Community Highlights: Meet Matt McCann of Muskrat Distilling

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Matt McCann.

Hi Matt, we’re so excited to have you on the platform. Before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I started as a distiller in Detroit in 2013. Eventually, I ended up at a large distillery in California. While out there, I realized there was a big gap in the distillery equipment industry. That is when I started Detroit Stillworks and invented the Hot Rod. It is a modern still that we build and deliver to distilleries nationwide. Now, our clients are producing thousands of gallons of spirits every day on our stills.

Years after moving to Boyne City, we opened Muskrat Distilling in 2022 to create something special for the town and showcase what our equipment can do. Manufacturing is awesome, but I missed recipe development’s creativity, running the stills, and craft cocktails. The Muskrat, as we call it, is a tasting room in downtown Boyne City. We serve craft cocktails using the spirits we distill – vodka, gin, rum, and whiskey.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been relatively smooth thanks to the support of the community and city. Most of our build-out was during the lockdown, but we did many renovations ourselves. One of the obstacles was keeping the character of a historical building while meeting modern codes. It would have been much easier to tear everything out but we love keeping old things alive; you can’t fake it. The 1890s tin ceiling and maple floors were a worthwhile challenge.

The bar was brought over from the basement of the Dilworth; many of our patrons remember bellying up to it many years ago. We refinished the wood to give it a new life, and now it fits perfectly in our space. Since opening, we have been so lucky to have such a great staff. Our bartenders are awesome and take pride in making every guest’s experience a great one.

We’ve been impressed with Muskrat Distilling, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart?
We are a distillery tasting room that focuses on this space alone. We do not distribute our spirits, and you cannot buy them in a store. If you want our spirits, you must join us at our tasting room.

You can take a bottle home with you or sit and enjoy our modern take on pre-prohibition era cocktails under pink neon lights. Bring a friend and play some darts or sing karaoke. We are proud of all four of our spirits: vodka, gin, rum, and whiskey. Make sure to follow us on social media – we have two new spirits coming out soon!

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Don’t be afraid to share your ideas. If you’re starting a business and think you have something new, talk to as many people as possible. You’d be surprised what you can learn from opening up to someone new over a cocktail.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://themuskrat.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muskratdistilling/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muskratdistilling