The gleaming, 45-foot continuous still column used to make spirits at Shankar Distillery in Troy is so large that a hole had to be cut into the roof to fit it into the manufacturing building tucked away in Troy’s industrial park.
The glass ceiling of founder Varthaus Shankar’s building can be seen from I-75 just north of the 14 Mile exit near the Oakland Mall. Shankar is a tech entrepreneur who, when he opens his facility on Friday, becomes the first Indian immigrant to open an American whiskey distillery. He’s also branched out into international distribution, and his Varthaus Whiskey line is the first American craft bourbon to be exported to India.
Shankar and his team (including marketing director Ray Dulzala, master distiller Kailash Sivakumar and senior advisor Dennis Archer Jr.) have been producing spirits at the facility for many years, some of which have appeared on store shelves in Michigan and six other states and have won awards, including a gold medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. One of the winning products is Virtuous Reserve 102 Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which is remarkably mild and smooth for a high-ABV spirit, with earthy aromas of wood, leather, tobacco and caramel.
Shankar says this is probably their most popular brand, and he’s excited to be able to share all of their products with the public, right where they are produced.
“This is a dream come true. I never thought of opening a distillery in my life. I’m an IT guy so I came to the area to work in technology,” Shankar said. “I’m happy to open it to the public and give people a real experience of East and West culture.”
Shankar Distillery’s full range of spirits, single-batch Vulchas Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Vulchas Straight Rye Whiskey, Dasara Gin and Vulchas Vodka are available for sale at the distillery counter, where merchandise such as whiskey glasses, flasks and T-shirts are also available. The upscale tasting room bar offers plush lounge seating and a menu of classic cocktails such as Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, barrel-aged Sazeracs and G&Ts with Indian tonic, as well as house cocktails such as the “Gimme Some More” made with Vulchas vodka, cucumber and elderflower liqueur.
“It was an electrical panel company, so we gutted everything from the offices to the back and started building everything we needed,” Druzala told The Detroit News about the space. “We have an event room, and we can rent it out for private parties. It can accommodate over 125 people.”
Dulzala says there are a few things that set Shankar Distillery apart from other local brands, namely the company’s history with a background in technology and the beauty of its bottles: The label on each 750ml glass bottle of whiskey features a double-headed eagle, the symbol of Shankar’s home state of Mysore in southern India, and the cork features a three-dimensional drawing of an eagle, symbolizing Shankar’s work in the U.S.
The distillery is proud of its Michigan roots, using locally sourced water and corn to create its products.
If you’d prefer to enjoy a drink at the bar, Shankar Distillers is located at 1030 Chicago Road in Troy. Hours are Wednesday through Thursday 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. to late, Saturday 11 a.m. to late, and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tours of the facility are available Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Visit shankardistillers.com.
mbaetens@detroitnews.com
Instagram: @melodybaetens
