There’s a holiday for just about everything…this is especially true for foods and beverages. This year, the 8th Annual World Gin Day is set for Saturday, June 11. A time for Gin novices and connoisseurs alike to celebrate all things gin.
Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavor from juniper berries, dark bluish-colored berries full of fragrant pine-scented oils which are known to grow wild in Michigan. Its earliest notations are as an herbal medicine as it was noted to improve digestion as well as aide as an antioxidant, antifungal and antimicrobial. Yet, savoring it in a cocktail is much more enjoyable, don’t you think?
According to Wikipedia, “Gin was developed on the basis of the older jenever, and became popular in Great Britain, when William of Orange, leader of the Dutch Republic, occupied the English, Scottish and Irish thrones with his wife, Mary.”
Considered one of the broadest categories of spirits, gin is represented by product of various origins, styles and flavor profiles that all revolve around juniper as a common ingredient. Although several different styles of gin have evolved over time, it is legally differentiated into four categories:
In Michigan, nearly two dozen different gins are produced from almost as many craft distilleries. To find out which ones are making gin, visit our list of member distilleries below and then share your favorite gin cocktail recipes on our MiSpirits Facebook Page.
American Fifth Spirits
Bier Distillery – Michigan Beer Cellar
Civilized Spirits
Coppercraft Distillery
Coppercraft Gin & Coppercraft Genever
Detroit City Distillery
Grand River Distillery
Grand Traverse Distillery
Gray Skies Distillery
Journeyman Distillery
Bilberry Black Hearts Organic Gin & Bilberry Black Hearts Barrel Aged Gin
Long Road Distillers
Mammoth Distilling
New Holland Artisan Spirits
Knickerbocker Gin, Knickerbocker Barrel Gin, Brixx Barrel Gin & Blue Haven Gin Aged on Blueberries
Red Cedar Spirits
Sanctuary Spirits
Two James Spirits
Old Cockney Gin & Barrel Reserve Old Cockney Gin
Valentine Distilling
Liberator Gin & Liberator Old Tom Gin
For a list of our entire membership, click “Craft Distillers” on the right hand column.
#MiSpirits