Distillery tours
Distillery Tours in Michigan
Plan a distillery tour in Michigan: 6 distilleries to visit, with tastings and experiences you can book directly. Expect Craft Spirits, Gin, Bourbon and more. Highlights include Iron Fish Distillery, Valentine Distilling Co., Long Road Distillers.
6distilleries
About distillery tours in Michigan
Michigan has quietly become one of the Midwest's most compelling craft-spirits states, with roughly thirty distilleries turning the produce of nearby fields into distinctly regional bottles. The state's agricultural depth shows up in the glass: corn, rye and malted barley from local farms, cherries and apples from the orchards of the north, and water drawn from glacial lakes and aquifers. The result is a scene that spans polished urban tasting rooms and rural grain-to-bottle operations. Detroit leads the urban charge, with Detroit City Distillery running a hands-on bourbon and rye programme and Valentine Distilling Co. just outside the city in Ferndale. Ann Arbor Distilling Company brings a college-town energy to its lineup, while west of the state Coppercraft Distillery and Long Road Distillers anchor the Grand Rapids and lakeshore area, the latter committed to making everything from scratch. Up north, Iron Fish Distillery operates as a genuine farm distillery. Together these producers make a trail that can be tackled region by region, pairing tastings with the lakes, orchards and small towns that give Michigan spirits their character.
Following the Michigan trail
Michigan is big, so it pays to think in regions rather than a single loop. The Detroit area is the densest cluster, where Detroit City Distillery's Corktown roots and Valentine Distilling Co. in nearby Ferndale make an easy pairing, with Two James and others adding to the metro scene. Ann Arbor Distilling Company is a short hop west and folds neatly into a college-town visit. The west side of the state, around Grand Rapids and the Lake Michigan shore, is its own trail, anchored by Long Road Distillers, with their from-scratch ethos, and Coppercraft Distillery near the lakeshore. For a third leg, head north toward Traverse City and the orchards, where farm distilleries such as Iron Fish Distillery work grain to bottle on their own land. Each region stands on its own for a day trip or weekend, and few travellers attempt all three in one go.
Where to stay & eat nearby
Your base depends on which region you choose. Detroit and its suburbs offer everything from downtown hotels to Corktown's restored neighbourhoods, with a strong dining scene that complements a distillery afternoon. Ann Arbor makes a lively, walkable overnight with plenty of restaurants. On the west side, Grand Rapids is a natural hub for Long Road Distillers and Coppercraft, with lakeshore towns nearby for a more scenic stay. Up north, Traverse City is the obvious base for orchard country and farm distilleries like Iron Fish, especially appealing in cherry season and during the autumn colour. Wherever you land, book ahead in summer, when the lakeshore and north fill up fast.
Getting there & around
Detroit Metropolitan Airport is the main gateway for the eastern trail, with Grand Rapids serving the west and Traverse City's regional airport handy for the north. A car is essential almost everywhere, given the distances between regions and the rural settings of the farm distilleries. Within a city like Detroit or Ann Arbor you can walk or use rideshare between closely spaced stops, but plan a designated driver or a tour for any day involving multiple tastings.
Frequently asked
- How many craft distilleries does Michigan have?
- Michigan is home to around thirty craft distilleries, many of which turn locally grown grain and fruit into regional spirits. They range from Detroit-area urban producers to northern farm distilleries.
- What spirits is Michigan known for?
- Michigan distillers make whiskey, vodka, gin and rum, with bourbon and rye prominent. Northern producers often incorporate local cherries and apples, while many operations are true grain-to-bottle, sourcing corn, rye and barley from nearby farms.
- Which regions should I focus on?
- The main clusters are metro Detroit (Detroit City Distillery, Valentine Distilling Co.), Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor Distilling Company), the Grand Rapids and lakeshore area (Long Road Distillers, Coppercraft Distillery), and the north around Traverse City (Iron Fish Distillery).
- Can I visit all of Michigan's distilleries in one trip?
- It is more practical to pick a region. The state is large and its distilling clusters are spread across the east, west and north, so most visitors tackle one area per weekend rather than attempting everything at once.
- Are there farm distilleries to visit?
- Yes. Iron Fish Distillery in northern Michigan operates as a working farm distillery, growing and distilling on its own land, which makes for an immersive grain-to-bottle experience.
- Do I need a car?
- For travelling between regions and reaching rural distilleries, a car is essential. Within cities such as Detroit and Ann Arbor you can walk or use rideshare between closely spaced tasting rooms.