If you live in Boston and think Boston is cold, well it’s nothing compared to Michigan I can now tell you that for sure. Last week I flew to Michigan to visit two great friends who are currently living there. It was very cold up there, but during my visit Laura and I got a chance to keep warm by visiting and taking a tour of the Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan.

Bill Welter established the Journeyman distillery in 2011. The distillery is located in a former Featherbone Factory. The building itself was originally founded in 1883 as a Buggy Whip and Corsets Factory by EK Warren, who actually happened to be prohibitionist… the irony.

The distillery is currently producing roughly around 16 spirits, we got to taste about 14 of them. The list of spirits includes: Gin, Rum, Brandy, Vodka, Cider, Single Malt, Liqueurs, and Whiskies to include a Rye and bourbon. With this list, they have a little something for everyone. Don’t worry, I won’t give you the run down on all these because it be a long post if I did do that. Before leaving the distillery I did purchase a sample pack with three whiskies. Those are the three whiskies I will briefly talk about. The sample pack included the following whiskies: Last Feather Rye Whiskey, Featherbone Bourbon Whiskey and their Silver Cross Whiskey.

Featherbone Bourbon Whiskey

Nose: oak, vanilla and tobacco
Palate: oak, sweet, but also strong with notes of spices
Finish: slight burn with ending sweet notes

When we were first introduced to this bourbon the tour guide informed us that is an award winning bourbon. An award winning bourbon north of Kentucky, I couldn’t wait to taste it.

My Thoughts: It was simply OK bourbon. Maybe I built up too much excitement with the award winning fact. The bourbon is good but my friend Laura said it best, “it’s nothing special.”

Last Feather Rye Whiskey

Nose: flowers and oak
Palate: spices, rye and pepper
Finish: light with notes of spices

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this one a bit more than I did the Bourbon, with that said I would not drink alone but would pair up in a cocktail as I think it would be great to mix with.

Silver Cross Whiskey

Nose: oak, caramel and spices
Palate: malt, spices, rye and sweet notes of caramel
Finish: smooth and earthy

My Thoughts: For some reason I enjoyed this one the most. There was a balance of flavors and I found it to be the most unique of the three.

Overall the experience touring the distillery was great. The building is beautiful and it was a fun fact to find out their whiskies are organic. Aside from the building, the restaurant has great service, food and cocktails.

If you are in the Michigan area it is definitely a place to check out, as you can do the tour and then stay for food and cocktails. If you are a huge whiskey fan and don’t live in the area, I’ll be honest, these aren’t whiskies you are completely missing out on. They are good, but they don’t completely blow you away.

Cheers!

Note: The contents on my blog are solely my opinion. To me every palate is different! Although I may or may not like a product, I always recommend for people to try it and make up their own minds.