History

A lot can happen around a campfire. That's how it all started for us – a challenge among friends, an Ugly Dog named Ruger, and the desire to make something big. With that in mind, we began to craft award-winning, handcrafted spirits.

Production / Manufacturing

Great care goes into everything we do. Therefore we handcraft everything from our spirits to our copper stills, which our founders themselves hammered and welded. This means our batches are very small and our quality is premium.

To ensure this quality and consistency, we support our local economy by using the finest raw materials Michigan has to offer. We are proud that our Ugly Dog Vodka is made with Michigan Winter Wheat.

The inspiration comes from an Ugly Dog named Ruger. Each bottle we handcraft is graced by Ruger, our German Wirehaired Pointer, the humorous inspiration behind the name.

Products / Whisky Series

Award-winning flavor: Selected as Best Flavored Whiskey in 2021 by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Ugly Dog Bourbon Flavors – Ugly Dog Bourbon Cocktail Recipes.

Examples of preparations and related products include S’mores Old Fashioned, POM Kentucky Mule and Kentucky Straight Bourbon in the recipes. Additionally, Ugly Dog Vodka Flavors and Ugly Dog Gin Flavors are presented with references to corresponding Cocktail Recipes such as Blood Mary, Mojito and Blackberry Gin Bramble. In addition to spirit production, Ugly Dog merchandise is sold as branded products and apparel.

Visits and Experiences

VISIT US IN CHELSEA 218 S. Main Street Chelsea, MI 48118 Tel: (734) 433-0433 Monday: Closed Tuesday–Sunday: open at varying hours (see page for details)

Drifter’s Lounge – formerly called VIP Lounge – is available and can be rented for private events and special occasions. Call 734-433-0433 to hear more.

Philosophy

Michigan-grown, pure and handmade spirits. A lot can happen around a campfire… and that is how our adventure began. Exploration and adventure with Ugly Dog are at the heart. We focus on using the finest raw materials Michigan has to offer, and we prefer responsible exploration and consumption. Each bottle is inspired by Ruger, our German Wirehaired Pointer, and reminds us of the outdoors and adventure.