5 Whiskey Bars In West Michigan Where You Can Celebrate National Bootleggers Day

Grand Rapids, Michigan might be known as Beer City USA

but there are also great places in West Michigan to enjoy a craft cocktail or sip on a spirit.

National Bootleggers Day is celebrated annually on January 17th.

National Bootleggers Day was founded by Infinium Spirits in 2015. National Bootlegger's Day celebrates the birth of Templeton Rye, a rye whiskey.

Besides being the date when Templeton Rye got its start, January 17 is the birthday of Al Capone, the date when Prohibition went into effect, and the birthday of Meryl Kerkhoff, one of the founders of the reintroduced Templeton Rye brand, who was a son of one of the distillers of Prohibition-era Templeton Rye, Alphonse Kerkhoff.

With the start of Prohibition, residents of the small Iowa town of Templeton began producing what was called Templeton Rye, which also came to be known as "The Good Stuff," an amber-colored rye whiskey.

The whiskey made its way to Chicago on cattle cars that were headed to the Chicago stockyards. Not only did it become popular in the speakeasies of Chicago, but it found its home in the speakeasies of Michigan, Kansas City, and Omaha.

After becoming Al Capone's favorite whiskey, it was given yet another name: Capone's Whiskey.

To properly celebrate, I have found five great whiskey bars in West Michigan where you can enjoy some whiskey on National Bootleggers Day or whenever you choose.

Stella's Lounge - 53 Commerce Ave SW in Grand Rapids

Stella's Lounge has such a cool vibe.

Inside they have a massive selection of drinks including plenty of whiskeys.

In the back, they also have a huge area with arcade games to play.

New Holland Brewing Knickerbocker - 417 Bridge St NW in Grand Rapids

On #WhiskeyThursday's you can enjoy $7 Beer Drinker’s Old Fashioneds
and $5 whiskey shot’n’pops!

One Bourbon - 608 Bridge St NW in Grand Rapids

One Bourbon features over 100 different types of whiskey and bourbon

Two James Spirits - 740 Michigan St NE in Grand Rapids

This location is an extension of their tasting room in Detroit.

They offer seasonal craft cocktails that feature artisan spirits produced at
Two James Spirits Distillery in Corktown.

Butcher's Union - 438 Bridge St NW in Grand Rapids

Butcher's Union is not only a great place to grab some whiskey, but also some grub