Motor City Gas A Hit With Patrons

ROYAL OAK, MI — Having opened in 2015, Motor City Gas is no longer the new kid in town when it comes to Royal Oak’s nightlife scene. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t still putting the metal to the pedal as far as patrons are concerned.

The Fourth Street distillery and tasting room offers rye whiskey, rum barrel-finished bourbon and other spirits developed by owner Rich Lockwood. And apparently, he’s getting it right according to reviewers on Yelp.com.

After more than 40 reviews on the site, Motor City Gas garners the top five-star rating. Lockwood’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed either, as Oakland County's One Stop Shop Business Center recently profiled both him and the business.

“This little distillery tasting room in Royal Oak is totally worth the trip,” wrote Mac R. of Chicago wrote in a Feb. 9 review. He gave the distillery five stars. “They are distilling some tasty spirits here and Megan was a terrific and engaging source of info. We sampled their smokey single malt Scotch and the Belly Up Bourbon. You can't go wrong with either.”

Lockwood cofounded Motor City Gas with his wife Tonya, according to a Detroit Eater report. He was laid-off from his marketing job with Compuware in 2012 and decided to make his hobby into his new career. It has worked out pretty well, wrote Joe G. of Hazel Park in a Jan. 4 review.

“If you can appreciate a good rye or bourbon, you need to stop in and taste their selections,” he wrote, giving the establishment five stars. “Whether your preference is sipping straight up or in a cocktail, the quality, award winning whiskey is excellent.”

Motor City Gas is open noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday - Friday, 2 -10 p.m. on Saturday and 2 - 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Photo by Croki Chips via Flickr Commons