Traverse City Whiskey launches premium cocktail cherries product

US-based distilled spirits company Traverse City Whiskey has expanded its range of premium whiskies and bourbons with the addition of a Premium Cocktail Cherries product.

Traverse City Whiskey co-founder Chris Fredrickson said: “The end product and warm reception from retailers of our Premium Cocktail Cherries has exceeded our expectations.

“We’re thrilled to combine our passion for innovation and quality in a product that also reflects our family history and heritage.”

To produce its cocktail cherry products, the company has used Northern Michigan Balaton Cherries harvested from its local area. The cherries are delivered to the company’s distillery in pails that contain a natural syrup base acting as a buffer to protect the fruit from smashing together.

The syrup is mixed with Traverse City’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey and brought to a boil. This cooking process burns off all of the alcohol.

The Balaton Cherries are heated to a near-boil in the copper pots and then jarred. The company uses traditional jarring methods that it claims kills all the bacteria.

Once the cherries have been jarred and weighed, they are backfilled with boiling syrup after they have been jarred and weighed.

Traverse City Whiskey claims that its cocktail cherries are natural and gluten-free products, which can be used for garnishing cocktails, as well as for dessert toppings. Each 160z jar has a two-year shelf life and contains approximately 70 cherries.

The company has partnered with the Michigan-based supermarket chain Meijer to distribute its new product at various locations of the supermarket chain across the US.

The product will be available at all Meijer locations, as well as at select off-premise outlets in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Washington DC, Maryland, Delaware and California for a suggested retail price of $15.99.