Three Bridges Distillery & Taproom sits right on Main Street in downtown Midland, Michigan, bringing craft spirits to a city better known for chemical companies than craft cocktails. Founded by local entrepreneur Mark Forrester in 2019, this distillery occupies a renovated storefront that captures the industrial heritage of the Tri-Cities area. The name references the three bridges that connect Midland to neighboring Bay City and Saginaw, positioning itself as a connector in Michigan’s growing craft spirits scene. They focus primarily on whiskey, bourbon, and gin, along with seasonal specialties. Forrester’s journey into distilling started as a home brewing hobby that evolved during Michigan’s craft beverage boom. After years in business consulting, he saw an opportunity to bring small-batch distilling to mid-Michigan, an area largely untapped by the craft spirits movement that had taken hold in Grand Rapids and Detroit. The operation runs on a smaller scale with custom copper stills, emphasizing quality over quantity in their production approach. Forrester handles much of the distilling himself, often working directly with visitors during tours and tastings. The taproom experience centers around intimate tastings where you can sample their core lineup while learning about their grain-to-glass process. The space maintains an industrial-meets-cozy vibe with exposed brick and local artwork, creating a neighborhood gathering spot that happens to make excellent spirits. What sets them apart is their willingness to experiment with Michigan-grown grains and their focus on educating visitors about the distilling process rather than just pouring samples.