Iron Fish Distillery helps bring back Arctic Grayling, launches new rye whiskey
- John Gonzalez
- Mar 20
- 3 min read
BY JOHN D. GONZALEZ
THOMPSONVILLE, MI -- When Iron Fish Distillery owners heard about an initiative to bring back the Arctic Grayling, which had been all but extinct in Michigan by 1936, they knew they had to do their part.
Today, working with nearly 50 organizations since 2016 to restore self-sustaining populations of Arctic Grayling in Michigan rivers, they are ready for an exclusive release they hope will raise even more money through the Iron Fish Arctic Grayling Research Fund.
An extremely limited quantity of rye whiskey, aged over six years, will be released at noon Saturday (March 22) at Iron Fish Distillery.
To date, nearly $25,000 dollars has been raised by the fund to support related research underway at Michigan State University and help with costs associated with reintroduction efforts.
This weekend's whiskey release will feature a label design donated by Michigan artist, Dani Knoph.
Iron Fish proudly supports research and restoration efforts related to the ongoing Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative (MAGI). The MAGI partnership includes the foundational partners Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, as well as the Wenger Foundation, Trout Unlimited Chapters and others, including universities, nongovernmental organizations and individuals.
Free Information Session
Iron Fish Distillery, located in Thompsonville, will host presentations by Ed Eisch, Michigan DNR Fisheries Assistant Chief and Alex Ontkos, Inland Fisheries Biologist with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians for an update on the Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative at 1 and 3 p.m. March 22. Seating is limited to 30 people at each session. Coffee and NA refreshments will be provided, with a happy hour to follow. This event is FREE of charge. RSVP HERE.
You can reserve your bottle at noon on a first come, first serve basis in person by showing proof of donation to the Iron Fish Arctic Grayling Research Fund. Donations will also be accepted on-site.
More details:
Bottles are sold on a first come, first served basis.
Limit 2 bottles per person ($100 per bottle + tax)
Iron Fish Distillery makes charitable donations to the Iron Fish Arctic Grayling Fund, managed by the Manistee County Community Foundation.
Must be over 21 years of age to purchase.
Questions? Email grayling@ironfishdistillery.com .
What exactly are Arctic grayling?
According to the Michigan DNR:
"Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) — often referred to simply as “grayling” — are a freshwater fish in the salmonidae (salmon) family. They have a unique and striking appearance, with a prominent, sail-like dorsal fin and often iridescent markings. Grayling can be found in the Arctic Ocean and Alaska, as well as in rivers and streams of the northern U.S. and Canada. Native to only Michigan and Montana in the Lower 48 states, grayling historically were found in coldwater streams in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and were common in the Manistee and Au Sable rivers — the city of Grayling, Michigan, along the Au Sable, is named after the Arctic grayling. Despite the importance of grayling as a food source, sport fish and cultural resource, habitat destruction, unregulated timber harvest and pressures from non-native fish species led to the extirpation (local extinction) of grayling from Michigan by 1936."
The effort to reintroduce Arctic grayling to Michigan waters will enter its next phase with a ceremony Monday, May 12, at the Oden State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center in Alanson, Michigan.
At this event, the DNR will provide a total of approximately 400,000 grayling eggs to the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. These partners will reintroduce the eggs at locations along the North Branch of the Manistee River, the Maple River and the Boardman-Ottaway River.
For more information, please visit https://ironfishdistillery.com/arcticgrayling/
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