This week's Northern Express - sister publication of The Ticker - raises a glass to the region's spirited history, from Prohibition-era bootlegging up through modern distilling today. Read up on the fascinating history of local establishments during the 1920s and '30s, such as Sleder's Tavern in Traverse City, which kept special barrels of "root beer" (bourbon and rye) on hand for loyal customers. Police crackdowns scattered moonshine producers and outlaw bootleggers in some communities, while officials turned a blind eye in others - though illegal imbibers had to quickly learn to tell the difference between legitimate hooch and the sometimes fatal results of amateur home brewing. Read more in this week's cover story, "Booze Flowed Freely Through Northern Michigan During Prohibition."

Fast forward almost a century for an inside look at new distilleries in the works in northern Michigan, including Iron Fish Distillery in Thompsonville, Mammoth Distilling in Bellaire and Bareknuckle Spirits in Traverse City. This week's issue also features an in-depth guide to the Bay View Wine Trail - stretching from Ellsworth to Harbor Springs - and a feature on local producers of eau de vie, a clear, potent fruit brandy. Also included in this week's Northern Express are a profile of The Glenwood in Onekama, a preview of the upcoming Blissfest String Jam series at Petoskey's Red Sky Stage, a feature on Traverse City painter Lisa Wilkins Schulte - and much more! Check out the Northern Express online, or pick up a free copy at one of more than 600 distribution spots across 13 counties. And, stay connected throughout the week on Facebook.