Some of you know that we moved to Oregon, at least in part, for the wine. What we have discovered is there are a host of Oregon-made adult beverages, including Oregon spirits. We enjoy cocktails at home. Mark keeps a well stocked bar and is adept at mixing the classics as well as experimenting with signature drinks. He is, after all, a Southern gentleman.
In an effort to learn more about Oregon spirits and the people who make them, we are headed to TOAST on February 27th.
If you are local, I hope you will join us. The event is held in Portland and will feature over 40 local distillers. What a way to get a taste of Oregon spirits! The offerings run the gamut – gin, tequila, whiskey, rum, vodka, absinthe, aquavit, and rare liqueurs. We are expecting that Oregon spirits will offer the same artisanal, hand crafted quality we have come to love in Oregon wines.
We love that there is actually an Oregon Distiller’s Guild – it is such an old fashioned term that makes us imagine a group of experts and innovators sharing ideas around a mahogany conference table, fireplace lit, with swirling cups of liquid inspiration in hand. And there is an old fashioned air about a group of people who are making things in small batches – the hard and laborious way, who are using local ingredients, who are resurrecting recipes from the past.
We are particularly excited about tasting Morewood’s Usquebaugh from Tualatin Valley Distilling. This is a farmhouse spirit from the 1650s in the British Isles, based on a recipe documented by Samuel Morewood in 1838. That we know of, this spirit hasn’t existed since at least the 1700s and TV Distilling is the only maker in the US, if not the world, currently producing it.
The roster also includes Vinn Distilling, Sound Spirits, Tualatin Valley Distilling, Thomas and Sons, Oregon Spirits, Big Bottom Distilling, Northwest Distiller, plus more. There will be food from great local restaurants like Pok Pok, who will also be sampling their drinking vinegars. We are looking forward to seeing our friends from Interrobang Vermouth. We are featuring them in an upcoming article in Northwest Travel Magazine.
Full food and beverage sampling is only $45. VIP tickets are $60 and designated drivers get in for $15. For full details and to purchase tickets click here. You can also get tickets at the door.
Hope to see you there and if you want to keep up with our Oregon spirits discoveries, please subscribe to Tasting Pour.
photos courtesy of Toast and Oregon Distillers Guild
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