Episode 2 features American Fifth Spirits at 112 N Larch in downtown Lansing – right across the street from Jackson Field Stadium, home of the Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball team and MSU college baseball. The 1920 building has been beautiful revitalized, and they kept the 1920 Art Deco period to transform this into a destination tasting bar in the heart of Lansing.
I had the pleasure to meet and interview Owner and CEO, Nick Garyet, General Manager Jessica Reed, and Mixologist Kate Bearup. Their story starts with a former partner and head distiller Rick Wyble, who thought up the idea of having the first distillery in downtown Lansing. Wyble wanted it to be more than a drinking place – he wanted to make it a learning experience.
In the 5 short years American Fifth Spirits achieved a gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirit competition in 2018, and the Lansing Chamber of Commerce recognized American Fifth the Small Business Award.
However Rick would leave American Fifth Spirits for other endeavors, and Nick, Jessica and Kate have carried on and have raised the bar of learning by creating cocktail courses, expanded the outdoor patio area, and have had to think outside the box during the pandemic.
Their craft mix drink take-out’s has been a hit during the pandemic, as people are able to safely order and pick up from the parking lot.
American Fifth Spirits is licensed to serve whatever they make – and so everything is made fresh for cocktails.
And now they are currently getting ready for mixology courses online for all of us at home wanting to learn how to mix drinks like a pro! Which you can find more information on their website at americanfifthspirits.com – and I’ll have a link on my site as well…
They are taking advantage of the shut-down due to the pandemic to update and do some must needed construction in the tasting room, keeping the ever-popular penny bar that has become an iconic feature in the tasting room.
Nick also discussed ideas on expanding to offer a banquette room for meetings, gatherings, and parties.
Until then, you can keep up-to-date on their latest cocktail drinks that they’re known for on their facebook page American Fifth Tasting Room, and you can find their award winning craft spirits at over 400 major liquor and grocery (like Meijers) stores in Michigan.
Be sure to listen into the podcast to hear more of their story.
Photo credit American Fifth Spirits website and Google.
Recent Comments