Portland's Microdistilleries

By: Julie Blakley | December 09 2010
Posted in Portland - Find It - Portland

Photo: Julie Blakley

Oregon has been a pioneer in the craft brewing industry since the 1980s, when breweries in the Pacific Northwest sparked national enthusiasm for micro-brewed craft beers. So it seems only fitting that the same pioneering and creative spirit found in Portland is now fueling a vibrant and growing craft distilling industry.

Like the microbreweries most Portlanders are familiar with, craft distilleries specialize in the production of small batch, handcrafted distilled spirits, which range from fruit brandies to whiskey to gin to infused vodkas to flavored liqueurs.

As of the latest counts, there are 20 microdistilleries in Oregon, with eight located in Portland alone. Of these eight Portland microdistilleries, several make up “Distillery Row,” with others locations scattered throughout industrial Southeast.

These five independent distilleries (the sixth, Highball, is currently homeless until they find a new suitable location) coordinate by opening for similar tasting hours and on marketing Distillery Row as foodie tourist destination.

Oregon law allows these craft distilleries to have tastings and sell their product on site, so spirit-tasting on the weekends may just be the newest hot trend in the Rose City.

I recently paid a visit to the New Deal Distillery (at 1311 SE 9^th Avenue), home to the flagship New Deal Vodka, as well as a cloudy, juniper flavored Gin No. 1, and a Southwestern pepper-infused barnburner called Hot Monkey. Each retails for less than $25, allowing Portlanders to booze it up in true local style.

New Deal Distillery

“We were drinkers,” New Deal distiller Tom Burkleaux says with a smile on his face when I ask him what inspired him to start his craft distillery in 2004.

Seeing a void with no local vodkas in a city known for local products and its food scene, VanWinkle and Burkleaux set out to create a high-quality, local product “made with joy.” (Burkleaux also cites “not wanting to drink sh***y vodka during a recession” as another reason for starting New Deal).

Inspired by other quirky local Portland businesses committed to making high quality products their own way (like Voodoo Doughnuts), Burkleaux and his business partner Matt VanWinkle wanted to create an operation  that made tasty spirits and remained an engrained part of the neighborhood and city.

The two first started experimental distilling in 2001 as a creative outlet from their day jobs as programmers (which they still hold), and by 2004 they had the licenses and a small space in Southeast where they could perfect the art and craft of distilling.

New Deal uses local products and supports local businesses and charities at every turn. The beans from their new coffee liqueur (which is amazing), comes from local roaster Water Avenue Coffee. The grapes from their Riesling Brandy come from a Yamhill County winery.

Perhaps equally important to Burkleaux and VanWinkle is being a part of the community where they live and work. New Deal often holds neighborhood and charity events at their large space in Southeast and, including the upcoming Seasons Eatings on December 11, which is a holiday market showcasing locally-crafted food and spirits to benefit the Oregon Food Bank (admission is one non-perishable food item).

The Perfect 31

3 parts fresh chilled pineapple juice

1 part Hot Monkey Vodka

Serve neat or on the rocks

Where you can find New Deal spirits:

At the distillery: 1311 SE 9^th Ave.

Open Saturday and Sunday 12:30-5 pm