Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
No documented production places are linked to this distillery yet.
Northern Latitudes Distillery
Short Overview of the Distillery
Northern Latitudes Distillery sits at Duck Lake in Lake Leelanau, Michigan, and combines small-scale distillation with a large, inviting tasting room and cocktail bar. The distillery offers a wide range of its own spirits — from bourbon and rye to local berry liqueurs and special editions — and features food from its own kitchen, outdoor seating, and live music. The site has also been expanded for increased production and distributes on its own in Michigan.
History
The idea for Northern Latitudes Distillery arose in the fall of 2008 when founders Mandy and Mark Moseler discussed using local sugar beets and the possibilities for making spirits. In spring 2009 Mark took a course in distillation and operation of small distilleries as part of the preparations. The family decided to settle in Lake Leelanau, and in March 2012 the chosen building was converted into a distillery. A German-produced still arrived at the end of August 2012, and on October 4, 2012, doors opened for sale of its products. Since opening, the company has worked with local ingredients, developed a wide range, and established a tasting and restaurant-like experience for visitors.
Raw Materials and Production
Northern Latitudes works with both local ingredients and traditional distillation methods. Raw materials range from corn, rye and malted barley to wheat and sugar beet sugar; some products draw on specific local suppliers such as Grant Farm and Michigan Sugar Company. They use a German-produced still on the facility and use both pot still (double pot-distillation noted for Latitudes Straight Bourbon) and column still (double distillation described for Michigan Dogman Moonshine) depending on the product. Mash bills are documented for several products: Latitudes Bourbon uses 40% wheat in the mash bill, Deer Camp Bourbon is listed as 75% corn / 21% rye / 4% malted barley, and Deer Camp Rye as 95% rye / 5% malted barley. The distillery actively experiments with processes and finishes, including finish series and the use of used bourbon barrels for aquavit.
Maturation and Barrel Types
Aging and finishes are a clear focus at Northern Latitudes. Latitudes Straight Bourbon is aged in Minnesota oak barrels for at least five years, while other bourbon expressions have the base aging in American charred oak before final finishing. Finish experiments include the use of Brazilian Amburana for the Finish Line series and Michigan maple syrup barrels as a finish for a Deer Camp edition. In addition, used Latitudes bourbon barrels are used for wet-barrel aging of their Mount Kebne aged Aquavit for at least four months. These choices of wood and reuse of barrels are central to the distillery's approach to creating varied expressions.
The Whiskeys
The range includes both its own bourbons and rye, along with a wide array of vodkas, gins, rums, and liqueurs. Among the whiskey releases are Latitudes Straight Bourbon (wheated bourbon aged over 5 years), Deer Camp Straight Bourbon (purchased originally, still in the lineup), a maple-finish edition of Deer Camp Bourbon, The Finish Line (bourbon with world-wood finishes, e.g., Amburana), Deer Camp Reserve 8-year-old (limited), and Deer Camp Straight Rye (4 years). The portfolio shows a combination of core releases and limited, cask-experiment finishes.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Barrel and Style | Tasting Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latitudes Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon | 44 % | Over 5 years | Minnesota oak barrels | Wheated bourbon that uses 40% wheat in the mash bill, double pot-distilled and aged over 5 years in Minnesota oak barrels. Described as 'vanilla-forward' in the product text. | Current; Core range |
| Deer Camp Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon | 43 % | American charred oak | Previously purchased bourbon, which the distillery still carries in its lineup. Mash bill listed as 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley. | Current; Core range | |
| Deer Camp Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Maple Syrup Finish | Bourbon (finish) | 43 % | 5 years + 2 years finish | Michigan maple syrup barrels; finish: additional aging in maple syrup barrels for 2 years | A variant of the Deer Camp bourbon, where a 5-year-old high-rye bourbon has received an additional two years of maturation in Michigan maple syrup barrels. | Current |
| The Finish Line | Bourbon (finished); Finish Line Series | 45 % | Min. 5 years before finish | American charred oak (primary) and Brazilian Amburana wood barrels (finish); finish: Primary aging in charred American oak for at least 5 years and finish in Amburana wood as part of the Finish Line series | A series that lets bourbon, aged at least 5 years in American charred oak, finish in wood types from around the world; the first in the series is finished in Amburana wood. | Current |
| Deer Camp Reserve — Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon | 43 % | 8 years | American oak (not specified) | Limited 8-year-old bourbon from the distillery; mash bill generally listed as corn, rye and malted barley on other Deer Camp products. | Limited |
| Deer Camp Straight Rye Whiskey | Rye Whiskey | 43 % | 4 years | New charred American oak | Traditional American rye, mash bill listed as 95% rye and 5% malted barley, aged 4 years in new charred American oak barrels. | Current; Core range |
The Whiskey Styles and Flavor Profiles
Several of the distillery’s products highlight specific aromatic directions: Latitudes Straight Bourbon is described as 'vanilla-forward', Finish Line releases are described with baking spices and gingerbread, and the distillery’s gin notes pronounced pine and citrus notes as well as a lavender finish. Among other products there are also strong, dark notes from blackstrap molasses in rum and a pronounced, 'fired' character in horseradish vodka. Taken together, this paints a picture of a place where wood choice, spice, and local ingredients come together to create different aromatic profiles.
Visit the Distillery
The distillery in Lake Leelanau has an open tasting room with free tastings, a full cocktail bar, food from its own kitchen, and outdoor seating. The Lake Leelanau location is open noon–7 PM Tuesday through Saturday, noon–5 PM Sunday, and closed on Mondays. Northern Latitudes also operates a Suttons Bay tasting room with its own hours. Visitors can purchase products in the shop area and experience live music events; contact information and address are available for guests.
The stated hours are Lake Leelanau: Noon–7 PM Tue–Sat, Noon–5 PM Sun, closed Monday. Suttons Bay tasting room: Noon–7 PM Mon & Thu–Sat, Noon–4 PM Sun, closed Tue & Wed (startup information from the page).
Philosophy and Craft
Northern Latitudes combines local grounding and craftsmanship with experiments in barrel finishes and packaging choices. The founders started with a focus on local ingredients and small-scale production, and the distillery prioritizes collaboration with local farmers, reuse and new finish techniques, as well as packaging solutions with a lower environmental footprint for selected products.
Sustainability
Paper bottles for certain cream liqueurs made from 94% post-consumer material and with reduced weight and carbon footprint.