Michigan Distilleries Unite to Form Statewide Organization - Michigan Craft Distillers Association

Michigan’s craft distilling industry is growing at a rapid pace – ranking #4 in the nation in terms of overall number of distilleries (behind California, Oregon and Washington). To help unify the interests of the more than two dozen Michigan distilleries, a statewide association has been formed.

The Michigan Craft Distillers Association is a non-profit organization charged with marketing the individual member businesses, their products and events, but also help bring a voice for the industry when it comes to legislative issues that affect the overall beverage industry.

Founding board members for the Michigan Craft Distillers Association are:

• President: Rifino Valentine, Valentine Distilling
• Vice President: Kent Rabish, Grand Traverse Distillery
• Secretary: Don Coe, Black Star Farms
• Treasurer: Kris Berglund, Red Cedar Spirits & Artisan Distilling at Michigan State University
• Director: Brett Vander Kamp, New Holland Artisan Spirits

Dianna Stampfler of Promote Michigan will serve as the association’s part-time Executive Director.

“In 2012, I was approached by several of the Michigan distilleries to research and form an organization to represent the industry’s needs,” says Stampfler, who has also worked as the publicist for the Michigan Brewers Guild since 2008. “It’s been a time-consuming process and although no formal organization was in place, the distilleries have been communicating and working together to develop and enhance their industry.”

Earlier this spring, through its grass-roots connections, Michigan distillers were encouraged to contact their local State Representatives when a “Farm to Glass” bill was introduced that originally didn’t include distilled spirits. As a result, lines of communication between the distillers and legislators were opened. The association’s board and executive director have been asked to meet with other Michigan craft beverage producers in June to see where there are overlapping needs that the groups can work collectively to reach. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has also reached out to the association for help in planning a business-to-business summit in November.

“Even though the association wasn’t officially formed, the board and many of our future members have been working on various levels to raise awareness for Michigan’s craft distilling industry,” Stampfler says. “Not only is there is regular communication among the distilleries, but our social media channels are full of news clips focused on this rapidly-expanding industry. We’ve been busy – and now, we can formally move forward as the state’s official organization.”

Within the first year of operation, the Michigan Craft Distillers Association will strengthen its ties with other Michigan associations as well as national distiller organizations like the American Craft Distillers Association and the American Distilling Institute.

A directory and map identifying distillery locations is in the works, aimed to boost visits the individual tasting rooms and distilleries. The guide will also serve to encourage residents and visitors alike to seek out, ask for and sample the many Michigan-made craft spirits that are available in the marketplace. This publication will be distributed statewide at the Welcome Centers, chamber offices and visitor bureau offices, and will also be available online at SpiritsOfMichigan.com.

The Michigan Craft Distillers Association will offer membership to any operation actively distilling craft beverages in Michigan, as well as suppliers and retail establishments such as pubs, restaurants and beverage stores. An Enthusiast level membership will be offered in the future, allowing individual members of the general public to support the craft distilling industry.

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Grand Traverse Distillery’s “Ole George” Aged Rye Whiskey Named “Best of Category – Gold Medal”

Grand Traverse Distillery has added another accolade to its impressive award-wining portfolio with the recent “Best of Category – Gold Medal” honor in the Aged Rye Whiskey category for “Ole George”. The award was presented in early April in Colorado by the American Distilling Institute at its 7th Annual Judging of Artisan American Spirits. The Traverse City-based distillery has won awards for its various vodka brands – this is its first award in the whiskey category.

“We are honored to be recognized for our aged rye whiskey by such an esteemed organization,” says GTD Owner Kent Rabish. “Michigan as a whole was represented on several levels at the competition, which reinforces our growing industry’s overall goal of producing quality craft beverages.”

“Ole George” Whiskey is distilled in a traditional fashion from a 100% rye mash bill and is bottled at 93 proof. Prior to prohibition, Americans drank rye whiskey – with its unique character that no other grain can provide, as the rye imparts a spicy flavor. “Ole George” Whiskey is made in small batches and is double-distilled in GTD’s copper pot still. It bottled straight from the barrel and is not chill-filtered, which can remove flavor from the whiskey. The goal with “Ole George” Whiskey is to let the unique flavor of the rye come through.

