Iron Shoe Distillery sits in downtown Niles, Michigan, in a restored historic building on North 3rd Street that dates back to the early 1900s. Founded by husband-and-wife team Rob and Lisa Dickerson in 2016, the distillery emerged from Rob’s longtime fascination with craft spirits and Lisa’s business acumen from her corporate finance background. The couple spent two years renovating their brick-and-mortar space, installing custom copper stills and creating a production facility that doubles as a welcoming tasting room. They focus on small-batch whiskeys, vodka, and seasonal spirits using locally-sourced Michigan grains whenever possible.
The Dickersons’ journey into distilling started as a hobby that got serious fast. Rob, a former engineer, became obsessed with the science of fermentation and distillation after visiting Kentucky bourbon distilleries in the early 2010s. Lisa handled the business planning and regulatory maze while Rob perfected recipes in their garage. Getting city approval and state licensing took longer than expected, but they finally opened their doors in late 2016. Their master distiller background comes from extensive study with industry mentors and hands-on learning during the startup phase. The philosophy centers on patience and precision—they’d rather make less and get it right than rush products to market.
Visitors walk into a cozy space that blends industrial elements with warm wood accents, where you can see the copper stills through large windows separating the production area from the tasting room. The atmosphere feels more like a neighborhood gathering spot than a formal distillery, with local artwork on the walls and bartenders who genuinely know their craft. Tours let you get up close with the 250-gallon copper pot still and learn about their grain-to-glass process, while tastings showcase their evolving lineup of spirits. What makes it worth the trip is the personal attention—Rob or Lisa often pour tastings themselves and explain their approach to each spirit.
