Traverse City Straight Bourbon hails from Northern Michigan. It’s made from a mashbill that’s 71% corn, 25% “premium rye,” and 4% malted barley, and aged for at least four years in oak.
When asked what makes their rye “premium,” the brand said it’s due to “a very dry climate resulting in a low yield and a higher number of berries in the grain, producing a richer flavor and less grassy aroma.”
On the nose, you’ll find a corn backbone with notes of rye shining through. Then come notes of vanilla, instant hot chocolate, and mellow pine.
Take a drink, and you get a nice malty flavor first, followed by rye and then sweetness from the corn. Cocoa dust reminiscent of biting into a chocolate truffle is present throughout this whiskey.
Traverse City Straight Bourbon isn’t a must-buy bottle, but it’s a tasty whiskey, so it’s worth grabbing if you see it in the wild.
★★★
Stats:
— 43% ABV
— $38
