Distilling a Sense of Place: Why Cornman Farms Is Partnering with Ann Arbor Distilling Company

At Zingerman’s Cornman Farms, we’ve always believed that where something comes from matters.

It matters in our gardens.
It matters in our kitchens.
It matters in our glasses.

We’re proud to introduce Cornman Farms Gin and Cornman Farms Vodka, crafted for us and distilled by our friends at Ann Arbor Distilling Company. What makes this partnership so special isn’t just the flavor (though we love the flavor). It’s the commitment behind it.

The 12-Mile Commitment

From harvest to milling, distillation, bottling, and labeling, every step happens within a 12-mile radius of Cornman Farms.

The corn is grown in Dexter.
It’s milled at the historic Dexter Mill.
It’s distilled in downtown Ann Arbor.
And it’s bottled and labeled locally.

As the team at Ann Arbor Distilling shared with us:

“The 12-mile production circle is a reminder of why we do this the way we do. It means knowing exactly where our grain comes from, who grows it, who mills it — and having our hands on every step all the way to the finished bottle.”

In an industry built on long, complex supply chains, this is incredibly rare. With more than 2,500 distilleries in the U.S., well under 1% keep sourcing, milling, distilling, bottling, and labeling within such a tight geographic radius.

Doing it this way takes more effort. It requires patience. It requires intention.

But it also creates something you can taste.

Why Dexter-Grown Corn Matters

Michigan-grown corn, especially corn grown right here in Dexter,  has a natural sweetness that translates into a softer, rounder mouthfeel in the finished spirit.

Because the grain travels such a short distance, it can be milled and distilled while still fresh, preserving subtle flavor notes that are often lost in large-scale systems.

The result?

A vodka that feels clean and polished, but not thin. Soft, round, and smooth, with a gentle creaminess that glides across the palate. It’s equally at home neat or in a simple cocktail where texture matters as much as purity.

The Legacy of Dexter Mill

The grain for our spirits is processed at the historic Dexter Mill — originally established in the 19th century and long a cornerstone of Washtenaw County’s agricultural life.

For generations, local farmers brought their harvests there to be milled. Long before global supply chains, this was the place where local grain became something useful and valuable for the community.

Milling our corn there today connects our spirits to that lineage. It preserves working infrastructure. It honors the region’s agricultural story. And it keeps the economic impact local.

Crafting a Gin with Character

For the gin, we didn’t want to create “just another London Dry.”  After all, this is co-managing partner Tabitha Mason’s favorite spirit.

Juniper is still the backbone (it has to be) but balance was the goal. The team at Ann Arbor Distilling built the botanical profile around rosemary, a familiar yet distinctive note that adds fresh herbal character without overpowering the palate.

Here’s how the final blend came together:

• Juniper provides the classic structure.
• Coriander adds brightness and a gentle citrus lift.
  Bay introduces subtle savory depth.
  Rosemary ties everything together with a clean, aromatic finish.

The result is a gin that feels recognizable but not predictable. Softer than a traditional London Dry, more herbal than citrus-forward contemporary styles, and incredibly versatile in cocktails (especially a basil gimlet, a farm favorite!). 

Every botanical was tested through small-batch trials, adjusted one element at a time, and tasted both neat and in cocktails. It’s a process built on experience, patience, and trust in craft.

Choosing Community Over Convenience

Keeping production hyper-local isn’t always easy.

Harvests fluctuate. Scaling takes coordination. There’s less flexibility than simply calling a national supplier. It often costs more.

But as Ann Arbor Distilling puts it:

“Doing it this way means choosing connection to our community over convenience.”

That philosophy mirrors our own.

At Cornman Farms, we believe hospitality should reflect place. Our food is seasonal and locally rooted. Our events are designed to feel personal and intentional. Now, the spirits we pour tell the same story.

Each bottle is not just something that could have been made anywhere. It’s a reflection of this land, this community, and the people who steward it.

And that’s something worth raising a glass to.