Ethanology Distillation

What Ethanology Distillation does

Ethanology Distillation is a founder-owned craft distillery based in Elk Rapids, Michigan, producing small-batch, grain-to-glass spirits from ingredients sourced exclusively within a 33-mile radius of its facility on the 45th parallel. Founded in 2017 by Nick and Geri Lefebre, the company operates a vertically integrated production process covering milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling, barreling, and bottling all performed in-house. Its product portfolio includes a proprietary honey distillate (Mel), a wild-foraged gin (Eros), a contemporary gin (Bruma), a red winter wheat vodka (Siligo), a blue corn bourbon (Birobur), a blue corn white whiskey, and an herbal liqueur (Amarum Pirum), with novel substrates including Frumentum Blue Corn co-developed with a breeder partner.

The business operates a hybrid DTC and wholesale model: a tasting room and cocktail bar at 127 Ames St. in Elk Rapids, Michigan statewide hospitality and retail distribution launched in 2024, online ordering with distillery pickup, and direct shipping to most US states through Big Thirst, Inc. retailer partners (excluding 13 states). Revenue streams include spirit sales (priced $37-$165 per bottle), tasting room cocktails, guided distillery tours (approximately $30-35 per person), cocktail-to-go kits, gift crates, merchandise, gift cards ($25-$1,000), and a Cuts Club single-barrel program. Customers are craft spirit enthusiasts, experience-seeking tourists, gift buyers, and Michigan hospitality partners, with no named enterprise customers. The company is B Corp certified (2023), is headquartered as Ethanology LLC in Michigan, and operates with 1-10 employees, declining outside investment.

Name

Ethanology Distillation

Legal name

Ethanology LLC

Website

https://ethanologydistillation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ethanology Distillation is a founder-owned craft distillery in Elk Rapids, Michigan, producing small-batch, grain-to-glass spirits from ingredients sourced within a 33-mile radius and selling through a tasting room, Michigan hospitality channel, and DTC shipping to most US states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distilled Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF), Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ)

Keywords

• Craft distilled spirits
• Grain-to-glass distillery
• Hyperlocal spirit production
• Small-batch bourbon
• Honey distillate

Headquarters

HQ city

Elk Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Spirit Sales: Direct-to-consumer spirit sales through the tasting room and online ordering with distillery pickup. Spirits shipped to customers in most US states through retailer partners of Big Thirst, Inc.
2. Tasting Room & Cocktail Service: On-site consumption of cocktails and spirits at the distillery tasting room. The cocktail program utilizes vertically integrated approach with each ingredient made in-house.
3. Distillery Tours: Guided immersive tours of the 100% grain-to-glass distillery with private tasting of eight spirits and etched Ethanology tasting glass as a memento.
4. Cocktail To-Go Kits: Pre-packaged cocktail kits with spirits and mixers for home preparation. Includes White Russian, Cheeky, and Red Hat kits.
5. Merchandise & Gear: Branded merchandise including hats, beanies, tasting glasses, hip flasks, and apparel sold at the distillery and online.
6. Barrel Program (Cuts Club): Single barrel purchases through the Cuts Club. Customers can purchase named barrels (Barrel by Name) with personalized bottles from specific aged expressions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ethanology Distillation produces small-batch craft spirits (vodka, gin, bourbon, white whiskey, herbal liqueur, and honey distillate) using a vertically integrated, grain-to-glass process with 100% of ingredients sourced within a 33-mile radius of its Elk Rapids, Michigan facility. The company also operates an on-site tasting room and cocktail bar, offers guided distillery tours, and sells branded merchandise, cocktail kits, and single-barrel spirits through its Cuts Club program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mel® Honey Distillate Proprietary barrel aged honey distillate made from 100% Northern Michigan cherry blossom honey sourced from Cherry Bee Farms in Kewadin, Michigan; described as singular in the world and akin to cognac in elegance.
• Vespera™ Mel® Premium variant of the Mel honey distillate line, priced at $125 per 750ml; barrel aged honey distillate from cherry blossom honey.
• Maneo™ Mel® 4 Year Distiller's Series single barrel, single origin 4 year old Mel honey distillate; priced at $165 per 700ml; described as 1/1 in the world.
• Siligo Vodka 100% Red Winter Wheat vodka distilled from grain grown at Valley View Farm in East Jordan, Michigan; priced at $40 per 750ml.
• Bruma Gin Contemporary and delicate base gin expression made with Northern Michigan botanicals.
• Bruma Barrel Aged Gin Barrel rested gin inspired by Northern Michigan; priced at $65 per 750ml.
• Eros Summer Gin Wild-foraged gin with all ingredients sourced within 33 miles; re-released on 2025-08-08, limited to 178 bottles at $48 per 750ml.
• Birobur™ Blue Corn Bourbon 6 Year Old Double Oak Single barrel bourbon made from 100% Frumentum Blue Corn grown at Shooks Farm in Central Lake, Michigan; finished in ex-Mel casks; 6 year old double oak release priced at $90 per 750ml, limited to 4 bottles per person on release day.
• Birobur™ Blue Corn Bourbon 8 Year Old Double Oak Single barrel 8 year old double oak bourbon from 100% Frumentum Blue Corn; Barrel #1, 211 bottles yield, 90 proof; limited to 2 bottles per person on release day 2026-04-18.
• Frumentum Blue Corn White Whiskey 100% Frumentum Blue Corn unaged white whiskey from Vermeersch Farms in Central Lake, Michigan; priced at $45 per 750ml.
• Amarum Pirum Liqueur Herbaceous bitter liqueur made with local botanicals including lavender from Lavender Hill Farm, Chinook hops from Michigan Hop Alliance, and Bartlett pears from King Orchards; priced at $37 per 750ml.
• Cuts Club Single Barrel Program (Barrel by Name) Single barrel purchase program allowing customers to buy named barrels (Barrel by Name) and receive personalized bottles from specific aged expressions; conducted as special events at the distillery.
• Distillery Tour & Tasting Guided immersive tour of the grain-to-glass distillery with private tasting of eight spirits and an etched Ethanology tasting glass as a memento; priced at approximately $30-35 per person; limited to 8 people per tour.
• Cocktail To-Go Kits Pre-packaged cocktail kits including the White Russian Kit ($65–110, with Siligo Vodka, coffee vanilla syrup, optional cream; 12–24 cocktails), Cheeky Kit ($75, with Bruma Gin and house Cheeky sauce; 12 cocktails; pickup only), and Red Hat Kit; designed for home preparation.
• Cocktail Gift Crates Wood gift crates containing spirits, bitters, syrups, and recipe cards, manufactured by SpotLab Designs; priced $65–$160.
• Gift Cards E-gift cards and physical gift cards available in denominations ranging from $25 to $1,000.
• Branded Merchandise & Gear Branded merchandise including hats, beanies, tasting glasses (etched, $10), hip flasks, and apparel sold at the distillery and online.
• Private Event Venue Rental Private event bookings for unique venue rentals at the distillery, with reclaimed Northern Michigan atmosphere; inquiries via [email protected].
• Tasting Room & Cocktail Bar Service On-site cocktail and tasting room service at 127 Ames St., Elk Rapids, MI; cocktail program uses a vertically integrated approach with each ingredient made in-house.

