Iron Fish Distillery of Thompsonville, Michigan, recently announced the limited release of the highly anticipated Estate Series line of spirits. The Estate Series spirits are 100% distilled and aged at Iron Fish Distillery, many of which use at least 51% grain grown on the company’s 120-acre farm. Iron Fish is Michigan’s first distillery operating on a fully functioning farm since prohibition, and the Estate Series is the realization of a plan laid at the founding of the business; to create high quality craft spirits from scratch, using only the finest grains and local ingredients. The spirits of the Estate Series embody the water, land, and agricultural bounty of northern Michigan. The five year wait is over.
To commemorate the Estate Series releases, Iron Fish commissioned the design of a custom molded bottle to distinguish the Estate Series from the current lineup of Iron Fish spirits.
“From the day we reclaimed an abandoned farm to establish Iron Fish Distillery, we committed ourselves to making whiskeys, where every step, from growing grain to barrel aging occurs onsite.” said Richard Anderson, co family owner, in a press release. “The only question was, could we afford to patiently wait?” The success of the end destination, spirit sales, including barrel finished sourced bourbons provided the answer. “While there’s been pressure and temptation to release the Estate Series earlier, we felt it was important to let time do the work and introduce the Estate Series when they were truly ready. That time is now.”
The Estate Series spirits represent not only the local agricultural bounty, but also the many collaborations with area farms and small businesses that made the Estate Series possible.
There will be less than 1,000 cases available for this first batch of spirits. All Estate Series spirits were available Thursday, September 2nd at the distillery and available for online purchase at https://store.ironfishdistillery.com/ All web store orders must be picked up at the distillery. The Estate Series spirits will be available in very limited quantities at select accounts throughout Michigan in mid-September.
Mad Angler Whiskey / 90 Proof – Only 864 bottles in distribution See Video with Michael Delp
Inspired by the writings of Northern Michigan poet Michael Delp, Mad Angler Whiskey contains a mash bill of 51% Iron Fish farm Jupiter winter wheat, 26% Whispering Meadows Ranch organic yellow corn, 14% Great Lakes Malting Co. malt barley, and 9% Iron Fish farm rye.
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Amber and gold
Nose: Fresh warm honey bread, strong clove and summer cedar
Palette: Hot carmel, oak wood, vanilla and orange citrus
Finish: Vanilla, spice and a long warm smooth finish
Two Peninsulas Whiskey / 90 Proof – Only 900 bottles in distribution
This whiskey is quite possibly the first to exclusively use grain from both Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The mash bill contains 51% Iron Fish farm Jupiter winter wheat, 44% Belsolda Farms rye from the Upper Peninsula, and 5% Great Lakes Malting Co. malt barley.
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Amber and gold
Nose: Vanilla, aramel, rye, pepper, sweetness
Palette: Citrus, almond honey, oak grass, lemon
Finish: Sweetness, spice from rye, caramel
Slightly Lost Barrel Rested Gin / 90 Proof – Only 1212 bottles in distribution
With so many guests “getting slightly lost” on their journey to Iron Fish Distillery, we named this barrel rested gin for the experience of getting lost in the flavors of this unique style of gin.. The mash bill is 51% Iron Fish farm Jupiter winter wheat and 49% winter wheat from local northern Michigan farms.
Appearance: Luminescent Goldenrod
Nose: Cedar, clove and orange
Palette: A blend of cadamone, distant pine and grilled orange and citrus
Finish: Hints of whiskey barrel, licorice and almond
Michigan Navy Strength Rum / 114 Proof – Only 528 bottles in Distribution
Surrounded by the Great Lakes, Michigan deserves its own Navy Strength Barrel Finished Rum. Bottled at 57% abv, it was aged in sherry and cognac barrels, offering a dark, rich characteristic reminiscent of the rums carried on board ships in the 19th century. The Mash bill is made of 100% Caribbean molasses.
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Light reddish amber
Nose: Sherry wine and burnt brown sugar
Palette: Warm molasses, caramel apple and oaked sherry wine
Finish: Raisins, plums and clove spice