Alexander Alusheff

Lansing State Journal

MERIDIAN TWP. – For those looking for a little “hair of the dog that bit you” hangover cure, Ellison Brewery & Spirits is now offering Bloody Marys.

The distilling part of the business is operating and the vodka-laced drink debuted on the menu back in late April. However, co-owner Aaron Hanson has been making test batches of vodka for months at the company's Dawn Avenue location, constantly refining the recipe.

“It’s more of an experiment right now,” Hanson said. “When we get to full steam, we want to make sure all cocktails are good.”

The Bloody Mary is offered only on Sundays at a cost of $6.50. It's made using McClure's Pickles Bloody Mary Mix, cheese, pickles, olive, sausage, celery and a blend of spices for the rim of the glass, Hanson said. It’s the only mixed drink offered by Ellison for now.

By late July, Ellison could be testing samples of its gin as well. Hanson said he also plans to make Moscow Mules with Ellison's vodka, but he and co-owner Eric Elliot want to make their own ginger beer first.

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Hanson learned to distill in Scotland while he was working as an automotive engineer in the United Kingdom in 2013.

When he returned to the U.S. he joined up with Elliot to open Ellison Brewery & Spirits, which was originally supposed to be a distillery with supplemental income from the brewery.

Since opening the brewery part of the business in October 2015, that plan has changed.

“Now it’s become a brewery that also has a distillery,” Hanson said.

Hanson produces the vodka in a 53-gallon still and refines it down to 5 gallons of drinkable vodka, which is used in the Bloody Marys. He also has made test batches of whiskey.

“It’s nice to be able to taste a spirit you made,” he said. “It’s not much different from brewing beer.”

Contact Alexander Alusheff at (517) 388-5973 or aalusheff@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexalusheff.