Wonderland Distilling, a new Muskegon, Michigan-based craft distillery created to celebrate the state’s adventurous outdoor lifestyle, announced today the location of its new tasting room and cocktail bar at 1989 Lakeshore Drive in Muskegon’s Lakeside neighborhood. The location, which will open this fall, offers an ideal location in proximity to Muskegon’s active lakeshore, including boating, biking, running and more.
“Wonderland is crafted for adventure seekers, who want high quality, locally-made, flavorful spirits,” sayas Mark Gongalski, Wonderland CEO. “Michigan is a wonderland, and Muskegon is a huge part of that, surrounded by natural wonders of all types. We are eager to be part of the Lakeside neighborhood, and support our area’s economic growth.”
The distillery has begun the process of crafting a full range of whiskies, gins, and vodkas with a focus on whiskies, using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. While those are maturing, the distillery plans to source and blend their initial whiskey offerings, with a unique twist. The distillery will maintain its production facility on Lemuel St., just off the Seaway Drive corridor in Muskegon Heights.
Wonderland’s tasting room is aiming for a fall 2019 opening, and plans to launch with whiskies, vodka, gin and rum. The tasting room will serve tastes of each spirit as well as cocktails, and guests can order food from nearby restaurants to eat on-site. The space will feature a handmade bar, patio on the sidewalk and a private room, which can be rented for special events.
Wonderland Distilling was named to celebrate Michigan’s natural wonders, with a nod to the state’s former slogan, “Water Wonderland.” The tasting room location, just steps from the lakeshore, marina, Lake Express ferry to Wisconsin and Lake Shore bike trail and across the lake from Muskegon State Park, is in the midst of the best outdoor activities Muskegon has to offer.
“Wonderland fills a hole in the craft distillery map that runs from Holland up to the Traverse City area and east to Grand Rapids,” says Allen Serio, Wonderland’s chief marketing officer. “There are a wealth of spirits consumers looking for something new and local, and we’re adding another stop to the West Michigan distillery trail with our lakeshore tasting room in Muskegon.”
Wonderland joins Michigan’s burgeoning craft distilling scene, which has been nurtured by positive state legislative and local developments supportive of the craft distilling movement that is gaining much traction nationwide. Wonderland is the first craft distillery with majority local production of spirits in Muskegon County.