Thompsonville distillery announces $900K expansion

Iron Fish Distillery is expanding its Thompsonville farm facility to triple production of its estate whiskey. By Scott Fraley/News Advocate

THOMPSONVILLE — Iron Fish Distillery is embarking on a major expansion and plans a $900,000 investment in new equipment and facility improvements.

This goal is to triple the production capacity of its estate whiskey, according to a press release from the distillery.

The distillery has grown and harvested grain on its 120-acre farm since 2015, and purchases grain from Michigan farmers to distill spirits and age whiskey. The expanded production will increase the amount of grain Iron Fish will purchase from Michigan farms to 725,000 pounds annually, according to the distillery’s website.

Iron Fish Distillery has announced a roughly $900,000 expansion to its farm facility in Thompsonville. Submitted photo by Jesse Den Herder

Iron Fish Distillery having marked its 6th anniversary in 2022, has announced it is expanding distribution of its spirits to California, Colorado, Illinois and Indiana this fall. Submitted photo by Jesse Den Herder

This will also increase the number of growers supplying Iron Fish from six to 10 farms, including in the Upper Peninsula where rye grain has been sourced since 2015. 

“Our expansion is possible because Michigan consumers and retailers are embracing local, and this project will dramatically increase our ability to source ingredients from Michigan growers in the production of our spirits and food and beverage offerings.”  Richard Anderson, co-owner of Iron Fish Distillery said in a prepared statement.

The new distillery production equipment is expected to be in operation by early 2023. 

The expansion is being financed by a combination of private investment and bank financing, and was supplemented with a loan from the Manistee County Economic Development Council and a $55,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

Richard Anderson, co-owner of Iron Fish Distillery in Thompsonville, marked the 6th anniversary of his business in September. By Scott Fraley/News Advocate

Richard Anderson co-owner of Iron Fish Distillery meets with Governor Gretchen Whitmer at his Thompsonville-based business in May 2022. Whitmer highlighted the distillery as an example of small business growth. By Scott Fraley/News Advocate

Iron Fish is celebrating its sixth anniversary and it has more than 125,000 visitors each year.

Earlier this year, Iron Fish Distillery, was lauded by Governor Gretchen Whitmer as a Michigan business success story as part of her statewide tour of small businesses in the state. 

The distillery owners plan to expand distribution to Colorado, California, Illinois and Indiana this season. Iron Fish spirits are available in Michigan and Wisconsin, and are home delivered in 40 states.

Iron Fish Distillery is located at 14234 Dzuibanek Road in Thompsonville.

Visit ironfishdistillery.com for more information.