BLACK STAR FARMS DISTILLERY
As an expression of the region’s agricultural heritage, you will find a taste of northern Michigan in a bottle of our cherry brandy. Made of just cherries mashed into juice, we add a little yeast to begin fermentation, then distill it into a pure, clear 80-proof spirit. Black Star Farms produces brandies from the best local cherries, apricots, pears, plums, raspberries and grapes. We also produce a barrel-aged apple brandy that is aged for three to five years, using both French and American oak.
Our distillery operation began in 1998 on our farm in Suttons Bay. Our fruit based brandies are generally known as eau de vie-style spirits, a staple in some European countries. Eau de vie is French for “water of life”. The spirits are clear and represent the pure essence of fermented fruit. The balance of fruit and alcohol reflects both the artisan skill of the distiller and the quality of the fruit. At the precise time the distiller feels is optimum to showcase the “spirit” of the fruit, the brandy is bottled, often a single barrel at a time, or in very small lots, as distillation is a process of amplifying whatever the starting product is.
Brandies are often consumed as digestifs because they are believed to help settle the stomach after a large meal. They can also be mixed into their own distinct cocktails just like vodka, gin, and whiskey. Brandy also can be incorporated into savory sauces or used as a garnish to finish deserts.
Our spirits can be sampled and purchased in our tasting rooms.
- Pear and its Spirit
- Spirit of Apple
- Spirit of Apricot
- Spirit of Cherry
- Spirit of Pear
- Spirit of Plum
- Spirit of Vineyard Red Grappa
Live in Illinois? You can now purchase our apple, pear and cherry brandies online through Spirit Hub!
