Copper Forge Distilling sits in an industrial area on Jean Drive in Fort Wayne, founded by husband-and-wife team Mike and Amy Rosinski who opened their doors in 2018. Mike brought engineering experience to the operation while Amy handles the business side, and together they’ve built something that feels more like a neighborhood hangout than a typical distillery tour stop. The operation runs out of a converted warehouse space where they produce bourbon, rye whiskey, and vodka using a custom-built 500-gallon copper still that Mike helped design himself. The Rosinskis didn’t set out to become distillers—Mike was working in manufacturing while Amy handled logistics for a local company—but a shared fascination with the science of fermentation and distillation led them down this path. They spent years perfecting recipes in their garage before committing to the commercial operation, and that methodical approach shows in how they run things now. The facility doubles as both production space and tasting room, so you’re literally drinking where they make everything, with the working still visible from where you sit. What you get here is straightforward: good spirits made by people who actually understand the chemistry behind what they’re doing, served in a space that doesn’t try to be anything it’s not. The bourbon uses a high-corn mash bill that Mike developed through dozens of test batches, and their rye pushes the spice forward without overwhelming the palate. It’s the kind of place where you can ask technical questions about their process and get real answers instead of marketing speak.