Detroit Michigan Distillery Retools to Be COVID-19 Compliant

A new distillery in Detroit, Michigan, is taking a cue from its predecessors and re-tooling its business model to be more COVID-19 compliant. In doing so, the company is offering a new honey bourbon. It’s also working with Bees in the D, an organization focused on preserving pollinators, to provide a portion of proceeds from the sale of the bourbon to help fund their mission.

The distillery, located in the historic Whiskey Factory in Detroit’s Eastern Market, creates artisanal spirits. Owner Michael Forsyth is proud of the fact that he has found a way to make alcohol in Michigan that is environmentally friendly. He says his product is made from local ingredients, including locally-grown grains, honey from rooftop bees and packaging materials from local manufacturers. One of his products, the Detroit City Distillery Honey Bourbon, is a limited edition that’s sold in the liquor store.

Two James is Detroit’s first licensed distillery since Prohibition. It’s a venture that aims to reinvigorate the city’s Corktown neighborhood while providing an environmentally conscious handmade spirit. The distillery uses locally-sourced agricultural products such as corn, malt, apples, and carrots to produce small-batch spirits. These are sold throughout the Midwest, including in Corktown and Detroit’s Eastside.

The distillery’s tasting room is an industrial loft with a vintage flair. Visitors can sip on a cocktail from the bar, which is built from reclaimed construction materials from abandoned Detroit buildings. There Detroit Michigan Distillery are 20 different single barrel whiskies to choose from.

Besides being a distillery, the Whiskey Factory is also a wedding and event venue. Located in the storied whiskey-filled rickhouse, this venue boasts a large space for a dance floor and is equipped to host up to 250 guests. To top it off, the building features an original 1920s bar.

The whiskey-making process isn’t as easy as it sounds. Approximately 100 pounds of botanicals must be distilled. The gin that this distillery produces is made from 13 botanicals and can be mixed with lime juice, tonic water, or even fresh-squeezed Michigan cherry juice. However, the company’s mainstay is a light-flavored Blue Label Gin that’s easy on the juniper.

Other notable offerings include the vodka that was named World’s Best Vodka at the 2016 World Drinks Awards in London. This vodka, which is made in Ferndale, is available straight or mixed with a vodka martini. Another beverage-related novelty is the two-barrel absinthe, which is a fancy name for an absinthe, in this case a 19th-century French recipe.

The Whiskey Factory’s other big feat is the fact that it is the first distillery to manufacture and distribute hand sanitizer, a feat that has earned it a spot on the list of PPE providers for the Michigan State Emergency Operations Center. They have also distributed over 5,000 gallons of the stuff to municipalities, health care organizations, and other critical businesses. With the help of Pure Michigan Business Connect, the distillery is also connected to the COVID-19 program, which is a national program to connect distilleries and other small businesses with PPE providers.