Iron Fish Distillery in Manistee County, Mich., has release its first estate whiskeys under its Mad Angler brand. Three varieties were released in September 2022: Mad Angler Bourbon, Mad Angler Rye Whiskey and Mad Angler Bottled in Bond Whiskey.Provided by Iron Fish Distillery

THOMPSONVILLE, MI – Six years after opening its doors, Iron Fish Distillery is releasing its first farm-grown, barrel-aged whiskeys – and has announced plans to invest $900,000 and triple production.

For years, the Northern Michigan spirit maker has used Michigan-grown grain to make vodka and gin, and sourced whiskey for its line of barrel-finished whiskeys. Now, after four years of aging, Iron Fish’s first estate whiskeys are ready for consumption.

The Mad Angler brand of estate whiskeys is distilled from grain grown at the Iron Fish farm on the Betsie River in Thompsonville and other Michigan farms. Three varieties of soil-to-spirit whiskey were released this month: Mad Angler Bourbon, Mad Angler Rye Whiskey and Mad Angler Bottled in Bond Whiskey.

Plans to invest $900,000 in new equipment and facility upgrades will aid in the upcoming tripling of production. New distilling equipment is expected to be operational by early 2023.

The new equipment will be needed when the company increase the amount of grain it purchases from Michigan farms to 725,000 pounds annually. The number of suppliers will increase from six to 10.

An aerial photo shows Iron Fish Distillery's farm in Manistee County where it grows grain for whiskey and other spirits. The company is investing $900,000 to triple production.Provided by Iron Fish Distillery

Private investment and bank financing for the expansion was supplemented with a loan from the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council and a $55,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

Founded in 2016, Iron Fish Distillery is Michigan’s first farm distillery. It attracts more than 125,000 guests annually to its agricultural destination near Thompsonville where it operates a third-party, environmentally verified farm through the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program.

Every step of the Iron Fish soil-to-spirit distilling process occurs at its 120-acre farm on the Betsie River. The process starts in farm fields where the distillery grows and harvests its own grain. Milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling, and barrel aging is on full display for visitors. Iron Fish also sources bourbon from around the world for finishing in barrels.

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