Since opening in June of 2007, GTD has prided itself as a “Grain to Bottle Artisan Distiller” which supports the state’s active agriculture industry and now boasts the “Pure Michigan” seals on most of its products.

Hand-crafted in small batches, GTD products include four vodkas (True North Vodka, Chocolate Vodka, Cherry Vodka and Wheat Vodka) and five whiskey products including the double-barreled Ole George 100% Straight Rye Whiskey (93 proof), Bourbon (92 proof), a 2nd Straight Rye Whiskey (90 proof), White Dog – an un-aged 100% Corn Moonshine Whiskey (80 proof); and Cherry Whiskey (80 proof), as well as a soon-to-be-released gin.

GTD distributes or True North Vodka, Cherry Vodka, Wheat Vodka and White Dog Whiskey to more than 900 retail outlets and 400 restaurants/bars in Michigan via Great Lakes Wine and Spirits. All of the other GTD spirits are available at one of four tasting rooms – including two in Traverse City (the original location on Industrial Circle and in The Village at Grand Traverse Commons), River Place Shops in downtown Frankenmuth, and in Leland on the Leelanau Peninsula, not far from historic Fishtown. A new tasting room is schedule to open during the summer of 2013 in Novi.

Earlier this year, Grand Traverse Distillery was recognized as one of the 2013 “Michgian 50 Companies to Watch,” – an awards program sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation and presented by Michigan Celebrates Small Business and has been selected as 2013 Top 10 Small Business by the Traverse City Chamber on Commerce.

For more information about Grand Traverse Distillery, log onto www.grandtraversedistillery.com or find them on Facebook.

Grand Traverse Distillery Opens Frankenmuth Tasting Room - Expands Locations to Four

Grand Traverse Distillery has announced the opening of its fourth tasting room – the third in less than a year – at the River Place Shops in downtown Frankenmuth, 925 S Main St, B 6, .

“The Frankenmuth store is in an excellent location to accommodate our customers who live in Southeastern Michigan,” says owner Kent Rabish. “We are very excited to be finally opening this tasting room and introduce our award-winning products to a whole new marketplace!”

Visitors to the Frankenmuth tasting room will find GTD’s Wheat Vodka, True North Vodka and Cherry Flavored Vodka – as well as a variety of whiskey products like Ole George 100% Straight Rye Whiskey, Bourbon, a 2nd Straight Rye Whiskey, and a 100% Corn Whiskey. More varieties of whiskey are in the works.

“We will also be offering a whiskey blending service, where we can custom blend any whiskey to order for a customer, which they then take home along with a mini charred oak aging barrel to begin aging their own whiskey at home,” Kent says. “We offer this in Traverse City, but now we have a location convenient for people in Southeastern Michigan.”

Last summer, owner Rabish opened a location in Leland on the Leelanau Peninsula, not far from historic Fishtown and is also sharing a tasting room with Black Star Farms in The Village at Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City. The original distillery and tasting room is located in Traverse City.

Michigan has established itself for its first-class wineries and breweries, and the craft distilling industry is now garnering attention. When you purchase these Michigan beverages, you not only support the local businesses but Michigan agriculture as well.

“We have choices now that were not available just a few years ago and we can choose to consume delicacies produced by our neighbors,” says Landis Rabish, President at GTD. “This is a revolution that has only just begun. It is gratifying to see that Michigan has not languished in the backwaters of this change, but instead is leading the way. Why buy produce from afar and ship it around the globe when we can grow it ourselves. Supporting products that are produced locally just makes sense for so many reasons.”

As a Michigan distiller, using locally-grown grains is a top priority. As such, Grand Traverse Distillery is proud to support Michigan agriculture. The company has purchased more than 750,000 pounds of rye, wheat and corn from local farmers since it began distilling its hand-crafted spirits in 2007.

“What people are discovering is that supporting local does not have to come at the expense of quality,” Landis says. “Crafting local spirits is not a new idea. Before prohibition, America had hundreds of distilleries around the country, all using local grains to produce mainly whiskey. It seems what is old is new again.”

