Traverse City Whiskey Co.
About the Distillery
Traverse City Whiskey Co. is a craft producer in Traverse City, Michigan, founded in 2011 by Moti, Chris and Jared. They combine classic bourbon and rye recipes with local elements such as Montmorency cherries, Michigan peaches, and hand-picked apples. The climate of northern Michigan and collaboration with regional winemakers are actively used in maturation and finishing strategies, yielding a range from fruity infusions to powerful barrel-proof releases.
History
The idea for Traverse City Whiskey was born in 2011 when Chris found his great-grandfather's distilling patents from the family's cherry farm. Together with Moti and Jared they developed a small-scale whiskey project rooted in local culture and agriculture. The company grew from a single recipe to a full range, established a Stillhouse in Traverse City and an Outpost in Ferndale, and over time introduced both signature bottlings, barrel-proof lines, single barrel releases, and a Finishing Series that works with both local and imported cask types.
Raw Materials and Production
Production works with traditional mashbills based on corn, rye and malted barley, and wheat whiskey is also produced. Several products indicate a mash consisting of corn, rye and malted barley, while North Coast Rye documents a mash/blend of 100% American rye and straight rye whiskey. The methods include a small-batch approach, single barrel releases and barrel-proof bottling. A particular hallmark is the use of local fruit in infusion processes; for example, barrel-proof bourbons are paired with fresh Montmorency cherries or ripe Michigan peaches to create fruity variants.
Maturation and Barrel Types
Aging takes place primarily in American oak barrels, while a number of finish experiments add variation. Examples include Amburana finishes after aging in charred virgin oak, 9-month finishes in 300L Ruby Port barrels, 9-month finishes in hand-built Pedro Ximenez PX sherry barrels from Jeraz in Spain, and 9-month finishes in Cabernet Franc barrels from a northern Michigan winery. Some releases are bottled undiluted as barrel-proof to preserve the full strength of the barrel.
Whiskies
The portfolio includes signature releases such as XXX Straight Bourbon, North Coast Rye, American Cherry, Lakeside Peach, and Michigan Apple. In addition to these, the distillery has a premium barrel-proof series with Bourbon, Rye, Wheat, Peach and Cherry, as well as a Finishing Series with Amburana-, Port-, Cab Franc- and PX Sherry-finishes. The range spans from drink-friendly fruity bottles to more intense, undiluted single barrel and limited-edition releases.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Barrel & Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XXX Straight Bourbon | Straight Bourbon; Signature | 43 % | 4 years | Oak barrels | Original recipe; aged four years in oak and highlighting vanilla, honey and baking spices.; Nose: Bold nose with hints of caramel and vanilla; Taste: Notes of vanilla, aged honey and baking spices | Core range |
| Single Barrel XXX Straight Bourbon | Straight Bourbon; Signature | 47.5 % | ||||
| North Coast Rye | Rye; Signature | 45 % | A peppery, but smooth rye; the mash is described as a blend of 100% American rye and straight rye whiskey.; Taste: Classic rye-spices balanced with mint and vanilla; Finish: Buttery finish | Core range | ||
| American Cherry Edition | Flavoured Whiskey; Signature / Fruit-infused | 35 % | Spirit-forward expression with sweetness from local Montmorency cherries, designed as a crowd favorite.; Nose: Round, subtle sweetness from Montmorency cherries; Finish: Best enjoyed over ice | Core range | ||
| Lakeside Peach | Bourbon (infused); Signature / Fruit-infused | 35 % | 3 years | A three-year-old bourbon infused with Michigan peaches, highlighting local agricultural culture. | Core range | |
| Michigan Apple | Flavoured Whiskey; Signature / Fruit-infused | 35 % | Three early Michigan apple varieties provide freshness and spicy notes on the finish.; Nose: Clean fresh fruitiness from hand-picked early apple varieties; Taste: Fruity with hints of vanilla and cinnamon on the finish | Core range | ||
