LANSING, MI -- Walk into the American Fifth in Lansing and you might be walking into the next frontier in Michigan's alcoholic beverage industry.

The former pawn shop, on Larch St. near Michigan Ave., is home to Lansing's first spirits distillery, one of only a handful in the state. The bar officially opened Thursday and will serve drinks featuring the company's own spirits line.

"It's the only way to do it. Would you go out and buy somebody else's turkey on Thanksgiving?" asked Mike Bird, director of marketing and tomfoolery (yes, really).

In bigger cities, cocktail bars are popping up everywhere. In Michigan and nationally, more distilleries are opening.

"I think it's the next up and coming industry like the craft beer," said Scott Ellis, executive director of the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association.

He said Michigan is full of two important things: entrepreneurs and high-quality grain.

American Fifth Spirits produces HUE vodka in partnership with Red Cedar Spirits in East Lansing. In the future it will produce Capital Gin and Fat Five White Whiskey. Eventually, more than that.

"We are looking at producing rum and absinthe... anything else that can be distilled we will try it at least one time to see how it works," said President and Head Distiller Rick Wyble.

And when it comes to putting that liquor into a cocktail, American Fifth isn't afraid to try new things.

"We take a very culinary approach to making cocktails," Wyble said.

The menu includes drinks like "Root of all Ginger" (ginger infused HUE Vodka, root beer infused HUE Vodka, ginger beer, whipped cream and ice) and "Strawberry Balsamic Fizz" (HUE vodka, strawberries, basil leaves, balsamic vinegar, bubbles and ice.) In all, there are 28 cocktails on the menu. The bar makes all of its own simple syrups and grenadine.

American Fifth carries infused vodka, called InHUEsions, in flavors like habanero, yuzu and coffee. Food-wise, the bar offers appetizers like cheese platters and dips. Cutsomers can also purchase bottles of HUE Vodka to take home.

Bird said that the grain for the alcohol American Fifth makes comes from Williamston. There's a reason the cereal companies are in the state, he said, and it's because the grain here is amazing.

"When you look at what we're playing with, we have all the best stuff to go into the still. And we need people to understand that. And we need people to understand that it comes from Michigan," Bird said.

Part of the company's mission will be educating its customers.It joins a handful of distilleries already operating in the state, including Grand Traverse Distillery and Ugly Dog Distillery in Chelsea.

Wyble said the company, which first planned to open in 2014, hit several delays with federal and local regulators. He estimated that the state's spirit industry is where the state's now-successful craft beer industry was maybe 10 or 15 years ago.

American Fifth will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, noon to midnight on Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Bird said American Fifth was looking to make its mark on the area's alcohol scene.

"If Grand Rapids wants to be Beer City USA, fine. We just want a cocktail culture," Bird said.

Emily Lawler is a Capitol/Business reporter for MLive. You can reach her at elawler@mlive.com, subscribe to her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter: @emilyjanelawler.