Hand-crafted in small batches, more than 4000 cases of True North Vodka, Cherry Vodka and Wheat Vodka have sold per year. The vodkas can be found in over 900 retail outlets and 400 restaurants/bars in Michigan and is distributed in Michigan by Great Lakes Wine & Spirits.

GTD has earned multiple “Gold Medal” honors in the International Review of Spirits (2007 and 2009) and A “Gold Medal” in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2008). In the 2009 and 2010, Wine Enthusiast Magazine selected True North Vodka as one of the six best vodkas in the world.

For more information about Grand Traverse Distiller, log onto www.grandtraversedistillery.com or find them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grand-Traverse-Distillery/208013680224

Get in the Michigan Spirit of the Holidays

This holiday season, put yourself in the spirit with one of the many, unique distilled spirits made right here in Michigan. While vodka seems to be the preferred product here in the Great Lakes State, you’ll also find gin, rum, brandy and even whiskey, which make great celebration drinks or holiday gifts this year.

BLACK STAR FARMS (www.blackstarfarms.com) is one of Michigan’s most respected wineries, with locations on Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission Peninsula and The Village at Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City. This selection of fruit spirits is available exclusively in their tasting rooms.

* Spirit of Apple Brandy: After a brief lapse of availability, this tasty spirit is back on the shelf, just in time for the holidays and the cold weather. This brandy has a distinctive fruit-driven style, a pale golden amber color, and is well-balanced opulence with sweet-wood apple and caramel aromas and mellowed, spicy warmth. Pour a little of our Spirit of Apple Brandy into your favorite snifter, swirl, smell and sip…ahh! Warmth all over, from head to toe. It's a great digestif after a delicious holiday meal. (**Available only in the Suttons Bay tasting room).

* Pear and its Spirit: This is without a doubt the most visual of the spirits. Coming in at 80 proof, this product features an actual pear inside the bottle. In spring, a bottle is tied over a budding branch in the pear orchard with hopes that a Bartlett pear will grow to maturity, inside the bottle. The pear is harvested, cleaned and washed and then the bottle is filled with pear brandy from the same orchard and hand-labeled in this special limited presentation. This “pear in a bottle” is a true collector’s item and can be prominently displayed. When the bottle is totally consumed, just purchase a bottle of Spirit of Pear and refill the “pear in the bottle” for many years of enjoyment. (**Available only at the Old Mission tasting room).

* Spirit of Apricot: Common to Hungary, this 80 proof brandy is crystal clear, full bodied, floral and velvety. The flavor is honeyed and indulgent. The fully ripe fruit is fermented on the pits and then distilled rapidly to retain flavor and aroma. The distillate is aged in glass, providing a fruity brandy with a lingering finish.

* Spirit of the Vineyard Red Grape Grappa: Made from the fresh must of Pinot Noir, Cabernet France and Merlot grapes, this 80 Proof grappa has all the characteristics of a fine Italian grappa, but because it is distilled, without the bit.

* Spirit of the Vineyards White Grape Grappa: made from fresh must of Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Vignole grapes, this 80 proof grappa is smooth and very aromatic, with flowers an spice in the nose.

GRAND TRAVERSE DISTILLERY (www.grandtraversedistillery.com) spirits are available in about 1000 retail accounts and 200 bars and restaurants around the state and in Chicago. Tours, tastings and retails ours are offered on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at the distillery in Traverse City. For those who enjoy whiskey, Grand Traverse Distillery invites customers to come in and purchase a 2- or 3-liter mini-whiskey barrel, and select from 5 different grain sources, to make their own whiskey.

* True North Vodka: Distilled with Michigan grown rye, this 80 Proof vodka was awarded gold medals in the 2007 and 2009 International Review of Spirits and gold in the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Rated by F. Paul Pacullt of the Wine Enthusiast “Highly Recommended” with 90 to 95 points and included in his ‘Top 50 Spirits of 2009”, one of only 6 vodkas from around the world to make this selected list.

* True North Cherry Flavored Vodka: You can’t create world-class vodka in the world’s largest cherry production region without capitalizing on the fruit that makes our region famous. This 80 Proof vodka is an exquisite product that is light, crisp, and delicious, perfectly echoing the natural sweetness and delicacy of the fruit. Adding a hint of chocolate with the final touch.

