Traverse City Whiskey Competes for Top U.S. Craft Whiskey

Know any whiskey lovers? Clue them into this spot! A Northern Michigan distillery is once again competing to be the top whiskey maker in the country. It's also being recognized as one of the top places to enjoy a glass.

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USA Today and 10Best are asking readers to vote for the country’s best spirits and tasting rooms. Experts selected 20 finalists in each category, and now it’s up to the public to pick the top ten.

Once again, Michigan’s Traverse City Whiskey Co. is in the running.

👇BELOW: VOTE FOR TRAVERSE CITY WHISKEY👇

Traverse City Whiskey Co. Up for National Honors

It’s one of my favorite spots in Traverse City! I love a good boozy slush and a great patio. Lucky for me, TC Whiskey has both.

Their whiskeys are made with local ingredients, and the cocktail menu is packed with creative, must-try drinks. The lineup includes signature whiskeys plus five barrel-proof options: bourbon, rye, wheat, peach, and cherry. A top seller, American Cherry Whiskey, is made with Montmorency cherries from the owner’s family farm.

The distillery itself is a destination. Whether you’re enjoying a whiskey sour at The Stillhouse, their speakeasy-style bar, or sipping a peach whiskey slush on the sun-soaked elevated patio, the atmosphere is as memorable as the drinks. For those farther away, the Ferndale location’s cocktail bar, The Outpost, brings a taste of TC Whiskey to the Detroit area.

The Story Behind Traverse City Whiskey

The story behind the distillery is just as compelling. One of the founders discovered his great-grandfather’s old distilling patents from the family cherry farm, inspiring three friends to start a small-batch whiskey company rooted in local flavor and the adventurous spirit of “Up North” Michigan.

In operation since 2012, TC Whiskey expanded with a new production facility in 2024. Take a tour to walk through the whole production process, from to final bottling—you'll get to taste the full line up as well!

Vote to Make Traverse City Whiskey No. 1

Traverse City has consistently made the top ten in USA Today's Best Whiskey poll. Last year, it came in at No. 7 in the nation.

👇BELOW: 9 OF THE BEST BREWERIES IN MICHIGAN👇

Let's see if we can get it to No. 1 this in 2026. You can vote for Traverse City Whiskey as Best Craft Whiskey in America once per day through October 12 at noon here.

The distillery was also voted the No. 3 Best Spirits Tasting Room in 2025. It's one again competing for that honor. You can vote for it here.

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