On a cool evening in Holland, Michigan, 5-course Bourbon Tasting Dinner at 184 120th Ave. gathers a small group around a chef-driven menu and a tasting flight of rare bourbons. Chef Tim stages off-menu courses—smoked whitefish to start, a blackberry and arugula salad, honey-cured shrimp with dry-aged cherrywood smoked bacon, an 8-ounce angus flat iron au poivre, and a rhubarb crème brûlée—each matched to a thoughtful pour. Head Blender Will Fabry walks the room through Flying Ace 13-year Straight Bourbon, Coppercraft Straight Bourbon 9-year, Fox & Oden Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Joseph Magnus Murray Hill Club and a salted bourbon old fashion, explaining blending and finishing decisions and how barrel age and finish shape the glass.
The experience is compact—two hours, capped at 16 guests—which keeps the conversation focused and the pours intentional. The meeting point is 184 120th Ave. Holland, MI 49424; seats often fill early, so reservations are a must. The event is 21+ and wheelchair accessible; the setting favors tasting rooms and intimate tables that highlight the distillery’s still room and glassware rather than sweeping views, so bring curiosity rather than hiking boots.
What makes this dinner part of Holland’s outdoor-recreation scene is less about terrain and more about place-making: a craft distillery like Coppercraft (appearing as CraftCo in event notes) amplifies local agriculture and flavor, pairing Michigan-grown produce and regionally sourced proteins with barrel techniques that reflect midwestern distilling. For travelers who arrive for nearby dunes, lakeshore trails or the city’s signature Tulip Time, the tasting offers an evening alternative—an indoor, sensory way to learn about local ingredients and the science of spirit-making.
Practical notes: expect guided tasting commentary from Will Fabry between courses; the menu balances smoke, sweet and savory to mirror each bourbon’s profile; pricing is $125 per person. This is not a casual bar pour: the dinner is education wrapped in hospitality, ideal for curious visitors, couples celebrating a travel milestone, or locals who want to go deeper into how a bourbon’s finish is crafted. For photography, focus on close-ups of pours and plated courses; audio recordings are likely discouraged to preserve the room’s atmosphere. If you value small-group attention, rare pours and a chef’s intent behind each bite, this five-course evening is an efficient, flavorful way to sample Holland’s craft culinary scene.
Beyond flavor, the evening doubles as a masterclass: Will Fabry outlines how char, toast and grain bills shape caramel, toffee and spice, while the chef calibrates texture and salt to lift hints of oak and vanilla. Small format and deliberate pacing let each pour arrive unrushed; it’s an approachable primer for first-time bourbon tasters and a layered tasting for collectors who want to learn why a 13-year differs from a 9-year.