make a wine or a beer to distill, so it's that next logical step for us, and that's really what led us down the road. For us, our main business has been the wine business, so it has been a really nice add-on for us."
"Distilling is certainly gaining in popularity in Michigan," Blair added. "We feel this is brought on by the innovative nature of small producers. Small-batch, handcrafted spirits bring new flavors to the ever-evolving cocktail culture in our great state. Consumers will continue to champion well-made local spirits, as long as they are available. The Michigan craft beer industry has created many proud local drinkers, many of whom are embracing the wonderful spirits now made right here."
For more information about Grand Traverse Distillery, located in Traverse City, visit www.grandtraversedistillery.com or call (231) 947-VODKA.
For more information about Round Barn Winery, in Baroda, Saugatuck and Union Pier, visit www.roundbarnwinery.com or call (800) 716-9463.
For more information about New Holland Brewing Co. in Holland, visit www.newhollandbrew.com or call (616) 355-6422.
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Matt and Chris Moersch, of Round Barn Winery in Baroda, expanded to include a brewery, a distillery and two tasting rooms, one in Saugatuck and one in Union Pier.
Kent Rabish, owner of Grand Traverse Distillery, got the bug back in 2001, after visiting a tasting room in Oregon.
"I'm Polish, I love vodka, and I was just amazed at the quality," Rabish said. "I've got a biology and chemistry degree, and I came home to Michigan and wondered why no one in the Midwest was distilling."
He spent four years doing research and meeting with equipment managers. He started construction on his distillery in 2006, and by June of 2007 had a product on the shelves. Rabish's vodka has since been ranked in the top 5 percent in the world, and has been rated among the best by the International Review of Spirits, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
"The big goal we want people to remember, No. 1, is that 10-15 years ago to get a world-class vodka you did buy something from Poland and Russia and France," he said. "But we've rated higher than those you find on the shelves. We raise local grains and we do it here. We can keep this money here at home. You've got to educate people that we can do it here. There's a new emphasis, and it's real strong in Michigan: Buy local. It keeps a neighbor employed and the money stays here. There's an emphasis on buying local on all types of goods - not just automobiles."
Rabish said his was the first stand-alone distillery in the state of Michigan, and currently is the largest.
"We're shipping outside the state - we're available in Illinois and Colorado," he said. "We'll probably pick up two or three more states this year. That's good for us, and that's good for Michigan. I bought probably 500,000 pounds of locally grown grain (last year). We probably do maybe close to 3,000 cases a year. That's all Michigan grown, locally grown grain. As I expand more, all this grain is going to be grown here. It keeps farmers farming. The bigger we get, the more people we employ, and it's good for Michigan."
The world of distillation opened up in Michigan a few years ago, when licensing fees dropped and guidelines loosened.
Chris Moersch, general manager for the long-running Round Barn Winery, said the company began looking into expanding its offerings in 1996.
"My family's been in the wine business in Michigan for 30-plus years," Moersch said. "When they changed those laws, my father started to look into it, (took) some classes ... and ended up traveling through Germany and Switzerland and parts of Northern France, and decided we wanted to get into it. We ended up purchasing a still in 1999, and started producing brandies and fortified dessert wines, and eventually that ended up with vodka, rum and bourbon. We were among the first, we were definitely in the first wave."
Laws and fees have continued to change, leading to more and more distilleries throughout the state in recent years.
"The cost of a Distilled Spirits Producer license was greatly reduced in 2005, so at that time it became a feasible venture," explained Rich Blair, regional spirits ambassador for New Holland Brewing Co., which expanded its products to include vodka, gin, rum and whiskey after the process became more practical. "In 2008 it became legal to distill from grain in Michigan. Previously, all distilled spirits had to be fruit-based."
Michigan now ranks second behind California in the number of distilleries across the country, with 11 licensed establishments.
"I think part of it is people are looking more and more for that handmade, unique product, and I think a lot of the people that maybe 10-15 years ago that may have gotten into wine and beer have started to look into the spirits," Moersch said. "For us, we had been making wine and wanted to get into the brandies, so it was kind of the next step. ... You have to ferment or make a wine or a beer to distill, so it's that next logical step for us, and that's really what led us down the road. For us, our main business has been the wine business, so it has been a really nice add-on for us."
"Distilling is certainly gaining in popularity in Michigan," Blair added. "We feel this is brought on by the innovative nature of small producers. Small-batch, handcrafted spirits bring new flavors to the ever-evolving cocktail culture in our great state. Consumers will continue to champion well-made local spirits, as long as they are available. The Michigan craft beer industry has created many proud local drinkers, many of whom are embracing the wonderful spirits now made right here."
For more information about Grand Traverse Distillery, located in Traverse City, visit www.grandtraversedistillery.com or call (231) 947-VODKA.
For more information about Round Barn Winery, in Baroda, Saugatuck and Union Pier, visit www.roundbarnwinery.com or call (800) 716-9463.
For more information about New Holland Brewing Co. in Holland, visit www.newhollandbrew.com or call (616) 355-6422.
<< Back to news
