written by Julie Lee | photos courtesy of House Spirits Distillery
Wineries, breweries, and now distilleries: the production revolution for adult beverages continues to ramp up in Oregon. Locally-distilled spirits are becoming so abundant in the Portland area that there is an official tour and map highlighting “Distillery Row.”
House Spirits Distillery
Nervous about flying? House Spirits Distillery has you covered. The first airport distillery in the world will soon set up shop at PDX. House Spirits Distillery’s Portland International tasting room started as an airport kiosk a handful of years ago. How fitting will it be to enjoy a $1 taste of their Aviation American Gin before taking flight? House Spirits Tasting Room in Southeast Portland has an artful eye to detail, a retail shop and outdoor seating.
65 SE Washington St. | housespirits.com
Indio Spirits
Founded in 2004, Indio Spirits makes some of the best whiskey to be found this side of prohibition. The James Oliver American Whiskey is an 86-proof bombshell and gold medal winner for best American whiskey in the 2015 International Whiskey Competition. Indio’s flavored vodkas—blood orange, lemongrass lime and marionberry—are fantastic with a splash of soda for summer sipping on the porch.
7272 SW Durham Rd. #100 | indiospirits.com
Clear Creek Distillery
In the world of distilleries, Clear Creek is a pioneer. For more than thirty years, Clear Creek Distillery has been churning out innovative spirits, making it the second oldest craft distillery in the entire country. Traditional European brandy-making techniques are married with locally purveyed fruit from Pacific Northwest orchards, resulting in distinctive brandies, liqueurs and grappa that is dessert in a glass.
2389 NW Wilson St. | clearcreekdistillery.com
Bull Run Distilling Company
Using water sourced from the Bull Run watershed as center stage in production, Bull Run Distilling Company has been handcrafting small-batch spirits of vodka, bourbon whiskey and rum since 2010. The Pacific Rum uses 100% Hawaiian cane sugar and is barrel aged for four weeks or more, creating a creamier tasting rum, perfect to pair with your favorite blended Oregon fruit. Look for their new Oregon whiskey to arrive in the tasting room this year.
2259 NW Quimby St. | bullrundistillery.com
Wild Roots Vodka
You had us at infusion. Red raspberries and Oregon marionberries are infused in the vodkas at Wild Roots, and every bottle contains more than one-pound of lush local berries, creating a smooth sipping vodka without the typical burn. Along with House Spirits, Wild Roots is one of several original stops on Portland’s Distillery Row PDX.
135 NE 6th Ave. | wildrootsvodka.com
Portland’s Distillery Row PDX
Looking to make a day of tasting local spirits easy and fun? Check out Portland’s Distillery Row PDX, a self-guided passport tour where eight Southeast Portland distilleries and three Northwest Portland facilities offer complimentary tastings, cocktail recipes and information at all participating sites.
