Travers City Whiskey Co. began as an idea between 3 friends (Chris, Jared and Moti) in 2011. Chris discovered his grandfather’s old patents for distilling whiskey on the family’s farm, it created a spark among three friends to build something close to their hearts — a small batch whiskey company that bottled not only the best whiskey around, but also the friendly, adventurous spirit of “Up North” Michigan.
The company was kind enough to send us a sampling of their products and this begins the first of many Traverse City Whiskey reviews over the coming months. We start things off with the Barrel Proof Bourbon which is a limited release that won double gold at SF World Spirits.
Bourbon Review: Traverse City Whiskey Co. Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel Proof
ABV: 58.3% (116.6 Poof)
Type: Bourbon
Age: 4+ Years
Color: Copper
Mash Bill: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Distillery: Traverse City Whiskey Co.
Location: Traverse City, MI (USA)
The Nose: Notes of oak and citrus are dominant while in the glass with subtle nuances of leather and marzipan. At first these aromas get lost in the high alcohol content, but as we take subsequent samples of the bouquet the shine through.
Tasting Notes: The initial sip of the Barrel Proof Bourbon from Traverse City offers up less heat than I was expecting. There are definitive notes of oak, dry cocoa, caramel and leather that is especially notable on the long finish. Subsequent sips see the addition of a subtle fig, cherry and roasted pecans.
The Pairing: We got a call today from All Saints Cigars brand owner Mickey Pegg today which led to the choice of today’s pairing. On its own he All Saint’s Saint Francis has notes of chocolate, almonds and nuts. Although the two work well together, neither did anything to enhance the experience due to their similarity. Our pairings never affect our final score but if they did it wouldn’t change a thing in this instance.
Conclusion: As a fan of high proof bourbon this one checks all the boxes. It has a nice mouthfeel that isn’t too thin. It also has a nice depth of flavor with a fair amount of complexity. This is a bottle worth searching for and one of the better higher proof bourbons I have come across. This is definitely a contender for Bourbon of the Year.
Score: 96
Price: $79.99 (750ml)
Disclaimer: We were supplied with a bottle from Traverse City Whiskey Co. We will always review what is sent to us, and their submission has zero reflection on the final score.
