Great American Distiller's festival

2ndGADF
Originally uploaded by gregandchristine.

This past weekend was the distillers festival hosted by Rogue. We went to the first one last year without realizing yet, and this year was actually a step backwards as far as I am concerned. I was expecting there to be more actual representatives from the distilleries there to talk about their product, and their craft, but the only people with a tent was the bendistillery. I had fun talking to that guy for a bit, mostly about how disappointing the event was. For some reason the OLCC limited the number of samples per person to 3, so of the 22 showcased liquors you had to pick three you wanted to (pay a dollar) to taste. After that, if you wanted to try something you had to purchase it in a mixed drink for six dollars. There was no limit to the number of mixed drinks you could buy... so they obviously weren't worried about you getting drunk. The only possible explanation I heard was that it was a concession born out of last minute planning, and a failure to get the format approved in a timely manner. Whatever the reason it really hurt the event (the 100 degree heat didn't help either). So I tried a couple liquors that sounded good, and headed into the Rogue public house for a couple beers with a new friend from school. We got a tour of the distillery and got to meet the new gin/vodka distiller for Rogue. He claims his gin is totally awesome and that it will blow people away. I am looking forward to trying it, but a little skeptical since he said that he is not a gin drinker and even he likes it (not the best way to sell gin to someone who is a gin drinker). Overall it was a fun afternoon, but next year I would like to see: the silly taster limit removed, more representation from the distilleries, more products from each distillery, less products from distilled resources (which I will talk more about later), allow me to bring my toddler in with me, maybe some sort of forum or presentation on distilling featuring someone local or someone famous... and if it could be 68 degrees outside so the three samples I do get are not from bottles being stored outside in 100 degree weather.

The event has so much potential and there are similar events in town that have been a lot more fun so I know it can be done. Hopefully the liquor control commission will lighten up and let them make this into a better event that really showcases some of the cool stuff happening in the world of craft distilling.

Image from Rogue.com, used without permission.