A RYE WHISKEY TO SUPPORT THE REINTRODUCTION OF ARCTIC GRAYLING TO MICHIGAN WATERS
———— TASTING ROOM ONLY RELEASE ————
(Thompsonville, MI)
February 21st, 2025 – The Arctic Grayling Whiskey Series celebrates the Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative, nearly 50 organizations working since 2016 to restore self-sustaining populations of Arctic Grayling in Michigan rivers. In 2018, Iron Fish Distillery set aside a few barrels of estate farm grown rye whiskey that would end up featuring a label design donated by Michigan artist, Dani Knoph.
An extremely limited quantity of rye whiskey, aged over six years, will be released on Saturday March 22nd starting at noon at Iron Fish Distillery. Iron Fish Distillery established and joined supporters in contributing to the Iron Fish Arctic Grayling Research Fund. To date, nearly $25,000 dollars has been raised by the fund to support related research underway at Michigan State University and help with costs associated with reintroduction efforts.
The Arctic Grayling Rye Whiskey label features a beautifully hand drawn Grayling print by Michigan artist Dani Knoph. “The story of Michigan’s lost Grayling is a comeback story—full of hope, challenge, science, and partnership.” said Knoph.
“Restoring Michigan’s wild Grayling encourages us to learn from the past, evaluate the present and define the future. From Montana and Alaska to Michigan, many people are caring for this native species. It gives me hope, it’s the Native American Seven Generations principle at work.”
Iron Fish proudly supports research and restoration efforts related to the ongoing Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative (MAGI). The MAGI partnership includes the foundational partners Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, as well as the Wenger Foundation, Trout Unlimited Chapters and others totaling nearly 50 agencies, universities, nongovernmental organizations and individuals.
Attend The Free March 22nd Information Session Updating Progress On The Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative At Iron Fish Distillery
Join us for a presentation by Ed Eisch, Michigan DNR Fisheries Assistant Chief and Alex Ontkos, Inland Fisheries Biologist with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians for an update on the Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative at 1pm and repeated again, 3pm on Saturday, March 22nd at Iron Fish Distillery (seating limited to 30 people at each session). Coffee and NA refreshments will be provided, with a happy hour to follow. This event is FREE of charge. RSVP HERE
Claim your bottle for a good cause!
AVAILABLE AT IRON FISH DISTILLERY ONLY
Saturday March 22nd, 2025 until they sell out.
BOTTLE SALES BEGIN AT NOON ON SATURDAY 3/22/2025:
You can reserve your bottle on a first come, first serve basis in person by showing proof of donation to the Iron Fish Arctic Grayling Research Fund. Donations will also be accepted on-site.
HERE’S THE SMALL PRINT:
- Bottles are sold on a first come, first served basis.
- Limit 2 bottles per person ($100 per bottle + tax)
- Iron Fish Distillery makes charitable donations to the Iron Fish Arctic Grayling Fund, managed by the Manistee County Community Foundation.
- Must be over 21 years of age to purchase.
Questions? Email us at grayling@ironfishdistillery.com .
For more information, please visit https://ironfishdistillery.com/arcticgrayling/
About Iron Fish Distillery
Iron Fish Distillery is Michigan’s first farm distillery, growing grain and distilling spirits, and barrel finishing sourced whiskey. This MAEAP certified working farm and distillery attracts over 125,000 guests annually to the agricultural destination, reborn on a long-time abandoned 120-acre farm located in rural Springdale Township in Manistee County.
Every step of our soil-to-spirit process occurs onsite. The process starts in our farm fields where we grow and harvest our own grain. We then mill, mash, ferment, distill, and barrel age our spirits on the property. Iron Fish also sources bourbon for finishing in barrels from around the world. To date, our library of barrel aged spirits exceeds 2,000 barrels, consisting of carefully sourced farm barrel finished whiskies and estate whiskies distilled from grain grown on our farm and from nearby farms.
About The Return of the Native: Arctic Grayling
This remarkable project to restore Arctic Grayling in select Michigan rivers is made possible by the Michigan DNR, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, and the Wenger Foundation with support from nearly 50 partners, including Trout Unlimited Chapters across the state of Michigan. Learn more at migrayling.org.
About the Iron Fish Arctic Grayling Research Fund
Be a part of something important. Join us in our support of foundational research into the reintroduction of Michigan Arctic Grayling to its home waters by going online to manisteefoundation.org/migrayling and contributing to the Iron Fish Arctic Grayling Research Fund, a component fund of the Manistee County Community Foundation.
