build.sbt

import sbt._

scalaVersion := "2.11.7"

resolvers += Resolver.jcenterRepo

libraryDependencies ++= Seq(
  "com.fasterxml.jackson.core" % "jackson-annotations" % "2.5.2"
)

Spirit.scala

import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonSubTypes.Type
import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonTypeInfo.Id
import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.{JsonSubTypes, JsonTypeInfo}

@JsonTypeInfo(use = Id.NAME, property = "name")
@JsonSubTypes(Array(
  new Type(classOf[Vodka.type]),
  new Type(classOf[Whiskey])
))
trait Spirit

case object Vodka extends Spirit

case class Whiskey(variety: String) extends Spirit