MANCHESTER, MI – While most meals can be found on a plate, River Raisin Distillery is serving one up in in a glass.
Distilling started as a hobby for Joe and Krista Jarvis before they opened River Raisin Distillery in 2020 in an old welding shop. They specialize in making unique cocktails, including their popular Fully Loaded Bloody Mary.
All the basics of a Bloody Mary - plus a load of toppings - make River Raisin Distillery a destination in Manchester, Joe said.
The drink starts with River Raisin Distillery’s Cane & Grain, which comes from an old family recipe, he said. The spirit was originally believed to be a rum, until the family submitted it to the federal government and were told it was actually a unique spirit made from cane and grain, Joe said.
“It doesn’t have a category, so the best way we can describe it is it has the grains of a whiskey, the sweetness of rum and is clean as vodka,” he said.
After this spirit is added to the salt-rimmed glass, people can choose their Bloody Mary mixer from four different spice levels.
Then toppings, including vegetables, small pretzels and bacon can be added, along with a plethora of other toppings, such as pizza pockets, a cheesy meatball, salami, pepperoni, cheese curds, a taquito, wing dings, half of a beer brat, a whole soft pretzel and a side car for nacho cheese.
Finally, a small piece of cheesecake is placed atop the straw for dessert.
The drinks and are popular with customers because of the food, the good quality of the drink and it’s “selfie factor,” team member Kate Austad said.
“No one at your table can touch it until you can get a photo,” Austad said.
The Fully Loaded Bloody Mary is only served from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday and costs $25. But the distillery sells other handcrafted spirits, including agave and rum, and other drinks, including a Lemon Drop, Orange Cream, The Flying Dutchmen and the Manchester Mule, throughout the week.
Local food trucks also pop up throughout the week.
River Raisin Distillery, 480 W. Main St. in Manchester, is open 3 to 9.m. Wednesday, 3 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
More information can be found on its Facebook page and website.
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