The beauty of being a small batch craft distillery like us is we can make a several different types of spirits all under one roof. For years now, we've been making vodka, whiskey, bourbon, gin, and rum. We have plenty of options to choose from within each spirit category, but if you have a favorite cocktail you enjoy drinking at home, we can guide you in the right direction of a spirit that we think will pair best in your cocktail. Keep reading to see which of the most popular cocktails we hear people make at home, and which bottle of Grand Traverse Distillery spirits they should pick up to make their drink.
Many people enjoy making an Old Fashioned at home, and we have several different types of Bourbons we sell. So the question becomes, which Bourbon should you buy for your Old Fashioned?
For a mixed drink like an Old Fashioned, we recommend a high-quality Bourbon since the primary ingredient in the cocktail is Bourbon, but nothing too complicated on the palate as you'll start losing uniqueness in terms of flavor as soon as you start adding the sugar, orange, and bitters. Our classic Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon is a great option for an Old Fashioned. If you like to keep it traditional, then this Bourbon will provide a great base with its high rye formula mash bill of 60% corn, 30% rye, and 10% malted barley. It's aged for 4 years in new American white oak barrels and goes into the bottle at 100 proof, giving a little extra heat to amplify the sweetness of the Bourbon. It's also a Bottled in Bond whiskey, which means it was aged in a federally bonded warehouse, made under the supervision of one distiller all in the same growing season.
This Bourbon carries a slightly earthy note from the rye mash bill but overall provides sweetness from the corn and the barrel aging process. There are prominent notes of caramel, molasses, oak, and vanilla.
Everyone prefers their martini in a very particular way, which is why sometimes it's best to have the materials at home to make it how you want it without too much back and forth with a bartender. We have a couple of different suggestions for your martini, depending on how you like to drink yours.
Peninsula Gin - If you prefer a gin martini, then we suggest the Peninsula Gin, which is a more citrus-forward gin with primary notes of orange and lemon coming from the citrus peels we use as 2 of the botanicals. The secondary notes are the warm flavors that come from the grains of paradise, coriander, and angelica root, which complement the cooler brighter notes of the classic gin flavor, juniper. Because this gin is more citrus-forward, we suggest this one for those who like their martinis either with a twist or those who like it dirty since the brightness of the flavors helps complement the salty brininess from the olive juice. This gin is also a great base for a martini, which is another booze-forward drink because this gin is very clean starting as a vodka, which is distilled 38 times, then we add in the botanicals to make it a gin creating a very clean base spirit for this gin. It goes down incredibly smooth, and the flavors are soft and sweet, making this an excellent gin for a martini.
True North Vodka - Our rye-based vodka has been awarded so many times since we started our distillery back in 2005, we can't even keep count anymore. It is likely one of the most awarded vodkas in Michigan thanks to its incredible flavor and the distillation process it goes through. All of our vodkas get distilled down to the very best quality 38 times to ensure the cleanest finish possible. We also only do one filtration when we distill at the very end to remove any remaining sediment or unwanted purities, and when doing less filtration, the outcome is more flavor on the base spirit. Though this vodka is a neutral spirit, it contains peppery, earthy, and sweet flavors all coming from the grain itself. Typically, you expect vodkas to be flavorless, but in this case, the True North Rye vodka contains a great neutral flavor, making it very enjoyable in a drink such as a martini. It has a smooth finish with lingering earthy and peppery notes, making it a great base for any type of vodka martini that you enjoy.
For those who enjoy a good spicy Bloody, we have a great vodka for you! Our Chipotle Vodka pairs perfectly in a Bloody Mary with the smokey and spicy flavors from the vodka matching the salty and acidic notes from the tomato base mix. If you're looking for a mix for your Bloody Mary, we recommend the Bloody Point mix for an easy two-ingredient mixer with our Chipotle Vodka. Once you have one of our Bloodys with the Chipotle Vodka, it'll be hard to go back to a normal Bloody Mary.
The great thing is when you simply have ginger beer and lime juice as mixers, there's a lot you can do with different spirits to make great cocktails so you can please those with different palates.
Mules are incredibly versatile with our spirits, and there are a number of different whiskeys and vodkas you can use to make a Moscow Mule or Kentucky Mule. If you're more of a vodka person, then the Moscow Mule would be suitable for you. If you're a fan of our Cherry Vodka, then you can try that in a mule, which gives it a nice punchy cherry flavor. If you prefer a traditional Moscow Mule, then we'd suggest our True North Rye Vodka. The peppery earthy flavor from the rye mash bill mixes wonderfully with the spicy ginger, making a simple three-ingredient cocktail taste complex and refreshing.
If you're more of a whiskey fan, then we've got options for you as well! We have 3 suggestions based on your preferences for your whiskey cocktails. If you like a sweeter finish, then we'd suggest the Cherry Whiskey. The cherry flavor isn't so prominent, but it provides a subtle fruity hint on the finish along with a touch of sweetness. If you prefer that toasted earthy flavor, then the Bottled in Bond Ole George Rye Whiskey would be a good option here. Similar to the True North Rye, the Ole George will provide that complexity from the rye mash bill that pairs so well with the spicy ginger and acidity from the lime juice. If you're a Bourbon fan or you know you like a classic Kentucky Mule, then our Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon will be the spirit for you. A smooth Bourbon with a little more heat on the finish, the Straight Bourbon in a Kentucky Mule makes for a great staple to have at home or when entertaining guests.
The great thing about a Manhattan with our spirits is that we are well known for having great rye whiskeys. Our rye mash bill is typically 95% rye and 5% malted rye, so it has a nice peppery and earthy flavor that comes from the grain, but there's also a complementing sweetness from the barrel aging and distillation process. For a good classic Manhattan that you can serve both up and on the rocks, we suggest our old reliable, Ole George himself. There's enough flavor coming from the rye whiskey to pair with the bitters and vermouth for an enjoyable sipping cocktail. The Bottled in Bond Ole George is a favorite among avid Manhattan drinkers and is a great rye whiskey to have at home to mix with booze-forward whiskey drinks.
