American Fifth Spirits
Overview of the distillery
American Fifth Spirits is a local distillery and tasting room in Lansing, MI, which since its opening in 2015 has been producing handmade spirits and serving cocktails in an informal tasting room. The distillery combines bottle sales, a cocktail bar, and tastings, and emphasizes regional ingredients and small-scale production.
History
The history of American Fifth Spirits begins with the desire to establish the first distillery in Lansing and create a place where people can gather, celebrate and taste handmade spirits. In 2015 the tasting room and distillery doors opened, and since then the company has built its profile on local sourcing and in-house production. The presence of a tasting room has made the distillery a local gathering point, where bottle sales, cocktails and tasting experiences coexist.
Ingredients and Production
The production approach is centered on craftsmanship and local ingredients. American Fifth states that they work with regionally sourced ingredients and handmade, in-house production in small batches. The site mentions examples of ingredients and recipes: the vodka is made from wheat, their white rum is produced with 100% Colombian panela, and a fernet liqueur is developed from a recipe with 17 botanicals, herbs and spices. The distillery markets itself as both a supplier of bottles and as a cocktail bar, which shapes product development and a focus on cocktail-friendly spirits.
Whisky
The range spans bourbon and malt whisky as well as a broad selection of other spirits: gin, vodka, rum, fernet, absinthe, brandy and several liqueurs. On the tasting room menu and the website, bourbon and malt whisky are shown as central whisky products, while the rest of the portfolio supports the cocktail program and bottle sales to local guests.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Flavor profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bourbon Whisky | Bourbon | The bourbon edition is described with aromas of brown sugar, clove and maple and tasting notes of vanilla, marzipan, caramel, raisins and figs. Nose: Aromas of brown sugar, clove and maple; Taste: Vanilla, marzipan, caramel, raisin, and fig | Core range |
| Malt Whisky | Malt Whisky | The malt whisky is highlighted with aromas of roasted grain, maple and honey and tasting notes of toast, mocha, toffee and cinnamon. Nose: Toasted cereal, maple and honey; Taste: Toast, mocha, toffee and cinnamon | Core range |
The style and flavor profile of the whiskies
The tone of the whiskies is described as sweeter, malt-forward and spicy notes. The bourbon is highlighted with brown sugar, maple, cloves, vanilla, caramel and dried fruits such as raisins and figs. The malt whisky leans toward roasted grain, maple, honey, toast, mocha, toffee and cinnamon. Taken together, these elements give an impression of sweetness and malt character with clear spice notes.
Visit the Distillery
The distillery has an open tasting room at 112 N Larch St., Lansing, MI 48912. The hours are Wednesday and Thursday 4:00–10:00 PM and Friday and Saturday 4:00–11:00 PM. In the tasting room guests can sample products, get handmade cocktails, buy bottles, and get a light snack. There are parking options nearby; the distillery provides a map of parking spaces and street parking.
The listed opening hours are: Wednesday 4:00–10:00 PM; Thursday 4:00–10:00 PM; Friday 4:00–11:00 PM; Saturday 4:00–11:00 PM.
Philosophy and Craft
American Fifth Spirits' philosophy centers on craftsmanship, local sourcing and creating spirits that work in both bottle and cocktail. They highlight the use of regional ingredients, in-house recipes and a practical link between production and tasting room as core values.