Cherry | Fruit chews | Marshmallow | Sweet & fruit-forward

Light cherry | Caramel | Vanilla | Candy corn | Orange peel | Spice on the backend

Rush of spice | Peach | Apricot | Candy sweetness | Lingering sweet notes against a backdrop of spice

According to the company’s press release, Traverse City Whisky Co. Cab Franc Barrel Finish is part of “The Finishing Series,” a set of three types of whiskey finished for up to 12 months in unique wine cases. It joins Port Barrel Finish and Sherry Barrel Finish, each of which was distilled by Traverse City Whiskey Co. at their distillery in Traverse City, Michigan.

At $60, the three bottles that make up this set are positioned to be accessible in the marketplace. Clocking in at 97.5 proof and offering a very manageable, balanced flavor profile makes for an approachable whiskey as well. While the mashbill is 100% rye, the combination of sweet and fruit notes thanks to it’s barrel finish, tempers the spice considerably. Where wine barrel finishing often produces a dry whiskey, especially when it comes to the finish, that certainly isn’t the case here. Additionally, being a Traverse City Whiskey Co. distilled 100% rye is also interesting. There isn’t a lot of it in the marketplace, as Traverse City Whiskey Co. is still primarily releasing MGP distilled whiskeys as their new distillery is being built. The company's whiskey takes well to being finished as we’ve discovered, and I’m looking forward to more Traverse City Whiskey Co. distilled whiskeys going forward.