Yelp Cleveland’s Whiskey 101

This August, Yelpers adventured to Cleveland Whiskey for a unique distillery tour and tasting experience. Named “Whiskey Distillery Innovator of the Year” at the 2016 Berlin International Spirits Competition, Cleveland Whiskey has won 60+ medals at competitions around the world including twenty-two gold and double gold awards. A self-described “technology and innovation company disguised as a whiskey company,” Cleveland Whiskey is changing the whiskey and bourbon industry by making it better, faster and smarter. Cleveland Whiskey is quietly tucked away in the Campus District of Cleveland inside the MAGNET building featuring other local startups.The evening began with a tour of Cleveland Whiskey’s high-tech facilities, led by Founder & CEO Tom Lix, with an intimate look at the behind-the-scenes action of the distillery. Yelpers learned the history of the business and were led step-by-step through whiskey tasting methods. As Yelp Elite A’Lia M. wrote, “This is just simply a cool local business. The master mind, Tom, is truly knowledgeable, a chemist even. I had no idea before this event what went into making whiskey, but to see he has developed a way to replicate that process in a few days is brilliant.”
Cleveland Whiskey is dedicated to the quality of its product. For the company’s Classic Reserve Whiskey, a total of 3,600 blind taste-testings were completed to ensure perfection. Yelpers sampled Bourbon Whiskeys in the flavorings of Apple Wood, Honey Locust, Black Cherry, Hickory Wood, Sugar Maple Wood, and Classic Reserve. When the tour concluded, Yelpers also sampled three Cleveland Whiskey cocktails made with homemade recipes. The Cleveland Bourbon Lemon-Aide was a hit, featuring a mix of Black Reserve Bourbon, lemonade, and muddled mixed berries.Yelpers also indulged in the Black Barrel Old Fashioned with Bourbon Whiskey Infused with Craft Roasted Coffee Beans, cold brewed coffee, simple syrup, bitters, orange peel, and a cherry on top. Finally, the Kamm’s Coffee featured Bourbon Whiskey Infused with Craft Roasted Coffee Beans, cold brewed coffee and cream. As Yelp Elite Steven B. described, “As a bourbon drinker, I was appreciative of the quality of the bourbons. Overall nicely rounded flavors, with a bit of bite at the end.”Tom Lix started out as a child in Massachusetts with nothing but a chemistry set and a love for science. Fast-forward to present day and he has created a cutting edge whiskey empire that keeps that love for science alive. Cleveland Whiskey has even gained recognition from former President Barack Obama, resulting in a 40-minute visit from the only sitting President to visit a distillery. The success of Cleveland Whiskey shows that with a bit of passion and innovation, great whiskey can be made unconventionally — resulting in a product that rivals even the highest of competitors. To sum up the experience, Yelp Elite Adam P. wrote, “So proud to have Cleveland Whiskey in our backyard. It was a pleasure having a tour guided by Tom Lix… His passion for his product is evident from his passionate stories. The tour was both educational and entertaining.”Check out the outstanding reviews and photos here. For more information about the Yelp Cleveland Elite Squad, visit yelp.com/elite.

Special thanks to our sponsors:
Cleveland Whiskey • Elizabeth Sturm Photography