Grand Traverse Distillery brings handcrafted spirits to downtown

Over the last seven years, Grand Traverse Distillery has continuously grown to become one of the state’s largest craft micro-distilleries. And, in late September, the distillery opened the doors to a tasting room at the heart of downtown Traverse City.

With a focus on quality products and local grains, owner Kent Rabish opened Grand Traverse Distillery in 2007. The distillery, hidden amongst industrial buildings, first opened as a production facility. At the time of its opening, it was only one of about 30 micro-distilleries in the country.

“Then, about two years ago, the law changed, and our business changed,” stated Rabish.

Hand-crafted and made in small batches, Grand Traverse Distillery has become known throughout the region for its quality. It’s signature vodka, True North Vodka, is made from rye grown in Williamsburg on the Send brothers’ farm and is distilled 37 times. The result is a vodka that is exceptionally smooth.  Other products include a cherry vodka, wheat vodka and cho

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