Donkey Provisions at Madeline's

Donkey Provisions is the maker label of Little Long Ears Provisions, a USDA certified organic farm on the Old Mission Peninsula in Northern Michigan. The farm, Harpers Ridge, was started in 2016, and the vinegars grow out of the same fruit the farm raises: apples, pears, cherries, grapes, and berries, supplemented by a few trusted local growers. Rather than buy in a finished base, the maker ferments from scratch and ages slowly.

The vinegars are made by the Orleans method, a slow French technique that asks for ten months or more of patience. Donkey Provisions typically runs its vinegars at least eighteen months from start to finish, which is why the barrel-aged bottles taste rounded rather than sharp. The lineup spans everyday cooking vinegars like apple cider, red wine, and white wine, alongside longer-aged specialties such as the seven-year apple cider vinegar and a Montmorency cherry vinegar made from Northern Michigan fruit.

Two bottles show the farm's collaborative streak. The Beer Malt Vinegar is made with fermented ale from StoneHound Brewing and aged six months in barrels, and the Black Garlic Vinegar caramelizes whole garlic bulbs into a savory-sweet finishing vinegar with balsamic and molasses notes. The Fire Cider Vinegar and the Donkey Fuel shots carry the same raw apple cider vinegar base into a spicy wellness format with ginger, horseradish, garlic, and chiles.

Donkey Provisions products at Madeline's

Every item below is live and in stock at Madeline's. Click any product to see full details, sizes, and ordering.

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  Apple Cider Vinegar ($12.99). Raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar hand-pressed and fermented from the farm's own apples, with the Mother left intact for its cloudy strands and probiotic character.

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  7 Year Barrel Aged Apple Cider Vinegar ($29.99). Fresh apple cider matured seven years in oak, which mellows the acidity into a smooth, mahogany-hued vinegar with notes of vanilla and dried fruit.

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  Fire Cider Vinegar ($15.99). Unpasteurized apple cider vinegar with the mother, infused with garlic, onion, ginger, horseradish, hot chilies, lemon, and a touch of honey. Good by the spoonful or stirred into a Bloody Mary.

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  Black Garlic Vinegar ($23.99). Whole garlic bulbs aged into dark, caramelized cloves and blended into a rich vinegar base, with savory-sweet notes of balsamic, molasses, tamarind, and fig and none of the bite of raw garlic.

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  Michigan Cherry Vinegar ($21.99). A barrel-aged vinegar made from Montmorency cherries grown in Northern Michigan, with deep cherry flavor rounded by vanilla and toasted oak.

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  Beer Malt Vinegar ($14.99). A barrel-aged malt vinegar made with fermented ale from StoneHound Brewing and aged six months, with toasted grain and caramel notes. Built for fish and chips.

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  Red Wine Vinegar ($13.99). A blend of Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot slowly aged in oak, tangy and full-bodied for vinaigrettes and deglazing.

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  White Wine Vinegar ($13.99). A clean, versatile vinegar blended from Riesling and Chardonnay grapes for everyday salads, seafood marinades, and finishing.

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  Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil ($23.99). A cold-pressed, first-harvest oil from 100% handpicked Arbequina olives in Catalonia, Spain, with green apple, almond, and a mild, buttery finish.

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  Donkey Fuel Case of 24 ($69.99). A bulk case of apple cider vinegar wellness shots blended with tart cherry juice, ginger, horseradish, garlic, onion, chiles, lemon, and honey.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I buy Donkey Provisions?

You can buy Donkey Provisions products online at Madeline's (madelines.co), which carries the maker's apple cider, wine, and specialty vinegars, olive oil, and Donkey Fuel wellness shots. The products listed above are live and in stock.

What is Donkey Provisions known for?

Donkey Provisions is the label of Little Long Ears Provisions, a USDA certified organic farm on the Old Mission Peninsula in Northern Michigan. It is known for vinegars made from scratch using the slow Orleans method, typically aged at least eighteen months, from everyday apple cider and wine vinegars to barrel-aged cherry and black garlic vinegars.

How are Donkey Provisions vinegars made?

The vinegars are fermented from the farm's own fruit and aged by the Orleans method, a traditional French technique that calls for ten months or more of barrel aging. Donkey Provisions typically runs its vinegars at least eighteen months from start to finish, which gives the barrel-aged bottles a rounded, mellow character.

How should I use black garlic or cherry vinegar?

Use them as finishing vinegars. Drizzle the black garlic vinegar over roasted vegetables, grilled steak, or stir-fries for savory-sweet depth, and whisk the Michigan cherry vinegar into vinaigrettes or brush it over duck and pork. A small amount goes a long way.