Ethanology Distillation - Elk Rapids, Michigan

Morgan M.

what a sweet, chic little spot! stopped here because my best friend has been recommending it since they opened. was glad we were able to swing through on our way from traverse city to petoskey. we each had a drink - i had the pear one & my partner had the equivalent of an old fashioned. the space distills their own liquor and the staff were so knowledgeable about their products. the mixologists made lots of recommendations of drinks & also areas in the space to sit & sip. We opted for the back area that’s lofted and connected by a spiral staircase. it was quiet & secluded, yet connected. the music was good - black keys was a good vibe for the space. we also split the small cheese/cracker board, which was delicious. will def be back for something to sip slowly. the drinks were a little strong but delicious - something to savor, especially when it’s a stop along a driven route. def recommend swinging by!

Kelly B.

This is the coolest place!! Great atmosphere, awesome staff, and amazing drinks! Highly recommend and will be back when we are in the area.

Jenny B.

Great spirits, staff, tastings and cocktails. We had the premium tasting which was better than most distilleries, with 8 different pours and solid explanations and info on all of them. The “famous” White Russian delivered.

Britney M.

We have been coming here through out the years and have appreciated the innovation and quirkiness of the drinks and atmosphere. We decided to drive in on a winter vacation for a drink. We were told that there was a cover charge of $10 each for a comedian that night- completely fine and we paid it with our drinks. Unfortunately the comedian was vulgar and completely inappropriate. We even talked about buying a gift card for my family to come at their leisure and if this were to occur when they visited, it would have been so embarrassing. My hope for management is to either assess the price they are charging their patrons for cover or more importantly vet the entertainment.

Devon P.

Excellent outdoor atmosphere, unique well-made drinks. Good live music certain times. A great place to go with friends.

Harrison F. (.

This place. This place is nothing you have experienced. Dear lord their drinks are unique and delicious. The fall drinks were insanely good and we immediately bought some Mel. The apple fall drink is so good and the spicy drink is good for those who like a kick. Most white people may have troubles.

The atmosphere is great and I can't wait to go back. My wallet, not so much.

Stephen H.

The Spirits are good and the mission is clear.
Single source spirits with ingredients from within a 33 mile radius, and they do not suffer from this restriction.

We did the guided tasting, and you should too. It was nice to get the full explanation while we tasted the spirits, which were presented neat, one at a time, with soda water as a palette cleanser.
In time I would bet that this guided tasting will be reduced to a truncated explanation along with a flight, but I could be wrong. It just seemed like a lot of time to give to one small group, and I don't know how they are able to devote so much time to it. That said, we were given more than our money's worth in spirits and knowledge and it was great. So, in case they do stop offering this, go do it!

We brought our 9 year old son, and during the guided tasting, he had questions which were generously answered in a digestible way. We appreciated the patience. They also have non-alcoholic versions of a few of their cocktails as well, which is a very good thing in my opinion, and not just for kids.

The whole vibe of the place is like a trendy brewery look, with the rustic wood and corrugated metal, with accents of an old world herbalist apothecary. I liked the texture of the space almost as much as the libations. I would love to have a drink with the person curating all the random things and hear about where and when they were gathered... Or maybe I prefer to imagine their origins instead, I'm not sure.

We did not plan to like the Mel, but is was the clear show stopper and so, we forked of over the 90 bucks for a bottle, and will likely return when it runs out.
Is it a 90 dollar bottle by comparison to international offerings? maybe not, but does it deserve its price tag based on the rest of the mission, coupled with the unique taste, tannins and texture? Absolutely.

Some reviewers have pointed out that there is an arrogance problem at Ethanology, and I will admit that I could smell a dash of it right when I walked in, but it seems to be born out of a dedication to their mission, and probably a steady stream of folks that just don't get it. I did not find their pride in what they do to be off-putting, and it seemed to me to be earned, so take it with a grain of salt, or go do better on your own!

Overall, we'll be back, likely on an annual basis, for a cocktail and a bottle. For reference, its about an hour drive for us which shouldn't be a big deal, but we like to stay close to home. Still, we'll make the trek. We're bitters fans, so we're hoping they'll offer their hose made bitters for sale some day as well.

Also, the space was clean, including the bathrooms. This is not a minor detail.

Summary: good spirits go now take plenty of cash and have a snack on the way.

Michael L. F.

Bartenders have great product knowledge and the liquors they're making are exceptional. If you enjoy tasting things that set themselves apart in a market flooded with things that all taste the same, this is a great stop.