In addition to the nearby wineries, Traverse City is experiencing a boom in the growth of new distilleries and microbreweries. Make sure to check out the following:
Traverse City Whiskey: This is a local craft distillery/tasting room, offering tours and artisanal whiskey cocktails in a speakeasy bar setting. It is located at 201 E 14th St. just south of downtown Traverse City. They feature an XXX Straight Bourbon, American Cherry Edition (bourbon infused with cherries), a Barrel Proof Bourbon, a North Coast Rye Whiskey and a bourbon finished in port barrels called Port Barrel Finish. I found that the XXX Straight Bourbon was excellent and now am enjoying it at home.
Mammoth Distilling: Located in a new location in the Warehouse District, this is a tasting room/cocktail lounge of the Central Lake, MI based company. They feature their gin, rum, vodka, whiskey, bourbon, rye whiskey and cherry bounce. I tried the rye whiskey, rum and bourbon. All were excellent, but the bourbon really stood out. 221 Garland St. Suite D.
In the same complex is The Workshop Brewing Company. They feature their beers, craft beers from other Michigan brewers and a seasonal food menu. 221 Garland St.
North Peak Brewing Company: At 400 W. Front St., this is a large brewpub serving their house-brewed beers and pub food. The building is a old candy factory building from 1899.
Another spot to explore is Left Foot Charley Wine & Hard Cider west of downtown.
Grand Traverse Distillery: The Grand Traverse Distillery has five locations including one at 215 E. Front St. They feature a number of vodkas, gins, rums, bourbons and rye whiskies and a cherry whiskey. Tours are available at their distillery south of town. They also have a tasting room at 110 Lake St. in Leeland.
I recently read about Middle Coast Brewing Company in Traverse City. It is located at 329 E. State St. It makes a number of ales, IPAs and hard seltzers. Also Right Brain Brewery, located at 225 E. 16th St., is known for their creative brews, ciders and hard seltzers. The Cherry Pie Whole amber ale is actually made with real Cherry Crumb Pies from the Grand Traverse Pie Company.