[Model D] Two James Spirits, Detroit's first licensed distillery in nearly 100 years, now distributing

Photo by Nicole Rupersburg.

After months of excited buzz, Two James Spirits in Corktown is now open for business.

Mostly.

The production facility and tasting room, at 2445 Michigan Avenue, has been under renovation since last July. Earlier this month, Two James started distributing its 28 Island Vodka, named for the 28 islands on the Detroit River that were used as hideouts by bootleggers during Prohibition, to bars, restaurants, and liquor stores in metro Detroit and Ann Arbor. Soon their Old Cockney Gin and Grass Widow bourbon will also be available, and they have more bourbons and whiskeys currently aging in barrels for future release.

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[Real Detroit Weekly] Pat O'Brien's

Photo by Nicole Rupersburg.

Pat O'Brien's in St. Clair Shores is known for its friendly, comfortable atmosphere, great service and its extensive whiskey selection – in fact, the bar was named "Best Whiskey Selection" in Real Detroit Weekly's Best Of issue for 2013 – Pat O'Brien's is pretty much everything you could want in an Irish neighborhood bar.

Their selection of Irish whiskeys is indeed huge. They've got them all – your mandatory Jameson in multiple different flavors ("flavors" being the 12-year-aged special reserve and 18-year-aged limited reserve, because whiskey does not come in flavors beyond "less whiskey face" and "more whiskey face"), Knappogue Castle, Michael Collins, Paddy, Tullamore Dew ("Tullie"), Feckin and more. Haven't heard of it? Just shut up and drink it: that is the Irish way.

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