Bar
Unclaimed profileTwo James Spirits Detroit Tasting Room
Detroit, MI · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Two James Spirits Tasting Room is a working distillery in Corktown where the cocktails are made entirely from spirits distilled on site. The rotating seasonal cocktail menu includes classics like the Old Fashioned, Sazerac, and Ramos Gin Fizz, built with house-made whiskey, gin, vodka, and liqueurs. The spirits program spans whiskey, gin, vodka, and rum, with Catcher's Rye Whiskey earning Gold at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirit Competition and Doctor Bird Jamaica Rum taking Double Gold. Tasting flights, bottle sales, and distillery tours with tastings are available. The Old Fashioned is a must-taste according to one reviewer.
- What should I order?
- Start with a Sazerac made with Catcher's Rye Whiskey, New Orleans bitters, and a Nain Rouge Absinthe rinse. For a spirit-forward pour, the Catcher's Rye Whiskey—a 100% Michigan rye aged at least four years—is the clear choice. The Ramos Gin Fizz, built on Barrel Reserve Gin, is a richer option.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- This appeals to drinkers who care about provenance and house-distilled spirits. If you want to compare a rye, a bourbon, a citrus gin, and a coffee liqueur side by side, the tasting flights are built for that. Cocktail drinkers who prefer classics made with spirits from the same building will find plenty to work with.
- When should I go?
- Distillery tours with tastings are offered, so an afternoon visit can pair a tour with a flight. The rotating seasonal cocktail menu gives a reason to return as the list changes.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Expect to spend on cocktails and tasting flights, with the option to buy bottles or cases to take home.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- Everything behind the bar is made in-house: the whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, and coffee liqueur are all Two James Spirits, distilled on site in Corktown. That means the Sazerac, Gin Gimlet, and Espresso Martini are built from spirits made in the same building. The distillery also holds competition medals, including Gold for Catcher's Rye and Double Gold for Doctor Bird Jamaica Rum.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
Cocktails here are made entirely with Two James spirits distilled on site, including a rotating seasonal menu. The list includes classics like the Old Fashioned, Sazerac, Ramos Gin Fizz, Gin Gimlet, and Espresso Martini. Reviewers describe the drinks as high-end, though one reports a bad Negroni. The Old Fashioned is singled out as a must-taste.
Menu strengths
- — Every cocktail is built from spirits produced in house, including whiskey, gin, vodka, and coffee liqueur.
- — The rotating seasonal cocktail menu gives a reason to return and keeps the list from going stale.
- — Named recipes like the Sazerac and Ramos Gin Fizz show the bar can execute spirit-forward and creamy classics.
Standout selections
- — Sazerac — made with Catcher's Rye Whiskey, New Orleans bitters, and a Nain Rouge Absinthe rinse.
- — Ramos Gin Fizz — built on Barrel Reserve Gin with cream, lemon, orange blossom water, and egg white.
- — Old Fashioned — listed by a reviewer among must-taste items at the venue.
Spirits
The spirits program covers whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, and liqueurs, all distilled on site in Corktown. Catcher's Rye Whiskey is a 100% Michigan rye aged at least four years and won Gold at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirit Competition. Doctor Bird Jamaica Rum took Double Gold that same year. Tasting flights, bottle sales, and distillery tours with tastings are offered.
Menu strengths
- — House spirits span whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, and other categories, all made with locally sourced agricultural products.
- — Catcher's Rye Whiskey and Doctor Bird Jamaica Rum both earned medals at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirit Competition.
- — Tasting flights and distillery tours with tastings let drinkers compare the range directly.
Standout selections
- — Catcher's Rye Whiskey — 100% Michigan rye mash bill, 98.8 proof, aged a minimum of 4 years in new American oak; Gold 2022.
- — Doctor Bird Jamaica Rum — Double Gold 2022, San Francisco World Spirit Competition.
- — Blackthorn Bourbon — aged 5 years at 90 proof.
- — Old Cockney Barrel Reserve Gin — organic wheat base rested in new American oak barrels a minimum of 6 months; 91 proof.
Community reviews
Anyone with a free Inebrious account can rate the drinks here. Community ratings are kept entirely separate from the Inebrious editorial score above.
No community reviews yet. Be the first to write one.