| Barrel Proof Bourbon | Barrel Proof Bourbon; Barrel Proof / Premium | Aged more than four years | Straight Bourbon barrels; finish: Bottled uncut at full barrel strength | Selected straight bourbon from the most flavor-packed barrels, bottled undiluted at full barrel strength.; Finish: Long; designed for slow enjoyment | Limited | |
| Barrel Proof Rye | Barrel Proof Rye; Barrel Proof / Premium | Bottled at full barrel strength to highlight rye-spices.; Taste: Spicy rye character; designed for neat-drinkers | ||||
| Barrel Proof Wheat | Barrel Proof Wheat; Barrel Proof / Premium | Wheat whiskey bottled undiluted at full barrel strength with floral and sweet nuances.; Taste: Lightness and sweetness from malted wheat; notes of spiced honey butter and graham crackers; Finish: Sweet finish with floral notes | ||||
| Barrel Proof Peach | Barrel Proof Peach; Barrel Proof / Fruit-infused | 57.7 % | Aged bourbon combined with ripe Michigan peaches; a powerful barrel-strength peach product. | |||
| Barrel Proof Cherry (2026 Annual Release, Single Barrel) | Barrel Proof Bourbon infused with cherries; Barrel Proof / Limited | 54.2 % | 6 years | Bourbon barrels (paired with fresh Montmorency cherries); finish: Infusion with fresh Montmorency- and sweet cherries; single barrel release | Single-barrel annual release where 6-year barrel-proof bourbon is paired with fresh Montmorency- and sweet cherries to highlight the berry character.; Nose: Fresh Montmorency cherries, buttery caramel and roasted almonds; Taste: Rich caramel, candied pecans, baking spices and lively cherry; Finish: Long, smooth finish with tart cherry, a touch of oak tannin and a hint of star anise | Limited; Annual / Limited; 228 bottles |
| Cab Franc Barrel Finish | 100% Rye finished in Cabernet Franc barrels; Finishing Series (Limited Edition) | 48.75 % | More than five years | Cabernet Franc barrels from a northern Michigan winery; finish: 9-month finish in Cabernet Franc barrels after more than 5 years of aging | 100% rye-whiskey aged more than five years and finished with a nine-month finish in local Cabernet Franc barrels.; Finish: Dry finish | Limited |
| Port Barrel Finish | Straight Bourbon finished in Port barrels; Finishing Series (Limited Edition) | 50 % | 5 years | 300L Ruby Port wine barrels; finish: 9-month finish in 300L Ruby Port barrels | A five-year straight bourbon finished in large Ruby Port barrels to balance sweetness and dryness. | Limited |
| Sherry Barrel Finish | High-rye bourbon finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry barrels; Finishing Series (Limited Edition) | 47.5 % | More than five years | Pedro Ximenez Sherry Barrels (hand built in Jeraz, Southern Spain); finish: 9-month finish in PX-sherry barrels | High-rye bourbon aged in New American Oak and finished in Pedro Ximenez-sherry barrels hand-built in Spain.; Finish: Mild finish | Limited |
The Style and Flavor Profile of the Whiskies
Three through-lines run through the lineup: fruitiness (Montmorency cherries, peaches, and hand-picked apples), bourbon sweetness (caramel, vanilla, aged honey), and spice (classic rye spices and peppery warmth). The Finish Series adds further vinous or sherry notes from Port, Cabernet Franc, and PX finishes.
Visit the Distillery
The distillery invites guests to their Stillhouse in Traverse City and to an Outpost in Ferndale. Visiting activities include production tours, cocktail classes and private events, as well as the opportunity to experience the production and purchase products in their shop. The offerings present the full process from grain selection to finished bottle and showcase collaborations with local producers.
Philosophy and Craft
The company’s values are centered on passion, local community, and quality. The founders emphasize working to a standard they would be proud to show their family, and supporting friends, neighbors, and the local community through the use of regional ingredients and collaborations.
Prices and Recognitions
- Gold medal (Gold, XXX Straight Bourbon)