Alrighty,
So me and the fam are going on vacation in a couple of weeks to TC (Empire really).  It's probably our favorite place.  Anyway, are there any good distillery tours in that area?  I don't mean the various tasting rooms on Front st. and downtown.

Also, of the various distilleries which ones have the best product?  A couple of years ago I bought a bottle of the Cherry Vodka (yeah, I fell for the tourist marketing) that Grand Traverse distillery makes, and it was "meh" at best.  I'm all about buying local etc, but not if it's not a good product.

I like Gin, Bourbon, Vodka so which are the ones to tour?  Ethanology?  Grand Traverse?  Northern Latitudes?  TC Whiskey Co?  Iron Fish?  Mammoth Distilling?

A bit of a drive but Iron Fish Distellery has an awesome tout and property. Most things are farm to bottle all on the property. Decent food and lots of variety in booze.  If you go get a bottle of their maple syrup. Ypu won't regret it.

Been a couple years but Jolly Pumpkin Cafe/restaurant is also a Brewery/Small Batch Distillery. Excellent bbq too.

https://www.traversecity.com/listings/jolly-pumpkin-restaurant-brewery-%26-distillery/134/

Well.....there's Traverse City Distillery.

You mean Traverse City Whiskey Co or Grand Traverse Distillery?  TC Whiskey Co, isn't doing tours.

If you're into Meads this place has some good stuff.  Just south of TC.

https://www.stambrose-mead-wine.com/qr-menu/

Ethanology is totally worth the drive. If you're into beers swing by Shorts since you'll already be in that general area.

Grand Traverse Distillery is my preferred local whiskey. But I'm with you, the cherry focused products do lack a little bit of something.

I refuse to spend money on the TC Whiskey Co. line on principal - until recently (2020ish) they were putting their labels on product produced by a contract distiller, and when they first started marketing their whiskey had no presence in TC, they were based in Comstock Park IIRC. Kind of rubbed me the wrong way as a TC native.

Iron Fish makes good stuff, I really enjoyed their gin but I've never visited them in person.

Haven't had a chance to sample any of Mammoths products yet.

Excellent info, thanks!!

Take m22 south to this place. Never been, they just opened their doors this summer.

https://www.furnacestreetdistillery.com/

Personally, I’d skip any special trips to TC on your vacation but would visit ironfish, 5 shores brewery in Beulah, st Ambrose, or be brave and try this new distillery in Elberta…..and tell us your review

Don’t know if I’ll get a chance to go to distilleries while I’m up here.  I did pick up a bottle of Ironfish bourbon aged in maple syrup barrels at Anderson’s in Glen Arbor a few minutes ago

I’ll second the Shorts recommendation.  Order the ultimate flight. It’s 40 bucks and has a sample of every beer they have on tap

I gotta check out the Iron Fish distillery. I tried a bottle of their whiskey, it was very good.