Quantifiable outcome

• All ingredients sourced within 33-mile radius
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Big Thirst, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFulfillment partner for direct-to-consumer shipping to customers outside Michigan. All sales shipped outside Michigan are processed and fulfilled by retailer partners of Big Thirst, Inc.
• Shooks FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShooks Farm in Central Lake, Michigan (19 miles from distillery) grows Frumentum Blue Corn for the Birobur bourbon program. Partnership began with 5-acre test plot in 2017 and has expanded to consistent production.
• Cherry Bee FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCherry Bee Farms in Kewadin, Michigan provides 100% Northern Michigan cherry blossom honey for Mel and other honey distillate products.
• Valley View FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerValley View Farm in East Jordan, Michigan provides Soft Red Winter Wheat for base distillates used in vodka, gin, and liqueur products.
• Bear Earth HerbalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides wild-foraged botanicals from Northern Michigan for the Eros Wild-Foraged Gin, including native plants and herbs sourced locally.
• Lavender Hill FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLavender Hill Farm in Charlevoix, Michigan provides three distinctly different lavender varieties for Amarum Pirum liqueur.
• Michigan Hop AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan Hop Alliance in Omena, Michigan provides Chinook hops for Amarum Pirum liqueur.
• King OrchardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKing Orchards in Central Lake, Michigan provides Bartlett pears for backsweetening Amarum Pirum liqueur.
• SpotLab DesignsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpotLab Designs in Boyne City, Michigan manufactures custom wood gift crates for cocktail and spirit gift sets sold at the distillery.
• Vermeersch FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVermeersch Farms in Central Lake, Michigan provides Frumentum Blue Corn for the white whiskey product.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Koval Distillery: Chicago-based craft distillery producing organic, single-grain whiskeys and liqueurs. Comparable peer with similar grain-to-glass ethos, small batch production, and cocktail bar/DTC distribution model.
• Barr Hill (Caledonia Spirits): Vermont craft distillery producing terroir-driven gin, vodka, and barrel-aged spirits with farm sourcing. Comparable peer with similar emphasis on local agricultural inputs, craft positioning, and experiential tasting room offering.
• Journeyman Distillery: Michigan-based craft distillery producing grain-to-glass spirits with on-site tasting room, restaurant, and event space. Most directly comparable peer given shared Michigan craft distillery model, single-state distribution focus, and farm-to-bottle sourcing narrative.
• Traverse City Whiskey Co. Michigan-based craft whiskey producer with statewide and multi-state distribution. Comparable craft distillery in the same state targeting premium spirits consumers with bourbon, rye, and flavored whiskey lineup; overlapping barrel program and DTC channels.
• Smooth Ambler Spirits: West Virginia craft distillery producing small-batch bourbon, rye, and gin. Comparable peer with similar craft spirits focus, farm/agricultural sourcing emphasis, and tasting room experience.
• FEW Spirits: Illinois craft distillery producing award-winning whiskey and gin with tasting room. Comparable peer in craft spirits category with similar small-batch, single-state origin strategy and DTC focus.
• Grand Traverse Distillery: Northern Michigan craft distillery in Traverse City producing small-batch vodka, gin, and liqueurs. Directly comparable peer given shared Northern Michigan terroir, single-state footprint, and tasting room business model.
• Leopold Bros. Colorado craft distillery known for terroir-driven, farm-sourced grain-to-glass spirits with tasting room. Comparable peer in craft distilling with similar commitment to local sourcing, single-state origin, and unique fruit/honey-based distillates.

Broad incumbents

• St. George Spirits: Established California craft distillery producing a wide portfolio including gin, whiskey, vodka, and liqueurs. Broader incumbent peer with similar craft distillation methodology and experimentation with unique botanicals/local terroir; significantly more scale and distribution.

Regional players

• New Holland Brewing: Michigan craft brewery and distillery producing spirits including whiskey, vodka, gin, and rum. Comparable regional player with overlapping Michigan craft alcohol footprint, distribution depth, and tasting room operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/Ethanology
• Facebookfacebook.com/Ethanology
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ethanology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ethanology Distillation