THREE OAKS, Mich. — With nearly four years of success as a distillery and a destination for drinks, dining, and entertainment, Journeyman Distillery has plenty to celebrate.

The Three Oaks spirits manufacturer will be doing just that, with a planned anniversary party in October. Owners plan to raise a toast to more than past success, with an expansion of their location in the EK Warren Historic Featherbone Factory that will add additional production space, as well as a full restaurant designed to create a new Journeyman experience.

According to Nick Yoder, marketer and distiller for Journeyman, the expansion will include a restaurant, called the Stay Maker, which will have “a focus on Detroit-style pizza,” a rectangular, deep-dish variety known for its extra flavor created by caramelization during the heating process.

The development into the north side of the building will also create a second production space, with five times the still size, growth Nick noted is necessary due to increased demand for the company’s whiskey and other distilled products.

The distillery is hoping to time the launch of the new facility with the upcoming celebration of four years since the business opened its doors to the public. An anniversary party and expansion inauguration is planned for Saturday, Oct. 3. The all-day event will include live music from three musicians, a bottle release of their Three Oaks Single Malt Scotch-style spirit, and “a surprise people will just have to come out to see.”

Journeyman Distillery was opened in October of 2011 by Bill Welter. Bill started his journey toward distilling while golfing for Missouri State University.

Upon graduation, his desire to continue the sport took him across the ocean to Scotland, where he worked in restaurants at night so he could golf during the day. He eventually found his way to Tasmania in 2009, following a friend he met in Scotland who was opening his own distillery. He spent a year there as an apprentice before returning to the states to hunt for the appropriate location.

It took months, but Bill would eventually find the Featherbone factory in Three Oaks. Though in a state of disrepair after sitting mostly empty since the 1950s, the building’s aesthetic was ideal. According to Nick, Bill “stumbled onto the building and just fell in love with it.”

In order to circumvent the delay of the aging process, it is common practice for an emerging spirits maker to source their first release of product from another facility, simply picking a barrel and labeling it as their own in order to have bottles to sell when they open for business.

Journeyman took a different approach, with the distillers creating their first batch of whiskey themselves in the Koval Distillery in Chicago.

Bill transported the barrels to Michigan and let them age while the building was prepared. When the doors opened in October 2011, Journeyman had its first genuine batch of Ravenswood Rye (now known as Last Feather Rye), named for the neighborhood in Chicago where it was created.

Since that time, Journeyman has expanded its selection of whiskey, as well as producing varieties of gin, vodka, rum, brandy and coffee liqueur. The establishment offers a menu of snacks and sandwiches.

Journeyman has become a destination for entertainment, offering daily tours of the production facilities and cocktail classes. The location has become a favorite performance space for musicians both local and touring. Live music is offered most weekends and each July features the Corsets, Whips, and Whiskey party, a celebration that includes a cook-out, music, and a new spirit release.

Twice a year, Journeyman leaders open up the Artisan Market, giving local artisans a chance to display and sell their wares in a pop-up market at the distillery. Owners are also experimenting with new events, most recently including a “tap take-over” by Barritt’s Ginger Beer.

Journeyman Distillery has worked to become a destination in Three Oaks. According to Nick, the businesses and the town work together and benefit each other, with each bringing their own crop of patrons that then visit other places.

Nick says people will “go to see a show at the Acorn [Theater] or eat at a restaurant downtown, but before they’ll stop here for a drink.” It’s all a part of the community’s continued expansion, growing as a local destination while they do the same in spirit manufacturing & distribution.

You can view the entire selection of spirits offered by Journeyman Distillery, as well as see upcoming events and sign up for distillery tours, at JourneymanDistillery.com.

Justin Flagel is the founder of the web magazine and podcast Anywhere the Needle Drops, where he and others showcase their interest in music, pop culture, creativity and life. Follow their work at anywheretheneedledrops.com. Feedback can be directed to contact@anywheretheneedledrops.com.