Iron Fish Distillery
About the Distillery
Iron Fish Distillery sits on a revived family-owned farm along the Betsie River watershed in Thompsonville, Michigan. Founded in 2016 as Michigan's first farm distillery, the distillery combines growing its own grain with onsite milling, mashing, fermentation, distillation, and barrel-aging. The site is known for its barrel-finished whiskies, an extensive barrel archive, and open, immersive tours for visitors.
History
The farm was purchased by the family in 2011 after lying derelict for more than two decades. A trip to northern Scotland in 2013 became the catalyst for the idea of a farm distillery, and in 2016 Iron Fish Distillery opened as Michigan's first farm distillery. The vision is to bring the country's raw materials back to the center of spirit production; the Bolger/Wallace and Anderson families are named co-founders. Since inception the distillery has grown into an extensive stock of barrel-aged spirits, and the company actively participates in the local community and in collaborations with regional suppliers and restaurants.
Raw Materials and Production
Iron Fish controls large parts of the production chain: nearly 60 acres of the farm's fields are used to grow grain for estate spirits, while other fields are kept in cover crops to build the soil's nutrient levels. The grains are milled and mashed onsite, and distillation takes place in a custom-built pot still from Kothe Destillationstechnik (Germany) for whiskey and brandy and a column still for vodka, gin and other clear spirits. The distillery works with native yeast strains in partnership with Craft Cultures and with Michigan State University to develop more natural fermentation. Operations and farming are MAEAP-certified, and technical measures such as solar panels (about 7,000 kWh annually) and heat pumps have been implemented to reduce the climate footprint. Byproducts are recycled in farming, including as feed for bison.
Maturation and Cask Types
Many of Iron Fish's whiskeys are finished in casks sourced from other spirits or food processes: maple syrup finish, cognac finish, mezcal finish, Caribbean rum finish and craft beer finish are used for finishes. The distillery is building a large onsite barrel archive and uses onsite rickhouse for storage and experimentation. Special limited releases combine multiple finish types in blends, and the distillery also produces Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup as part of their work with maple products.
Whiskies
The portfolio ranges from named whiskies such as Copper Queen and Arctic Grayling series to series and concepts such as Single Barrel, The Mad Angler® Series and Barrel Strength Series. Many releases are based on sourced bourbons, which receive a finishing period in special casks on the farm, while the distillery's own estate whiskies are gradually introduced after using their own grain and experimenting with native yeast. Releases include both standard bottles and limited single-barrel or barrel-strength bottlings, as well as special collaborations and fundraiser releases such as Ice Storm Whiskey.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Cask and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Craft Beer Barrels | Bourbon (finished) | 45 % | Craft beer barrels | Bourbon, finished in craft beer barrels as part of collaborations with local breweries. | Current |
| Rye Whiskey Finished in Caribbean Rum Casks | Rye (finished) | 47 % | Caribbean rum casks | Rye whiskey, finished in Caribbean rum casks. | Current |
| Barrel Strength Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Maple Syrup Barrels | Bourbon (barrel strength, finished); Barrel Strength Series | 55.5 % | Maple syrup barrels; finish: Finish in maple syrup barrels (barrel strength release) | Barrel strength edition of their bourbon, finished in maple syrup cask. | Current |
| Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Mezcal Barrels | Bourbon (finished) | 46 % | Mezcal barrels | Bourbon, finished in mezcal fades. | Current |
| Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Cognac Barrels | Bourbon (finished) | 45 % | Cognac barrels | Bourbon finished in cognac cask. | Current |
| FOUR CASK | Blend (finished) | 45 % | Blend of multiple finished bourbons | A collection of four different barrel-finished bourbons blended into a single bottle. | Current |
| Copper Queen Whiskey | Whiskey; Arctic Grayling / Copper Queen collection | 43 % | Copper Queen is a named whiskey in Iron Fish's portfolio and highlighted as part of their collection. | Current; Core Range | |
| Ice Storm Whiskey | Blend (finished) | Maple syrup barrels, Cognac barrels and Scotch barrels | Ice Storm Whiskey is a very limited blend (released November 5, 2025) that combines whiskies finished in maple syrup, cognac, and Scotch casks; the release supported the Michigan Maple Syrup Association (60 cases / ca. 720 bottles). | Limited; Limited; available at select Michigan retailers and a small number in the tasting room; 720 bottles |
General Flavor Profile
Visit the Distillery
The distillery invites the public to immersive and educational tours, which show the farm's field work, distillery production, and barrel room. Tours end with tastings, and tour gift cards are offered; bookings are handled via their tour platform (sites mention the use of AnyRoad). For special events, guided tastings, or groups over 16 people you can contact tours@ironfishdistillery.com. During larger events such as the 10-year anniversary, a special tour program with multiple tour types is run.
Philosophy and Craft
Iron Fish has an explicit sustainability and land stewardship focus: rebuilding soil health, protecting water and air, reducing fossil fuels via solar energy and heat pumps, and using cover crops and forest management. The distillery's decision to control production from field to bottle supports a commitment to transparency in raw materials and craftsmanship, and they continually work to increase reuse and the circular use of materials.
Sustainability
-
MAEAP-certified farming practices.
-
Solar panel production of about 7,000 kWh annually.
-
Installation of state-of-the-art heat pumps to reduce fossil fuel burning.
-
Planting cover crops (clover, winter peas, forage turnips) and piloting Sunn Hemp.
-
Management of about 47 acres of maple forest for conservation.
Awards and Recognitions
-
Gold – Portfolio (Packaging) (2021, Gold)
-
Gold – Ready-to-drink (Salted Maple Old Fashioned) (2021, Gold, Salted Maple Old Fashioned (Ready-to-drink))
-
Silver – Mad Angler Whiskey (2021, Silver, Mad Angler Whiskey)
-
Bronze – Two Peninsula Whiskey (2021, Bronze, Two Peninsula Whiskey)
-
Best of State – Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Mezcal Barrels (Best of State (Michigan), Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Mezcal Barrels)
-
Silver – Michigan Navy-Strength Rum (2021, Silver)
-
Honorable Mention – Slightly Lost (barrel aged gin) (2021, Honorable Mention)
Latest News
Long-Time Iron Fish Fan and Spirits Leader Joins Executive Team – May 28, 2026
Announcement of a new Chief Sales & Business Development Officer for Iron Fish Distillery.