Sensory, Science and a Little Bit of Magic – A Family Tour at Sandstone Distillery

sandstone distillery
John, Jenni and son Justin smile for the camera. Say "whiskey!"
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By Nikki McCoy

sandstone distillery
The author and her family enjoy a tour of the Sandstone Distillery.

During my first phone call with John Bourdon, co-owner of Sandstone Distillery in Tenino, we talked tours. We chatted about aspiring distillers and brewers, curious tourists and even school-age children coming through his family’s craft distillery.

His passion for community involvement was evident, and on his mention of being able to bring kids, I knew I had to bring mine. (My husband was definitely on board as well.)

Our first step into the tasting room, we were greeted by history, in the form of photos, tools and artifacts. There is a lasting connection between the Bourdons’ business and Tenino’s world-renowned rock quarry.

We were also greeted by the strong smell of fermenting mash.

“It smells like apple cider,” said my 5-year-old. “It smells good!”

My husband waxed nostalgic about touring the Olympia Brewery, and my 9-year-old buried his nose in his shirt, a pained look on his face, his eyes imploring, “Do I have to do this?”

sandstone distillery
John, Jenni and son Justin smile for the camera. Say “whiskey!”

This solicited chuckles from John, who recognizes family dynamics. He and his wife Jenni, along with their mother, son and grandkids all contribute to the distillery. (The 2-year-old is in charge of “marketing and adorability.”)

John is well-versed in the language of children, and as we begin the tour, he sits on a sack of grain and instantly engages us all with samples of malted barley, encouraging the kids to feel and taste the raw product.

I could sense a shift in my almost-tween’s interest as the activity became hands-on, and the boys (husband included) eagerly followed John to the next part of the process.

“We believe that responsible stewardship begins early,” explains Jenni in regards to having younger generations tour the distillery. “Parents are inherently tasked with providing an environment that fosters responsibility, sound choices, social-mindedness, and fiscal excellence.”

“We find that school-age tours result in an intensified interest in the natural sciences among children, and an increased awareness among parents,” she continues. “Science should always be entertaining, and should foster a desire to responsibly go higher. Engaging both parents and children in the distillation process allows us to fire the imagination while fostering good conscience.”

sandstone distillery
The kids taste a sample of raw grain given to them by John.

And for the kids, the beauty of Jenni’s statement was perhaps summed up in her husband’s one word: “Fart.”

Yes, this was the word he used to describe the churning of the processing grains, and my boys were right at home.

They were asked to lean in their heads and smell the batch, they were encouraged to listen to the popping of the yeast, their small hands were allowed to go in a portion of the pot and feel the temperature differences. The boys were in sensory heaven – and they were thinking. Questions were asked and giggles were had, and even math equations came into the conversation.

The tour was equally engaging for my husband and I – we giggled, felt and smelled as well – and an added bonus of being an adult – we tasted. It was a pleasure hearing Jenni describe the notes in their small-batch blends, and we were eager to hear about upcoming plans, for the booze, as well as for the company’s investment in agritourism.

sandstone distillery
The author’s 5-year-old Nicolas gets ready to smell the mash.

A Danish-Style Black Gin is slated for June, and the family has begun growing a variety of fruits and herbs to infuse in the future. This is in line with their “Farm to Bottle” philosophy which makes them perfect partners with Thurston County’s agritourism culture.

“Agritourism should not be a gimmick,” says Jenni. “It is either a viable opportunity for people to embrace and engage local, sustainable, farm-to-table (or bottle, as the case may be) agriculture in a meaningful, entertaining way, or it is just talk.  Thurston County offers a wonderful variety of agri-tourism opportunities…We are pleased to be a part of this growth, and hope that people from our local region and beyond are able to experience the delightful agritourism Thurston County provides.”

Sandstone is currently working on a series of invite-only concert offerings (Whiskey Nights: Music at the Stills) where they will promote locally-grown/nationally-known artists in an intimate venue, providing the public with both music and agri-culture. They are also expanding their distribution footprint, with sales to customers in Alaska, Kentucky, and Switzerland.

On the car ride home, the family and I discussed our adventure. We all agreed that science was like magic, and that John and Jenni’s dog was very cute. We also noted that we would like to do more agri-tourist activities as a family.

And later that night, as my husband and I sipped our Sandstone Distillery white whiskey, and muscles relaxed and tensions faded away, I had to re-consider my earlier comment – was the magic really in the science? Or was it in the result?

Visit Sandstone Distillery at online or at 842 Wright Road SE in Tenino. Call 360-239-7272 with any questions or follow Sandstone Distillery on Facebook.

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