Churchill’s offers 400 whiskeys, including a Buffalo Trace that can’t be found anywhere else

FLINT, MI — There’s a restaurant in downtown Flint that has so many bottles of whiskey and cocktails that actor Richard Karn was in disbelief when he visited earlier this year.

Karn’s visit was to Churchill’s Food and Spirits, located at 340 Saginaw Street, widely recognized as the Flint area’s premier whiskey bar and restaurant.

“He’s a whiskey lover, that’s what I was told, so he was in the right place,” said John Saites, managing partner of Churchill’s. “He was shocked by how many bottles we had behind the bar.”

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There are 400 whiskey options, including Weller, Taylor, Blanton’s and the always rare Pappy Van Winkle. On the top shelf behind the bar, whiskey connoisseurs will notice the Buffalo Trace Single Barrel No. 111, a unique drink curated by Saites, who personally selects each barrel, making it unavailable elsewhere. Churchill’s also offers seasonal cocktails and strives to use the highest quality local ingredients, spirits and beers.

Upon entering Churchill’s, loud music fills the air as chef Tyler Hardisty works diligently in the kitchen, the sound of his knives and pans echoing faintly in the background. Guests will also notice quotes from Winston Churchill, hence his namesake, such as “We make a living by what we get, but we make a living by what we give” and works by artist Pauly M. Everett, based in Flint.

Leighann Kourtjian, manager for eight years, said the restaurant’s extensive bourbon and whiskey selection is primarily driven by Saites, a certified whiskey master registered in Scotland. Saites owns the restaurant with his cousins, Bill, John and Taso Gravanis, who are brothers.

As for food, the restaurant’s best sellers include burgers and sandwiches. Every Wednesday, the chef offers a special New York strip steak. Additionally, guests can enjoy a rotating selection of “Pizza of the Week,” like the popular Buffalo Chicken Pizza.

On Mondays, a local band plays bluegrass music and concerts are offered on the first and third Friday of each month. Every second Friday of the month, Churchill’s organizes an art walk.

But the bourbon and whiskey selection, as well as the craft cocktails, are the major draw. The cocktail menu includes an Old Fashioned Manhattan and “Lavender Haze” mixed with simple syrup and gin.

The four owners also control The Red Baron in Burton, where Kourtjian worked before joining Churchill. They bought the restaurant in 2015 and the establishment has been around since 1980.

Hours of operation are 11:00 a.m. to midnight Monday to Thursday and 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Friday to Saturday.

Churchill’s also offers delivery to Flint businesses from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and will accommodate special occasions.

And there are plans to offer a brunch menu later in the year.

“We’re constantly trying to do new and innovative things,” Kourtjian said. “The bar menu is always changing and we have great staff with lots of knowledge. So we get together and work on things.

Follow Churchill’s on Facebook and Instagram for more information.