East Lansing City Council members approved Uncle John’s Fruit House Winery’s application for a Michigan Liquor Control Commission small distillery license at their meeting Tuesday at City Hall, 410 Abbot Road.
The small distillery license Uncle Johns applied for would allow for an on-site tasting room, spirits to be made and sold on-site and would also permit wine to be made at an off-site location.
The new spirits-only distillery eventually will be nestled between the Saginaw Highway and Haslett Road at 2000 Merritt Road, near the edge of the city.
Council has been generally supportive throughout their discussion of the distillery, but voiced concerns Tuesday evening that the distillery could possibly overserve customers and encouraged the establishment to join the Responsible Hospitality Council, a group composed of alcohol-selling business owners in the area that focuses on alcohol safety.
The applicant, Kris Berglund, said they would look into joining the council, but they are focused on following the group’s objectives whether the distillery joins the group or not.
“Too much of a good thing is never a good thing,” Berglund said. “We don’t want (customers) to have too much on the premises.”
Since giving spirits away for free isn’t legally allowed, customers would have to pay for their tastings, which would include mixed drinks, Berglund said.
He also said MSU classes might be held on site, which would educate students on the safe tasting of spirits.
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