Two James Spirits opened their Grand Rapids location in 2019, bringing their Detroit-born craft distilling expertise to Michigan Street in the heart of the city’s downtown. Founded by Peter Bailey and David Landrum in Detroit back in 2013, Two James became Michigan’s first distillery since Prohibition, and their Grand Rapids outpost continues that pioneering spirit in a sleek, industrial space that doubles as both production facility and tasting room. The distillery focuses on small-batch American whiskeys, vodka, and gin, with a commitment to using Michigan-grown grains whenever possible.
Bailey, a former automotive engineer, and Landrum, who came from the finance world, didn’t follow the typical path into distilling. They started Two James after becoming fascinated with the craft during trips to Kentucky and Scotland, eventually deciding Detroit needed its own distillery after decades without one. The Grand Rapids location represents their expansion beyond Detroit, choosing the city for its vibrant food and drink scene and proximity to Michigan’s agricultural regions. Master distiller Bailey brings a methodical, engineering approach to production, while the team focuses on creating spirits that reflect Michigan’s agricultural heritage.
Visitors to the Grand Rapids location experience an active production facility where you can watch the distilling process firsthand. The space features their custom-built stills alongside a modern tasting room with industrial touches that reflect the building’s character. You’ll taste through their core lineup of whiskeys and spirits while learning about their grain-to-glass process, and the staff genuinely knows the stories behind each bottle. The atmosphere strikes a balance between serious craft distilling and approachable hospitality.
