Introduction

Welcome to Whiskey Lore's Whiskey Flights, your weekly home for discovering great craft distillery experiences around the globe. I’m your travel guide, Drew Hannush, best-selling author of Experiencing Irish Whiskey and Experiencing Kentucky Bourbon, and today, we’re heading to Traverse City, Michigan—a city known for its stunning natural beauty, vibrant culture, and as the home of one of Michigan’s pioneering distilleries, Grand Traverse Distillery.

Arrival Phase

I’ve just left Iron Fish Distillery and am now relying heavily on my GPS as I navigate the Michigan backroads on my way to Grand Traverse Distillery. My trusty car is carrying me through the winding dirt roads that are so characteristic of this state. These roads, often lined with trees and farmland, remind me of the rural charm Michigan is known for.

However, nothing frustrates me more than being late for a meeting, and as I checked my GPS, I realized I was cutting it close. My heart sank when I noticed the GPS voice had muted, causing me to miss a turn. Now running a few minutes behind schedule, I pressed on, determined to make up for lost time. Fortunately, the traffic lights were in my favor, and as I finally turned onto the last road, the distillery came into view. My meeting today is with Kent Rabish, the founder of Grand Traverse Distillery, who was among the early trailblazers in reviving Michigan’s distilling scene.

Before heading inside, I reflected on Michigan’s distilling history, particularly pre-Prohibition. Interestingly, in the 1890s, records show that there wasn’t a single licensed pot still distillery in the state—just a handful of rectifiers, likely producing industrial alcohol. This lack of a deep whisky-making tradition makes pioneers like Todd Leopold, who left Ann Arbor for Denver, and Kent Rabish, who chose to stay and grow his business here, even more significant. As I entered the distillery and met the amiable Kent in the office, we headed to the warehouse, where the scent of the angel’s share filled the air. I was eager to learn how Kent became intrigued by this business and what it took to establish one of Michigan’s most respected distilleries.

Area Profile

Located on the south end of Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City offers a unique blend of seaside beauty and vibrant culture making it much more than just another picturesque town. Known as the Cherry Capital of the World, this city not only celebrates its cherry harvest with an annual festival that attracts visitors from all corners but also integrates this bountiful fruit into its local cuisine, breweries, and even distilleries, creating a cherry-infused experience that permeates everything from craft beers to specialty desserts.

The maritime heritage of Traverse City is another defining feature. The city's waterfront, with its historical marinas and the Traverse Tall Ship Company, offers a tangible connection to its nautical past. Visitors can take to the waters aboard replicas of 19th-century sailing vessels, providing a hands-on way to dive into the local history and enjoy the stunning natural scenery from a different vantage point.

Beyond the waterfront, the city’s commitment to preserving its lush, natural landscapes is evident in the extensive network of trails and parks. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, just a short drive away, offers dramatic sand dunes and pristine beaches that have been named some of America’s most beautiful places. This proximity to nature, combined with the city’s efforts to maintain green spaces, makes Traverse City a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.

What truly makes Traverse City stand out, however, is its vibrant local arts scene. The City Opera House, a beautifully restored Victorian-era theater, is a hub for the arts, hosting everything from plays and concerts to lectures and community events. This commitment to the arts is echoed in the city's numerous galleries, which showcase the work of local artists, reflecting the region's landscapes and cultural heritage in their works.

Each of these elements—the cherry culture, maritime history, commitment to natural beauty, and a thriving arts scene—converges to create a town that’s not just a stopover but a destination that offers a deeper, more connected experience to those who visit.

Whether you’re exploring the historic lighthouses along the coastline or enjoying a glass of local wine at one of the area’s many wineries, Traverse City provides a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure.

Distillery Arrival

As I finally arrived at Grand Traverse Distillery, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. Despite the detour and missed turn, I had made it just in time to meet with Kent Rabish, a man whose work has significantly contributed to Michigan’s craft spirits movement. As we sat in the warehouse, surrounded by barrels aging to perfection, I was eager to hear Kent’s story. Given that he was the second person to open a whisky distillery in Michigan after Prohibition, I wanted to understand what sparked his interest in this industry and how he grew a single distillery into a thriving business with multiple tasting rooms across the state.

Interview

Closing Details

I hope you enjoyed this virtual flight to Grand Traverse Distillery. If I piqued your interest in traveling to the distillery, make sure to head to whiskey-lore.com/flights where you can view the profile of Grand Traverse Distillery and the growing list of worldwide distilleries we're featuring on the show. Then, dig deeper into the Whiskey Lore online distillery travel guide, use the heart feature to show your interest in the distillery, or log in with a free membership and bookmark your favorite distilleries to add them to your wish list. The site features planning tools, maps, tour dates, and booking links for over 300 distilleries worldwide. Start your journey at whiskey-lore.com/flights.

