Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1013885
1 10 / the tasting panel / august 2018 CATEGORY REPORT FROM THE CHERRY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD: TRAVERSE CITY WHISKEY CO. PREMIUM COCKTAIL CHERRIES People began selling cherries in Traverse City, Michigan—a picturesque town on the shores of the state's namesake Great Lake—during the 1860s. Fast-forward to the present, when the area around the city now grows 50 percent of the country's tart cherries and hosts the annual National Cherry Festival. With this legacy, it seems only natural that Traverse City Whiskey Co. would add cocktail cherries to its already outstanding lineup. Traverse City Whiskey Co. co-founder Chris Fredrickson selected Northern Michigan Balaton Cherries to create the brand's deep-burgundy Premium Cocktail Cherries ($16). Delivered to the distillery from local producers, the sizable cherries arrive in a natural syrup the distillery extracts and blends with its Traverse City Straight Bourbon Whiskey. After the mixture is boiled, it's bottled in glass jars with the cherries—ready to serve as the perfect garnish for anything from an Old Fashioned to a slice of pie. "We're thrilled to combine our passion for innovation and quality in a product that also reflects our family history and heritage," Fredrickson says. TRAVERSE CITY WHISKEY CO. Bartenders are more aware than anyone that getting a drink's flavor profile just right can be an time- consuming and elusive task. For the amateur mixologists, trade members, and curious imbibers seeking to elevate their skills behind the bar, The Tasting Panel is ready to unveil an extensive list of dynamic liqueurs, ready-to-drink cocktails, and other "flavor savers" that hit palate- pleasing high notes: allowing anyone, no matter how busy, to serve a drink worth enjoying. Flavor In Favor of by Emily Coleman HIGHLIGHTING THE LIQUEURS AND READY - TO - DRINK COCKTAILS YOUR CUSTOMERS CRAVE