Add one part artisanal spirits, one part growth in craft distillers, top it off with talented bartenders and you end up with the first ever Cocktail Week GR, celebrating Michigan craft spirits from November 11-22. Shaken, not stirred.
The week was designed and created by
Experience GR as a way to showcase the growth in the artisan spirits and local distillers. In their research, Kate Herron, community development manager, says that with the success of marketing Grand Rapids as a craft beer destination, they also found a parallel opportunity to market the region as a "craft cocktail" destination. "The Grand Rapids Cocktail Guild helped us learn about the industry," Herron says. "We found there is a different market that enjoy craft cocktails."
The campaign's tagline is "sip local" and throughout Cocktail Week GR, participating local restaurants will offer two Michigan cocktails and a shared-plate appetizer for $25 or less as well as menu items paired with Michigan-distilled spirits. Participating restaurants, menus and cocktail-related events will be updated regularly at
http:/www.CocktailWeekGR.com.
Cocktail Week GR coincides with additional celebrations of spirits at the annual Wine, Beer and Food Festival, taking place at DeVos Place Convention Center from November 19-22.
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Job News Editor
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