Teaser

Now, stay tuned because, in just a moment, I’ll have some closing travel tips if you plan on visiting Grand Traverse Distillery, but first, it’s time for This Week in Whiskey Lore.

This Week in Whiskey Lore

A century and a half ago this week, an ominous shadow was cast over the New Orleans distilling scene as the Behan Distillery and the Napoleon Avenue Distillery became the targets of nefarious attempts to destroy their facilities.

The drama unfolded on a seemingly quiet Sunday evening at Behan's Excelsior Distillery. Intruders,apparently exploiting the watchman's lack of visibility, forced their way through a back gate. They planted a sinister device—a tin can packed with kindlings, sawdust saturated with turpentine, and a resinous substance, meticulously designed to ignite after a delay. Discovered just in time, the fire was extinguished, narrowly saving the building from devastation.

Merely hours later, a similar fate awaited the Napoleon Avenue Distillery, located some seven miles away. Around two in the morning, reports said a watchman smelled smoke and spotted a suspicious figure, who, upon being discovered, fired a shot and fled, leaving behind only a hat and a sack of combustibles.

These incidents weren't isolated. They echoed past attacks like the burning of the Thomas Distillery in Carrollton, Louisiana just 10 months before—it was another deliberate act of arson scheduled right before the commencement of distilling operations. 

Historical patterns suggest that these attacks were part of a larger conflict within the whiskey industry. Some thought rectifiers from Cincinnati and other midwest towns were targeting New Orleans distillers after accusing them of using deceitful practices to fool the government and gain a financial advantage.  But other rumors suggested that business rivals, driven by jealousy and unable to compete fairly, might have instigated these attacks. There also was a rise in temperance forces targeting distilleries with flames, considering the destruction of such facilities as a righteous act. A reward of $2000 was advertised for any information that would lead to a conviction.

Within two weeks, a culprit was placed under arrest for the first fire. It was Frank Murphy, the watchman at the Behan Distillery. Eyewitnesses had seen him carrying cans out of the distillery when the fire began. He claimed they were buckets of water, but one witness, Mr. Jonathan Shepard, said the can had black oil in it and Murphy was also carrying pine, cotton, and had a long string attached to the bucket. It would be over a year before Murphy stood trial. The result was a hung jury. Four months later, in March of 1876, the case was abandoned by the prosecution and Murphy went free. The real story behind the fires would remain a mystery.

Wrap Up

As we prepare to leave Grand Traverse Distillery and make our way to our next distillery destination, if you’re interested in exploring more of the local food and drink scene around Traverse City, might I suggest you stop off at the Grand Traverse tasting room downtown, then later make your way to The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. This historic site, once a state asylum, has been transformed into a vibrant community hub with restaurants, shops, and more. It’s a unique place to experience the best of Traverse City’s culture and cuisine.

Closing and My Five Reasons

As we close out our trip to Grand Traverse Distillery, if you’re on the fence, let me give you my three reasons why you should have this distillery on your Whiskey Lore Wish List.

First, this is a great way to engage with the oldest distillery in the state while visiting a beautiful community. With its founding in the early days of the modern craft boom, there are plenty of stories to be told at this true pioneer of Michigan’s craft distilling scene.

Second, there are plenty of unique spirits on hand to give you a taste of Michigan. My favorite is called the Isle O’Rye, a 100 proof Bottled in Bond rye whisky with a percentage of Scottish peated barley in the mashbill. On the nose, you get that meaty smoke note without the medicinal character of some Islay whiskies, while getting hints of herbal, mint and a bit of a Play d’oh scent. Yet on the palate, caramel, rye, and an ashy note make it perfect in a pairing with a cigar. See which one is your favorite.

Third, because Grand Traverse isn’t available much beyond Michigan’s borders, it give you a chance to taste those local ingredients, support Michigan agriculture and bring a bottle back to your home state for a unique slice of Michigan.

I hope you enjoyed today’s episode. One more stop to go on this busy day of discovering Michigan distilleries. We're off to the distillery that opened my eyes to Michigan distilling. We'll embrace some of Michigan's history with cherries and see the first Kentucky-style rickhouse in Michigan. Join me next time as The Midwest Great Lakes Tour 2024 rolls on. Make sure to subscribe to the Whiskey Lore podcast, so you don’t miss any of the great Whiskey Flights to come. I'm your travel guide, Drew Hannush. Until we meet again, cheers and Sláinte mhath.

Closing Acknowledgements

For transcripts and travel information, including maps, distillery planning information, and more, head to whiskey-lore.com/flights. Whiskey Lore is a production of Travel Fuels Life, LLC.