Local Bartenders Share What's On Tap For Summer 2015

Summer is right around the corner – and with it comes peak season for area bartenders, who dole out drinks and tips to visiting tourists while experimenting with new flavors and trends to keep locals coming back. Here, the managers of four local hot spots share their predictions for this summer's most popular drinks, and the bars/restaurants they’d most like to see open in Traverse City.

Joe Hess – General Manager at Low Bar
Summer 2015 Drink Trends: “I expect to see some gin drinks get bigger this year,” says Hess, general manager at the Prohibition-themed Low Bar on Union Street. “We have more gin being made locally now. I’ve seen the French 75 getting added to more menus around town. It’s a fresh, summery take on a gin cocktail.”

Most Frequently Asked Tourist Question About Traverse City: “Usually once tourists are here, they already have an idea of where they want to go,” says Hess. “But they’re looking for more specifics. They’ll want to know where they go should go wine tasting, or what they should do when they go out to the Dunes. Because we're open late, we get asked a lot where people should go to breakfast."

Wish List for TC Bars/Restaurants: “I would like to see more authentic ethnic food,” says Hess. “Ethiopian, Indian, Thai…maybe a ramen or noodle shop. In terms of bars, I’d like to see a big wine bar. We’ve got a lot of cocktail and beer bars here, but it doesn’t feel like anyone’s focusing on wine. Sometimes in bigger cities you’ll go to places that have 50 different wines by the glass – something like that.”

Jess Heller – Bar Manager at The Little Fleet (pictured)
Summer 2015 Drink Trends: “We’re planning to do more infusions and batch cocktails,” says Heller, bar manager at East Front Street’s popular indoor-outdoor bar and food truck court The Little Fleet. “Right now we have one people really like called The Latest Fling, which has cucumber ginger-infused vodka with fresh grapefruit juice, ginger beer and soda.”

Most Frequently Asked Tourist Question About Traverse City: “It’s not a question, but a lot of people tell us how much they want to move up here,” laughs Heller. “Most of the time they want to talk about the town. They want to know what’s cool to do and see here.”

Wish List for TC Bars/Restaurants: For both food and drinks, Heller points to gastropub The Winchester in Grand Rapids as an example of a “high-low” pub with a comfortable atmosphere but high-quality food as a combination needed in Traverse City. “No more breweries,” she says with a chuckle. “More outside bars. I know they can only be open three months, but people go crazy for those three months. We have one (at The Little Fleet), but there aren’t many others.”

Barbara Saxton – Bar Manager at Kilkenny’s Irish Pub
Summer 2015 Drink Trends: “I think things are moving in a bitter rather than sweet direction,” says Saxton, bar manager at Kilkenny’s Irish Pub located in the basement of the North Peak building on West Front Street. “I think you’re going to see the Negroni’s and Campari-based cocktails get more popular. I also think white whiskeys and mezcals are getting big. Those are some of the things I’ll be playing with this summer.”

Most Frequently Asked Tourist Question About Traverse City: “People always want to know where to drink, eat and sleep,” says Saxton. “But beyond that, I like to send them on little adventures. I have a treasure map of all the great spots in town I would hit up if I were a tourist: go to Stella or The Cooks’ House, have a drink at Low Bar, get a late-night food truck snack or drink at The Little Fleet. Things like that.”

Wish List for TC Bars/Restaurants: “It’d be really nice to have something late night with breakfast options that’s not a greasy spoon,” says Saxton. “Working late, you get out and you’re so hungry, but your options are limited.” In terms of bars, Saxton thinks Traverse City is ready for a molecular cocktail bar – “one that does more than just smoking cocktails,” she adds – and an authentic Tiki bar. “I want a real one with a secret passcode to get in and weird volcano sculptures in the corners,” she laughs.

Conor Foy – Bar Manager at The Parlor
Summer 2015 Drink Trends: South Florida native Foy recently relocated to northern Michigan to take over bar managing duties at Midtown cocktail lounge The Parlor. “I’ve noticed everyone in Michigan likes whiskey and bourbon,” Foy says. “We have an Amaretto Bourbon Lemonade that’s refreshing and a little sweet. That seems to be a popular one.” Foy says he also plans to begin experimenting with fresh-made shrub vinegars and infusions. “You get that great flavor of fresh fruit,” he says, citing a lychee spin on a Pina Colada as one example he predicts will be “a hit” this summer.

Most Frequently Asked Tourist Question About Traverse City: “People are always looking for a nice drink or place to eat…but they’re also looking for local entertainment,” says Foy. “I’ve sent people to Ecco to check out the comedians that perform there. I also send them to the Old Town Playhouse next door. We have live entertainment Thursday through Saturday, and I always tell visitors to come back and check that out. There’s a lot of talent here in Traverse City,"

Wish List for TC Bars/Restaurants: “What the town needs most is somewhere late to go that’s fast and cheap,” says Foy. “There were places in Florida that would open at 10pm and go until 3am. A good Middle Eastern or Mediterranean place would also be nice.” As for bars, Foy says if anything, Traverse City suffers from having a little too nice of a nightlife scene. “We need a dive bar that’s actually a dive bar!” he says. “Giant barrels of peanuts, saloon doors, a decent jukebox selection. That’s really the only type of bar that’s missing.”