* Grand Traverse Distillery Wheat Vodka: 80 proof, $21.97. Using locally-grown wheat, this 80 Proof vodka scored a 93 point rating and gold medal at the 2009 International Review of Spirits. A value for the price, this wheat vodka is a little more neutral in character than the rye.

NEW HOLLAND ARTISAN SPIRITS (http://newhollandbrew.com/corp/profiles/distillery) are sold throughout Michigan and Illinois and are currently available at over 150 retail outlets and more than 100 bars/restaurants.

* Dutuchess Vodka: A clean and crisp vodka distilled from organic wheat, Dutchess is an excellent companion to boundless ingredients. Whether in a martini or your favorite holiday cocktail, Dutchess Vodka is sure to please.

* Knickerbocker Gin: A vibrant, aromatic gin twice distilled and infused with flavors from more than a dozen herbs and spices. Generous amounts of juniper-berries contribute a bright citrus and evergreen body, bursting with flavor before a clean, dry finish. Named for the Dutch explorers of a new world, Knickerbocker celebrates modern exploration in the historic realm of distilling.

* Freshwater Rums: A series of rums inspired by the majestic Great Lakes and distilled from a wash of fermented cane-sugar molasses, both domestic and Brazilian.

** Huron White Rum: A clean, bright rum with a delicate sweetness and hints of vanilla. The weather outside may be frightful, but Huron Rum cocktails are so delightful!

** Michigan Amber Rum: Barrel aging in oak presents a caramel color and deep body. A rich, smooth marriage of molasses and oak, Freshwater Michigan is a classic rum excellent for traditional rum-forward cocktails or served neat, perhaps with a single ice cube.

** Superior Single-Barrel Rum: Packaged from a single “honey barrel,” Freshwater Superior showcases barrel-aging in a robust, yet elegant presentation. A hearty rum, sure to complement an evening by the fire.

* Zeppelin Bend Whiskey: A culmination of New Holland’s brewing roots and a growing passion for distilling, Zeppelin Bend is a Straight-malt Whiskey, it begins with a brewer’s mash, coaxing sugars from malted barley into a liquid wash. This wash is twice distilled and aged in new American oak, with a heavy char. Notes of vanilla and clove arise from the slightly caramelized spirit, leading to a classic American-oak finish.

ST. JULIAN (www.stjulian.com) is Michigan’s largest, oldest and longest-operating winery. Purchase their distilled spirits at their original tasting room in Paw Paw.

* Grey Heron Vodka: Distilled from 100% grape spirits. It is distilled and filtered five times to achieve its smooth texture and rich palate. It opens with neutral wet stone and cream aromas. The refreshing, clean entry leads to a round, dryish medium-to-full body of smooth cream, and delicate spice flavors. Finishes with warming anise and sweet cream, making Grey Heron Vodka an instant classic.

* A & G Brandy: Aged grape brandy made from Chardonnay, Pinot Gris & Vidal Blanc grapes. Alluring nose of vanilla, hazelnut and butterscotch intertwined with toast, chocolate and anise. Flavors from the aroma emerge through the palate, making it soft and smooth. Years of patience and perseverance have brought us a new product that, once again, showcases the world-class quality of Michigan’s fruit belt. Gold Medal winner at the 2009 Tasters Guild competition.

UNCLE JOHN’S FRUITHOUSE WINERY (www.fruithousewinery.com) sells its spirits exclusively at its tasting room in St. John’s, on site with the historic family orchard.

* Apple Brandy: Subtle fruit, vanilla & spicy notes and pleasant toasted oak flavor, at 90 proof.

* Vodka made from apples: Clean and velvety smooth subtle hints of fruit in the finish, at 83 proof.

* Apple – Cherry – Pear: These sweet dessert wines are fortified with spirits from that fruit, at 17% abv.

VALENTINE VODKA (www.valentinevodka.com) offers one of first vodkas in the world, distilled from a multi-grain recipe in Southeast Michigan. Hand-distilled from a proprietary blend of barley, Red Michigan wheat and corn, medal-winning Valentine Vodka has a uniquely warm aroma, tasting notes of vanilla and caramel and a deliciously smooth finish. Valentine Vodka is available at nearly 500 retail outlets, including 100 restaurants and bars throughout Michigan.