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The Kalamazoo Stillhouse
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Our Story

… according to others, so far. Piecing it together one writer’s contribution at a time.

Honest Spirits. Local People. ℠ 

“For Merrill, the journey started in the early 2000’s, when he was first exposed to craft alcohol at his father’s winery in Washington state. He was only there for a few years before returning to Kalamazoo, but in 2011, he went back on a few trips, when he learned to ferment that wine and transform it into brandy. He was captivated.  “You know, when you walk into a distillery and the tanks are fermenting and the still’s running, it’s the smells that really grabbed me,” Merrill says. “It’s like walking into the best bread bakery you’ve ever smelled. The big copper still in the corner, all of the aspects of it. It’s an awesome place to spend your day.”… – Robbie Feinberg, WMUK.org

“For Nic Merrill, distilling is in his blood…(his father is a distiller and wine proprieter in Washington) Merrill and his wife, Joanna, spent time with him before deciding to open their own distillery in Kalamazoo.  ‘We wanted something to make our own, we’re repurposing the wood (from our building), we’ve found grain close by, we’re speaking to some wineries.  Part of our vision is local…In a beer town, ‘it’s the spirits that we’re excited about‘… –Emily Monacelli, MLive.com

“The path to opening a distillery can take many twists and turns.  Just ask Nic and Joanna Merrill…The husband and wife duo say they’ve been welcomed with open arms by the distilling community nationwide, as many companies have taken them in, shown them their operations and helped them understand the business–especially what not to do.”  –Joe Boomgaard, RevueWM.com

“…it wasn’t until (Joanna and Nic) were visiting Nic’s dad, a winemaker and distiller, on the West Coast that the idea for the Kalamazoo Stillhouse was planted.  During their visit they were given the chance to taste his father’s award winning vodka right off the still and both knew immediately that they had found their niche.  With one wordless glance Joanna and Nic knew that they were going to pour all their time and energy into bringing distilling to their beloved hometown.”  – Erica Shier,  WomensLifeStyleKazoo.com

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The Kalamazoo Stillhouse is at The Kalamazoo Stillhouse.

6 days ago

The Kalamazoo Stillhouse

Daffodils, hyacinths and forsythia, oh my! Time for GIN and Spring in Michigan 💛💜💛

Our original and Navy Strength gins now available in 50 ml and 750 ml sizes. 🌱🍸🌱
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The Kalamazoo Stillhouse is at The Kalamazoo Stillhouse.

1 week ago

The Kalamazoo Stillhouse

And sometimes you don’t even know that you needed a little love note. Found this gem on the floor when we walked in today. Hope you’re having a lovely Saturday! Open 12-5pm. #familyownedandoperated #honestspiritslocalpeople ...

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The Kalamazoo Stillhouse is at Table of Contents Cafe.

2 weeks ago

The Kalamazoo Stillhouse

Oh but does this look delicious, or what? 😋📚🍸
#shoplocal #localtaatesbetter #scienceandart

#Repost @tableofcontentscafekzoo with @get_repost
・・・
This week's drink special is here! The 'kuplink, kuplank, ku-punch' is a delicious homage to a well-loved book. We make it with house-made blueberry syrup, @thekalamazoostillhouse vodka, muddled rosemary, and lemon juice. Don't forget that you can order it to go! 📖💛🥃
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#kalamazoomi #kalamazoomichigan #kalamazoo #kalamazoocafe #kzooeats #kzoocafe #kzoocoffee #kalamazoocoffee #kzoo #discoverkzoo #kalamazoofoodie #puremichigan #ToCkzoo #kalamazoorestaurant #discoverkalamazoo #cafe #michigan #kzoothings2do #michigander #michiganawesome #mixeddrinks #cocktails #cocktailhour
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thekalamazoostillhouse

The Kalamazoo Stillhouse
Daffodils, hyacinths and forsythia, oh my! Time fo Daffodils, hyacinths and forsythia, oh my! Time for GIN and Spring in Michigan 💛💜💛

Our original and Navy Strength gins now available in 50 ml and 750 ml sizes. 🌱🍸🌱
And sometimes you don’t even know that you neede And sometimes you don’t even know that you needed a little love note. Found this gem on the floor when we walked in today. Hope you’re having a lovely Saturday! Open 12-5pm.  #familyownedandoperated #honestspiritslocalpeople
Oh but does this look delicious, or what? 😋📚 Oh but does this look delicious, or what? 😋📚🍸
#shoplocal #localtaatesbetter #scienceandart

#Repost @tableofcontentscafekzoo with @get_repost
・・・
This week's drink special is here! The 'kuplink, kuplank, ku-punch' is a delicious homage to a well-loved book. We make it with house-made blueberry syrup, @thekalamazoostillhouse vodka, muddled rosemary, and lemon juice. Don't forget that you can order it to go! 📖💛🥃
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#kalamazoomi #kalamazoomichigan #kalamazoo #kalamazoocafe #kzooeats #kzoocafe #kzoocoffee #kalamazoocoffee #kzoo #discoverkzoo #kalamazoofoodie #puremichigan #ToCkzoo #kalamazoorestaurant #discoverkalamazoo #cafe #michigan #kzoothings2do #michigander #michiganawesome #mixeddrinks #cocktails #cocktailhour
In case Easter basketing is on your mind too...🌱🧺🐣🐰

