Green Door Distilling
{{Short description|American distillery}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Green Door Distilling
| location = Kalamazoo, Michigan
| foundation = 2014
| industry = Distilling
| founder = Josh Cook
| owners = Steve Jbara
Scott Benton
Ben Wallace
}}
Green Door Distilling is an American distillery.
History
Green Door Distilling was founded in 2014 by Josh Cook in Kalamazoo, Michigan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.secondwavemedia.com/southwest-michigan/features/Journey-to-opening-new-distillery-goes-over-unfamiliar-territory-0714.aspx|title=Journey to opening new distillery goes over unfamiliar territory|website=Southwest Michigan's Second Wave}} The company opened its tasting room and retail shop in 2016{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2016/08/green_door_distilling.html|title=Green Door Distilling set to open in September in Kalamazoo|author=Emily Monacelli |date=August 26, 2016|website=mlive}} under head distiller and president Jon Good.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/michigansbest/2018/08/kalamazoo_distillery_green_doo.html|title=Kalamazoo distillery Green Door is having an award-winning year|author=Amy Sherman |date=August 13, 2018|website=mlive}} It is now owned by Steve Jbara, Scott Benton, and former NBA player Ben Wallace, who acquired a minority ownership stake in 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2022/04/ben-wallace-joins-ownership-group-at-kalamazoos-green-door-distilling-co.html|title=Ben Wallace joins ownership group at Kalamazoo's Green Door Distilling Co.|author=Ryan Boldrey |date=April 28, 2022|website=mlive}} In 2020, Tyler Glasser assumed the role of head distiller at Green Door, and in 2021, both he and Green Door appeared on the Discovery Channel television series, Master Distiller.{{Cite web|url=https://wkzo.com/2021/02/02/102288/|title=Kalamazoo distillery to be featured nationally on Discovery Channel competition show|first=Brandon|last=James}} In 2022 Scott Gardner replaced Glasser as head distiller at Green Door.{{Cite web|url=https://distilling.com/distillermagazine/backyard-botanicals/|title=Backyard Botanicals|first=Scott Thomas|last=Anderson|date=December 5, 2023}}
Liquors
The distillery creates gin,https://www.michiganradio.org/arts-life/2023-01-13/cheers-making-a-hanky-panky-with-green-doors-unique-gin-from-kalamazoo vodka, whisky,{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/dining/2017/06/15_michigan_craft_distilleries.html|title=15 Michigan Craft Distilleries making great whiskeys, bourbons|author=John Gonzalez |date=June 6, 2017|website=mlive}} amaro,{{Cite web|url=https://wkzo.com/2021/08/25/kalamazoos-green-door-distilling-co-wins-additional-awards/|title=Kalamazoo's Green Door Distilling Co. wins additional awards|first=Will|last=Kriss}} bourbon,{{Cite web|url=https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/beverages/nba-hall-of-famer-ben-wallace-invests-in-green-door-distilling/|title=NBA Hall of Famer Ben Wallace invests in Green Door Distilling|first=Rachel|last=Watson|date=May 6, 2022}} and flavored liqueurs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2022/06/pistons-legend-ben-wallace-to-star-behind-bar-at-kalamazoos-green-door-distilling-co.html|title=Pistons legend Ben Wallace to star behind bar at Kalamazoo's Green Door Distilling Co.|author=Ryan Boldrey |date=June 16, 2022|website=mlive}} Its line has received the Michigan vodka distillery of the year award from the New York International Spirits competition, with its vodka receiving the silver medal from the American Distilling Institute.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/kalamazoo/green-door-distillerys-get-lost-vodka-wins-american-distilling-institute-award/69-544721962|title=Green Door Distillery's 'Get Lost Vodka' wins American Distilling Institute award|date=April 23, 2018|website=WZZM13.com}} The lines have also received medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a double gold for its blueberry liqueur in 2021,{{Cite web|url=https://wkzo.com/2021/05/18/kalamazoos-green-door-distilling-co-wins-awards-at-world-spirits-competition/|title=Kalamazoo's Green Door Distilling Co. wins awards at World Spirits Competition|first=Will|last=Kriss}} and gold medals for gin and bourbon as well as silver medals for vodka and blueberry liqueur in 2022.
The company uses Michigan oak to produce its barrels.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dQucDwAAQBAJ&dq=Green+Door+Distilling&pg=PR32 |page=xxxii |title= Cheers to Michigan: A Celebration of Cocktail Culture and Craft Distillers |author=Tammy Coxen and Lester Graham |year=2019}} In early 2020, the distillery transitioned to making hand sanitizer to help bolster the national supply during the COVID-19 pandemic, which it donated to various health centers and agencies.{{Cite news |url=https://wwmt.com/news/local/green-door-distilling-co-producing-and-donating-hand-sanitizer-with-help-from-community|title=Green Door Distilling Co. producing and donating hand sanitizer with help from community|author=Genevieve Grippo |date=March 20, 2020|work=WWMT}}