Beverage of the Week (B.O.W)

While the 1990’s were the decade of the microbrewery, this decade is certainly bearing witness to the rise of the micro-distillery. Today, we now have a distillery in all 50 states. Quite a remarkable feat when you consider the quirky, if not flat stupid laws in some states that greatly hindered the legality of microbreweries as well.

The idea of the micro-distiller is far from new. Before Prohibition came along, most towns and cities of any size had small, often family-owned, distilleries. This current renaissance is simply a correction and one that we at BevX are greatly enjoying.

Grand Traverse Distillery (GTD), located in Traverse City, Michigan (northern Michigan along the 45th parallel) is the realization of founder Kent Rabish’s dream. A Michigan native, Rabish wanted to craft high quality spirits made in small batches from local ingredients. The first Vodka we tasted from Grand Traverse Distillery was their flagship “True North” Vodka made from Michigan rye and their local, glacial waters. We were blown away by the purity, depth, and integrity of this spirit.

When we learned, earlier this year that GTD was creating another Vodka made from Michigan Wheat and designed to sell for close to $20, we were understandably intrigued. We were not disappointed as this new Vodka has the same soul found in their original. Most wheat-based vodkas tend to be light with a touch of sweetness. The GTD Wheat is lush with a silky soft and round texture. The flavors are pure and clean proving that wheat Vodka can be exciting.

Currently this product is being sold in Michigan and Chicago. It can be purchased online at Binnys.com.