Traverse City Whiskey Co.

My husband and I like to think of ourselves as self-proclaimed whiskey aficionados, although I am sure we are far from that in the eyes of a professional. Traverse City is one of our favorite long weekend destinations for local whiskey tasting.  We stop by Traverse City Whiskey Co. whenever we’re in town visiting. This most recent time we were celebrating our first wedding anniversary and stopping in for a nightcap…okay, two nightcaps. The distillery has an undeniable charm. It highlights a rustic interior featuring plenty of exposed wood and metal. The space feels warm and inviting with the right amount of dark ambient.

My favorite element of their tasting room is their wall of whiskey barrels, all emblazoned with the company’s logo. They take their craft seriously and this attention to detail is reflected in every aspect of their business. From the moment you walk in the door, you feel like you’re in the presence of some true whiskey experts. The tasting room is a smaller size, but it only adds to the dark ambient charm.

Traverse City Whiskey Co. was founded by three friends. Chris, Jared, and Moti were inspired by Chris’s great-grandfather’s old patents for distilling whiskey on the family’s cherry farm. They set out to create a small-batch brand that would pay homage to their roots and become a staple of Traverse City’s spirit scene over the next few decades.

They have clearly succeeded! Their whiskey is some of the best we’ve tasted and admittedly, we’ve tasted a lot. We always make sure to stock up on a bottle (or two) to take home with us and always keep some on reserve for the hosting company! But it’s not just the whiskey selection that’s amazing – their cocktail menu is fantastic as well. My personal favorite is the Cherry Sour, which is made with its own cherry-infused whiskey. It’s sweet, tart, and perfectly balanced.