Disclosure: These samples were provided to me by TC Whiskey for review.
Traverse City Whiskey Co. Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 43%
Nose: Lots of vanilla, anise, oak, caramel, minty and quite floral with a bit of lavender
Palate: Thin but flavorful, more caramel candies and vanilla, cherry, lemongrass
Finish: Short, some ethanol, vanilla sweetness
Rating: 52/100 – Average | Solid, ordinary
The nose on this is the best part. It’s surprisingly complex and one of the most floral bourbon noses I’ve ever had. The rest of the experience is adequate but suffers from a combination of low proof and youth. I think fixing either one of those would go a long ways towards making a very tasty bourbon.
Additional Info: Aged for 3 years or more. Blend of MGP and TCWC whiskeys.
Traverse City Whiskey Co. North Coast Rye, 45%
Nose: Mint, anise, pine, floral, oak, lemon
Palate: Light to medium mouthfeel, bready, lemongrass, rye spice, honey and citrus
Finish: Short to medium, spice fades and a little honey remains
Rating: 61/100 – Good | Better than average
This one is actually quite good. The youth is apparent in its grassy notes and lack of oak but it doesn’t hurt the whiskey. I think the MGP rye might be doing most of the heavy lifting in giving the blend some backbone, but this whiskey still makes me very excited to try my sample of TC’s 4 year barrel proof distillate.
Additional Info: Blend of TCWC’s 100% American Rye and Straight Rye from MGP.
