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What’s in a Name?
Salty Pecker Begins New Brewery Journey in Norton Shores
Twins Michael and Adam Kazanowski may be natives of Birmingham, but their hearts have long belonged to a special place they regard as unique to Michigan: Mackinac Island.
That’s why the brothers are tickled to have recently opened a new business there, Mackinac Island Rum Company, the first and only tasting room on the iconic island. Located near Shepler’s Ferry Dock in the Horse Corral Mall, the business began pouring on May 28. The opening culminated an arduous COVID-19-marred journey for the Kazanowskis whose fascination for the state’s most famous island began with childhood trips there. If the pandemic-related delays
BY Jon Becker for MIBrew Trail
Twin Brothers open mackinac island's first tasting room
MIBREW TRAIL MAGAZINE
Spring 2022
horse-drawn drays to deliver the material to our build site. If we didn’t have guidance from many of the locals I don’t know if we ever would have figured it out.”
It took the entrepreneurs nearly two years to get the necessary approvals to open Mackinac Island Rum Company, an offshoot of their Petoskey-based distillery, High Five Spirits.
“We are very thankful to the locals and City Council for giving us the opportunity to be the first and only licensed tasting room on the island,” Kazanowski said. “It’s something we do not take for granted and we want to make sure we do everything the right way and give back to the island. It’s had such a positive impact on our lives.”
It started early as kids venturing up there on family vacations to later when the two would attempt to sell their spirits to island merchants.
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The Founders/GVSU partnership allowed design thinking students to interact in an authentic learning experience with a client to meet real world needs. Almost all of the students who participated in the partnership found working with Founders to be a positive experience and were excited to design an actual product. The project is a great example of how partnerships can be developed between the business community and higher education to engage in practical experiences that can help students prepare for future careers and creative endeavors. If Founders decides to implement any of the ideas or not, at the end of the project, GVSU design thinking students got to brew their own beer and "chase the what if."
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weren’t enough, please keep in mind that the island, of course, doesn’t allow vehicles, posing immense logistical challenges when it comes to getting supplies to your business. Nobody said dream-making is for the faint of heart, and the Kazanowskis are not the type to easily wither.
“Opening a new business is never easy and doing it on an island with no cars makes it that much more difficult,” said Michael Kazanowski. “We spent months and months bringing materials over by boat in the middle winter and used
“The island has always been one of our favorite places,” Kazanowski said. “When we opened our distillery in Petoskey we would make it a routine to head to the island to try and get our spirits on the shelf, sometimes successfully and sometimes not so successfully.”
No matter the outcome of their sales pitch, “It didn’t stop us from enjoying all the island has to offer. The spirit of the island and its beauty and history is what led us to distill Mackinac Island Rum which we finished with chocolate fudge from Murdicks.”
That was the third spirit they released from High Spirits, fueling a labor of love.
“We knew if we could make fantastic rum and stayed persistent that one day we might have the opportunity to open our own tasting room on Mackinac Island.”
The Kazanowskis respect Mackinac Island’s storied history, but they decided to go in a different direction décor-wise with their tasting room--from which you have a view of the Straits of Mackinac.
Imbibers can sample their Gypsy Vodka, Petoskey Stone Gin and three varieties of rum that are bourbon barrel aged in old white oak barrels.
“We also offer a delicious craft cocktail menu that has drinks like a Mackinac Island Sunrise, Rum Runners, Lilac Martini, Pina Colada, and many more,” offered Kazanowski.
Summer is the big tourist season on the island, but Kazanowski said,
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“We like to consider ourselves a year-round business. We live in Petoskey and that gives us the opportunity to be open in the winter during the holidays. And whenever an ice bridge forms, we cannot wait to spend the winter on the island.”
So, visitors to Mackinac Island can now enjoy the best of worlds: a tropical paradise ambience at the new Mackinac Island Rum Company and the myriad activities and must-see sights of this historic Northern Michigan gem.
“We hope to see everyone on the island. We look forward to sharing our journey with those who have the opportunity to visit one of the coolest islands on the planet,” Kazanowski said. “Opening is a dream come true and we are thankful every day for having the opportunity to do what we love.”