Our 50 mL minis are available in classic vodka, classic gin, 100 proof vodka (shown) and we’re hoping to restock Navy Strength gin for Saturday. Order ahead online on our square site (link in bio) or stop in Saturday.
These four are available at the distillery only. H These four are available at the distillery only. Handmade in #kalamazoo . Some products available across our great state of Michigan. See you soon? Cheers, friends!
Weekend plans? Here’s an idea! This repost from Weekend plans? Here’s an idea! This repost from the lovely @tableofcontentscafekzoo has so many delicious morsels wrapped up in one. Who is meeting us there? 🍸📚💛

#Repost @tableofcontentscafekzoo with @get_repost
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Feeling inspired with our new weekly cocktail special: 'Once Upon a (Spring) Thyme'! Made with house-made thyme simple syrup, lemon ginger tea, and Kalamazoo Stillhouse gin, it's one sweet and smooth sip to enjoy this season. 🌿💛🥃
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#kalamazoomi #kalamazoomichigan #kalamazoo #kalamazoocafe #kzooeats #kzoocafe #kzoocoffee #kalamazoocoffee #kzoo #discoverkzoo #kalamazoofoodie #puremichigan #ToCkzoo #kalamazoorestaurant #discoverkalamazoo #cafe #michigan #kzoothings2do #michigander #michiganawesome #cocktails #cocktailhour
Happy Saturday! ✨Happy Spring 🌱Happy Oberon w Happy Saturday! ✨Happy Spring 🌱Happy Oberon weekend, Kalamazoo ☀️
We celebrated the birthday of our main man today.🍀🧁🥳
Whether you like your marshmallows barely golden o Whether you like your marshmallows barely golden or completely burnt, if you like them toasted at all, you’ll know why we put our whiskey (and some rum) into charred oak barrels. 

#roastytoasty #marshmallow #barrelflavor #char #barrel #stillhousewhiskey #darkrum #honestspiritslocalpeople
Restock alert❗️we think this one pairs well wi Restock alert❗️we think this one pairs well with our rum or Bronson Park Gin or really all of our spirits if you have a sweet tooth ☺️. Save a couple bucks if you add any bottle of bitters to your purchase of a 750ml bottle of spirits.

See you tomorrow? Open 12-5pm for curbside pickup. Order ahead or stop in.
Oof! We made it to March, Friends! ☀️ To sched Oof! We made it to March, Friends! ☀️
To schedule a private tour and tasting for you and your “bubble” (maximum 10), please call the distillery phone (206)376-0937.
Heard just this week ✨🍸🥳 Have you tried ou Heard just this week ✨🍸🥳
Have you tried our gin? Did you know that it’s also available at many Michigan establishments thanks to @imperialbeverage ?
Keeping it simple. Cocktails from home 🏡 day 34 Keeping it simple. Cocktails from home 🏡 day 343 😳

#stillhouse #vodka #lacroix #pamplemouse #mini #tuesdaymotivation  #cocktailhour #simple yes, it’s stirred with the other end of a fork 🍴 😀
A rare in-progress photo of the mural on the front A rare in-progress photo of the mural on the front of the Stillhouse from @signusallday on Michigan Avenue (circa 2016). Our main entrance is actually in the driveway along the creek, which explains one of our favorite hashtags, #seeyouatthesidedoor. Cheers, friends!
The progression of our labeling since the beginnin The progression of our labeling since the beginning. We once printed on the bottle (left) and then have tried two iterations of a paper label, with the most recent including a little bling of “foil” as it catches the light (right). Our recipe hasn’t changed, just the packaging. Which one is your favorite?
Picture taken shortly before discovering a most-di Picture taken shortly before discovering a most-disappointing-mess-of-a-frozen-pipe-storm. It’s a little too early to share any more on the rest of that story. 

For now, Joanna & Nick here, all smiles, in front of our Vendome Still, the workhorse of the Stillhouse.  If you’re new to follow, let us know where you are from in the comments below👇.

#innocence #stilllife #laboroflove #stillhouse #honestspiritslocalpeople
✨Honest spirits. Local people.✨This simple phr ✨Honest spirits. Local people.✨This simple phrase captures much of our story in just a few words. We do our best to live and breathe it every day. One way is by supporting other local businesses whenever possible. Here’s a photo of the sweet thank you note we received with our recent @shadesoflavenderfarm order. Just love the authenticity and sentiment behind that simple gesture. 

While our main wares cannot be shipped, that’s right, can’t ship spirits according to Michigan law (this is probably the number one question we get from our online customers), we CAN ship tees and other merchandise and we CAN support other local merchants and want to remind you too to please keep your dollars local when you can.  Because we are all in this together and your choices matter. 

Let us know below 👇which local places you like to support or recently discovered. Cheers friends!
Just a couple of kids who went to preschool on up Just a couple of kids who went to preschool on up together, lived on separate coasts of the country in our 20s and decided to open a distillery in our hometown 8 years ago. Can you spot us in our 4th grade class photo? #sorrynotsorry to our classmates

Catch us both at the distillery this Saturday for online order pick up and curbside.
Big thanks to @comconpodcast and @thekalamazoofood Big thanks to @comconpodcast and @thekalamazoofoodie for sitting down to talk Stillhouse with Joanna last week. It was a real treat! Have a listen 🎧 
#honestspiritslocalpeople
Did you know that our minis can make cocktailing a Did you know that our minis can make cocktailing a cinch? Cocktails from home 🏡 day 329 😳. Cheers! 

#stillhouse #gin #lacroix #bitters
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