Grand Rapids-based Gray Skies Distillery says its craft spirits are "a distillation of the Midwest, Michigan, Grand Rapids and our neighborhood." Photo via fb.com
Local and statewide distillers will convene in Grand Rapids this weekend to celebrate the craft spirits industry.
The inaugural Michigan Distilled 2017 festival has confirmed 22 distilleries and members of the Michigan Craft Distillers Association. The event will take place Friday, Sep. 15, from 6-10 p.m., under the pavilion at Fulton Street Farmers Market in Grand Rapids and feature craft spirits and cocktails made throughout the state of Michigan.
Featured distilleries include:
American Fifth Spirits Tasting Room
Ann Arbor Distilling
Bier Distillery
Civilized Spirits
Coppercraft Distillery
Detroit City Distillery
Ellison Brewery and Spirits
Ethanology
Grand Traverse Distillery
Gray Skies Distillery
Green Door Distilling Co.
Iron Fish Distillery
Journeyman Distillery
Long Road Distillers
Mammoth Distilling
New Holland Brewing Co.
Red Cedar Spirits
Round Barn Winery, Distillery and Brewery
St. Julian Winery
Two James Spirits
Ugly Dog Distillery LLC
Valentine Distilling Co.
The festival will feature music from Megan Dooley, The Bootstrap Boys and Cønrad Shøck and the Nøise. Food will be provided by Slows Bar BQ in Grand Rapids, The Knickerbocker, Journeyman Distillery and Long Road Distillers. Grand Rapids Wine, Beer and Food Festival also has signed on as a sponsor of the event.
Other details include a VIP hour, from 5-6 p.m., which offers guests an enhanced experience with handcrafted cocktails and a chance to meet local bartenders and mixologists. Purchase of a VIP ticket includes five three-ounce batch cocktails or one 0.25-ounce samples of spirits from each distillery, one handcrafted cocktail, one food item and a bag of commemorative merchandise. General admission tickets include five three-ounce batch cocktails or 0.25-ounce samples of spirits available from each distillery. Tickets can be purchased online at www.eventbrite.com.
The festival will be held rain or shine. Attendees must be 21-years-old and have a valid ID.
Michigan Craft Distillers Association
The Michigan Craft Distillers Association was formed in 2014 as a nonprofit organization charged with marketing member businesses and their products and events, as well as bringing a voice for the industry when it comes to legislative issues that affect the overall beverage industry. Currently, the organization represents two dozen craft distilleries with nearly 40 individual locations and tasting rooms around the state.