TOURS2022
Returning Spirit to its Origin
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Welcome to Iron Fish Distillery! We have two terrific tour options for you to consider. Both tours give you a sense of the journey to bring life and spirit back to the farm. Our inspiration comes from the Steelhead fish that return to their origin each year along the nearby Betsie River. Your tour provides an insider view of how Iron Fish returns spirit to its origin, with heritage style spirits, drawn from the soil and water, and distilled from grain grown on this land originally settled in 1887. Four years ago, our family reclaimed an abandoned farmstead and transformed it into Michigan’s first farm distillery. Today, we create a full line of exceptional spirits crafted from soil to spirit, featuring locally-harvested grain, distilled in small batches to capture the essence of northern Michigan in every bottle. You will also get a up close look at how barrel finishing transforms our carefully sourced bourbon using barrels from around the world and examine our growing inventory of estate whiskies distilled from grain grown on our farm and from nearby farms.
- Iron Fish Distillery and Farm Tour
Ages 21 & up (minors welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult)
$30 per person + tax (Base gratuity included; minors free of charge)
80-90 minutes, with some walking. Accommodations available.
During your casual yet in depth tour of our distillery and 120 acre farm, we travel back to the late 1800s when our land first became a working farm. Next, your tour will explore some of the overarching historical context from that time, as well as the origin story of Iron Fish. After touring the farm, you are guided through each step of the distilling process from growing the grain, to milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling and barrel aging. Your experience is capped with a guided tasting experience of five award winning Iron Fish spirits.
Private Group Estate Whiskey Tour Package
$75 per person (plus tax)
Private Group Estate Tours require a minimum booking of 4 and maximum of 8 people and run 1 ½ – 2 hours. For more information and to schedule your Private Group Estate Tour, contact: tours@ironfishdistillery.com.
Your private party of 4 to 8 people will join one of our experienced tour guides for a leisurely yet comprehensive and up close look at the journey of Iron Fish whiskey – from our farm fields and other Michigan farms, through the distilling and barrel aging process. We also get an up close look at how barrel finishing transforms our carefully sourced bourbon using barrels from around the world. We trace the historic footsteps of the two generation Chamberlain family, originally settling this farm in 1887 and visit the historic barn and a small mill room used for grinding grain for home baking and moonshine. From there, we re-enter the modern world of craft distilling, walking through each step – growing, harvesting and cleaning grain, milling, mashing, fermentation and distillation.
As we conclude our journey, we settle into the quiet resonance of our Rick House to explore the art and science of barrel aging. We discuss the different categories of whiskey, and explore the color, nose, body and finish of four different barrel finish samples paired with chocolates. Along the way, you will gain an appreciation for how cask finishing transforms our carefully sourced bourbon using barrels from around the world. We then sample our very first four year old farm distilled whiskey drawn from our growing inventory of estate whiskies distilled from grain grown on our farm and from nearby farms.
Surrounded by over 1000 barrels, we compare the taste from two barrel finished bourbons from casks selected for the occasion. Each person leaves with their favorite whiskey, captured in a 200ml bottle.
Private Group Estate Whiskey Tour Package Includes:
– Farm and distillery tour
– Four Barrel Finished Whiskey Flight Tasting paired with Grocer’s Daughter’s Chocolates.
– Estate Whiskey Sampling
– Barrel Draw and Tasting
*For your safety, no sandals or open toed shoes
To make arrangements for your Private Estate Whiskey Tour, contact tours@ironfishdistillery.com. Full payment is required to hold our reservation, however confirmed tours may be rebooked for any reason without penalty. Individuals requiring handicapped accommodations are encouraged to notify us at time of booking.
LARGE GROUP AND TOURS: Interested in bringing your organization to the distillery for a tour? We can arrange special times for a VIP tour of large groups. We can accommodate tour buses and motor coaches, convention groups, company retreats and staff outings. Contact events@ironfishdistillery.com for more info and to book your tour.
