Have you ever had the pleasure of tasting a clean white whiskey, or gentle vodka filtered through the region’s sandstone quarry rocks? What about sipping a spirit distilled with artesian well water? Or tasting your favorite fruits and flowers with the warmth of alcohol behind them?
This is all possible at the first-ever South Sound Spirits Gathering. On Saturday, March 12, the Olympic Flight Museum will transform into a tasting room and education center as 18 Washington State distillers bring their best bottles to share and pair with small bites from five local restaurants.
“The Washington Distillers Guild is bringing this event to town to build awareness of this growing industry and demonstrate the amazing products and stories that are part of the ‘craft culture’ and central to the Craft Brewing and Distilling Center— the catalyst to redevelopment of the (Olympia) brewery,” says Heidi Behrends Cerniwey, assistant city administrator/brewery project manager in Tumwater.
Three Thurston County distillers will be there to represent the craft culture movement—Sandstone Distillery, Blind Pig Spirits, and Salish Sea Organic Liqueurs.
“I think it’s a growing trend,” says Sandy Desner of Salish Sea Organic Liqueurs, comparing distillery expansion to the healthy rise of Washington wineries over the last few decades. “Plus other states model the distilling laws passed here – I expect to see even more growth.
“All of us want to create a broader base of knowledge and information and public tastings are a great opportunity,” he adds. “The fun part is when people actually taste our flavors.”
Salish Sea Organic Liqueurs will be bringing their award-winning hibiscus and ginger liqueurs as well as their popular nectarine and lemongrass flavors. For more information on their other flavors, check out this feature on the father-son duo’s organic inspiration.
From Blind Pig Spirits, a company that recently relocated to downtown Olympia from Centralia, tasters will be able to sample four of the distillery’s five products—moonshine, vodka, apple pie shine, and peach pie shine, all distilled with artesian well water.
“I think people are surprised by the quality of the product when they do a tasting,” says co-owner Lesa Givens, co-owner. “Especially the vodka – everyone thinks it’s all the same – and people are like ‘Wow – that’s like nothing I’ve ever had.’” (Fun fact: Blind Pig also offers a Moonshine 101 class.)
“The craft industry is going to continue to grow,” she affirms. “It used to be all Coors Light and Bud Light. Now everyone has their favorite craft brewery. It’ll be like that for distilleries, too. All our booze is made right here from scratch. There’s something about it that people embrace – it’s like buying home-canned goods.”
Sandstone Distillery out of Tenino will be pouring their award-winning Stonecarver Vodka, plus Black Gin, Bacon Whiskey, and Barrel-Aged Whiskey. Lucky Eagle Casino will also be pairing their taco bites with a cocktail made from Sandstone’s spirits.
While the event will certainly have its gastro-appeal, it’s important to consider, as the others mentioned, the momentum the craft-distillery movement is experiencing, and what implications that has for Washington’s culture and economy.
Jenni Bourdon from Sandstone breaks it down: “By definition, ‘craft’ distilleries must purchase and utilize at least 51% of their raw materials from inside the borders of Washington State. Many craft distilleries (Sandstone included) source far more than the minimum percentage, using up to 100% Washington-grown grains, thereby actively supporting and participating in Washington agriculture.”
“All Washington distillers, craft or otherwise, provide a delicious boost to our tourism and agri-tourism sectors, and bolster the burgeoning spirits industry in our state,” continues Jenni. “In much the same way that Washington wines are world-renown, we believe craft spirits produced here will make a definitive mark on national and international markets as well.”
Tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets, and proceeds support the Washington Distillers Guild. For information on all of the distilleries that will be present, visit the South Sound Spirits Gathering Facebook page.
