ays
>> ... Next Generation ...
t i sir
FUN
29350 NORTHWESTERN HWY , SOUTHFIELD • 248-352-8000
WVVVV.FRANKLINCLUB.COM
PROGRAMS
► Swim
►Tennis
►Gymnastics
►Basketball
►Toddler
►Lacrosse
►Robotics
►Minecraft
►Flag Football
►Drama
►FitGirl
13 WEEKS OF CAMPS
FOR KIDS 2 TO 15
PLUS YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES!
►Toddler Programs
►Preschool Academy
►Mommy & Me Classes
►Eisenhower Dance
►Drop in Basketball
► Basketball Leagues
TODDLERS
PRESCHOOLERS
GRADESCHOOLERS
JOIN NOW.
Family & Parent with Children Memberships include:
Discounts on Camps, Classes,
Birthday Parties, Academy
Tuition & more!
EVENT: Ladies Lunch
DATE: May 9th
TIME: 12:00-5:OOpm
Where: Lyudviga Couture
105 Townsend Street,
Birmingham, MI 48009
RSVP Required to 248-540-0105
or Iyudvigacouture@gmail.com
Free before & after
care at Summer
Camp and more!
Gift with purchase just
in time for Mother's Day.
Win a dress as part of a raffle
when you make a purchase.
Alteration Services Offered
Preview the Lyudviga Couture Spring/Summer Collection
ambassade
while enjoying wine and hors d'oeuvres
Valley
20% off entire purchase.
FENN
2005030
34
May 7 • 2015
New Jewish-owned distillery to open
in Ann Arbor later this year.
RYAN FISHMAN I CONTRIBUTING WRITER
►Swim
►Tennis
►Karate
►Capoeira
►Fencing
►Yoga
CALL 248.352.8000
FRANKLINCLUB.COM
Free childcare while
you workout
CR
►Nerf
►Nike Basketball
►Eisenhower Dance
ri Sussman, 35, is not
a descendant of the
Purple Gang's infamous
Bernstein brothers, but
he is building his own legal distillery in
Ann Arbor where he'll make spirits from
scratch with quality, Michigan-grown
grains and fruits. A member of Beth Israel
Congregation, Sussman will open the
Ann Arbor Distilling Company later this
year in the city he's always called home.
"Michigan has a vast agriculture.
We grow the ingredients that can be
processed into world-class, premium
spirits like vodka, gin, whiskey and
brandy," explained Sussman. "There's
also a quickly growing market for locally
sourced distilled alcohol, just like the
growing demand for locally sourced
beer and wine. There are craft distilleries
opening in Northern Michigan around
the brewing and wine making scene, but
we'll be the first and only distillery in Ann
Arbor."
While Sussman's spirits will be
Michigan-made, his passion has roots an
ocean away. "In my 20s, I apprenticed
with winemakers in Languedoc, France.
At one winery they had an old, copper
brandy still —they'd build a wood
fire underneath to distill brandy, and
that's where I learned how distilling
concentrates the flavors and aroma of the
ingredients," Sussman said.
Returning home, Sussman found a
growing wine industry, but realized there
was an opening in the market for the
production of spirits. He reached out
to Dr. Kris Berglund at Michigan State
University, head of the school's Artisan
Distilling Program in the Department of
Food Science and Human Nutrition —
perhaps the one college professor you'll
find not advocating abstinence amongst
his students.
"It's the only college program focused
on distilling in the country, which fits
squarely in the school's mission as a land
grant college for value-added agriculture.
These students are trained on product
development and commercial scale
production of distilled spirits," Sussman
said. "I was not directly a part of the
program, but I trained for three years
with Dr. Berglund and helped develop
products for companies across Michigan
and across the country."
After that, Sussman partnered with
longtime friend Rob Cleveland, with
whom he first bonded over a mutual love
of bourbon, and the two decided last year
to open their own distillery in downtown
Ann Arbor.
"We wanted to build here because we
live here, we grew up here, we're raising
our families in this community, and the
city has a good track record of supporting
new culinary and beverage endeavors. It's
a fortuitous opportunity to give back with
a unique product."
Sussman also gives back in the Jewish
community. He's an active supporter and
alumni of the Hebrew Day School of Ann
Arbor and Habonim-Dror Camp Tavor.
When not working out the details of his
coming distillery, he spends time with
wife, Jaimie, who works with newborns
at Mott Children's Hospital and kids Sam,
3, and Anna, 1.
Ann Arbor Distilling Company will
produce small-batch spirits using modern
and traditional distillation techniques. It
will also feature a tasting room with craft
cocktails, limited edition and seasonal
spirits, and its own merchandise.
"We want people to come in and
sample our product, enjoy it in cocktails
and hopefully leave with bottles," he said.
"We're proud of our network of farmers
who are supplying the ingredients we'll
use, and we're confident you can't find
better ingredients elsewhere. Because
of those relationships, we can pick and
process fruit at peak ripeness, making a
better spirit."
Though there's no set date for an
opening, Sussman and his partner have
signed the lease on a 6,000-square-foot
space off Main Street at 220 Felch St.
They have licenses from the city, state,
and federal agencies for liquor production
and are awaiting permits for remodeling
the facility.
There are no plans for a full menu,
though some food items will be available
when the tasting room is open.
❑