THOMPSONVILLE — Iron Fish Distillery in Thompsonville, Mich., will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Labor Day, Sept. 4, 2026. The distillery was established in 2016 and is known for its locally grown rye whiskey and family-friendly atmosphere.
Iron Fish Distillery is situated on a 120-acre farm where the team grows its own rye for whiskey production. The facility includes a tasting room, a restaurant and a retail shop, offering visitors not only craft spirits but also a cozy dining experience.
David Wallace, owner of Iron Fish Distillery, highlighted some of the unique offerings available at the distillery. “We grow our own rye for our whiskey and we have a tasting room, a restaurant, a retail shop and a full distillery on site,” he explained.
The distillery is designed to be family-friendly. Wallace stated, “This is a very family-friendly distillery,” mentioning that children enjoy activities like dancing in front of the live music stage during busy events.
Upcoming whiskey releases include the Arctic Grayling release in March 2026, which supports efforts to reintroduce the Arctic grayling fish into Michigan rivers. Wallace noted, “It’s called the Arctic Grayling release and it is a whiskey that we make every year. And it benefits the research that is being done to get the grayling reintroduced into Michigan rivers.”
In conjunction with the whiskey release, Iron Fish will host its Hats and Horses party in May 2026, celebrating the Kentucky Derby with themed food and drinks. Wallace mentioned, “You can wear your best bow tie and your nicest clothes and your fanciest hat and have a great day out here.”
The distillery’s anniversary event on Labor Day will involve various festivities, including barrel-making demonstrations and a bagpiper blessing the barrels. “It’s going to be a big party. It’s a big party every year but will be even bigger this year,” Wallace said, describing the excitement surrounding the event.
Iron Fish Distillery is also committed to local conservation efforts. Wallace explained, “We donate part of our sales on that Arctic grayling whiskey to the organization that’s helping do the research to try to get those grayling back into our rivers.”
Additionally, the distillery has a unique offering called Manifesto whiskey, a blend created by their production team, which will also see a release in May 2026. Wallace described this product: “It’s a really nice whiskey called Manifesto and it is a blend of whiskeys that we have tasked our production team to produce.”
The 10th anniversary celebration will occur on Labor Day, Sept. 4, 2026, featuring live music, food and interactive events. Additional details about upcoming whiskey releases and events can be found by clicking here.