Ugly Dog Distillery sits on South Main Street in downtown Chelsea, Michigan, in a restored brick building that once housed a furniture store. Founded in 2014 by husband-and-wife team Chris and Jennifer Fredrickson, this craft distillery emerged from Chris’s background in engineering and Jennifer’s business acumen, combined with a shared passion for creating quality spirits. The 4,000-square-foot space houses their production equipment, tasting room, and retail area, where they produce bourbon, rye whiskey, vodka, and gin using locally sourced grains when possible. The distillery takes its name from their beloved English bulldog, Murphy, whose likeness appears on their bottles and throughout the space. What started as a retirement dream for Chris became a full-scale operation that’s helped establish Chelsea as a craft spirits destination in southeastern Michigan. The Fredricksons built their business around small-batch production, focusing on hands-on craftsmanship rather than mass production. Their 250-gallon copper still, custom-made in Kentucky, allows them to maintain quality control while producing enough volume to distribute throughout Michigan and parts of Ohio. The distillery has become a cornerstone of Chelsea’s downtown revitalization, drawing visitors who appreciate both the craft and the community connection.