“Crater Lake and Deschutes make quite the team in the Central Oregon wilderness as they continue to innovate off each other. Padilla says this isn’t the end of innovation with Crater Lake Spirits. They are planning on higher age statements, a barrel proof expression of the Black Butte Whiskey, and even experimenting with juniper (which grows wild in Bend) to create some smoked malts in the near future (though he gave me no timeline, saying “we don’t rush products here”).” [Article Continued Here]

“The cucumber julep is a fun spin on a classic cocktail. By replacing the traditional bourbon with vodka and adding cucumber, this drink is instantly transformed into a light, easy sipper.” [Article Continued Here]

“In the end, the best thing a supplier can do is provide quality products at reasonable prices at create awareness. “If the customers love your product, then the retailer benefits,” said Dietrich. ‘Beyond that, it is all about the relationship.'” [Article Continued Here]

“Named for one of Oregon’s best-known natural wonders, Crater Lake Spirits gives a nod to America’s pre-prohibition era with its traditional gin infused with wild, handpicked juniper berries.” [Article Continued Here]

“Crafting cocktails with love is a wonderful way to make Mom feel special. Crater Lake Spirits are handcrafted in Bend with locally-sourced ingredients. Farm to bottle, each is hand-marked with its own unique batch number to guarantee its authenticity and craftsmanship. We tried the Vodka, Prohibition Gin and Sweet Ginger Vodka. I won’t claim to be any kind of bartender or mixologist, but special skills aren’t required to enjoy these spirits.” [Learn More Here]

An Oregon collab between Bendistillery and Deschutes Brewery producing a nice, beer-reminiscent dram.

“… I really like this nose. That is chocolate, rich chocolate, dry wood oil, whipped cream on the chocolate… And then there’s like this fresh character, along with [the] whipped cream and chocolate… I would say oranges/sweet eucalyptus. I really like this.” [Watch the Video Here]

…Alan Dietrich, CEO of Crater Lake Spirits in Bend, Ore., which has two tasting rooms catering to tourists who come to the area, said he’s seen an explosion in demand since pandemic restrictions were fully lifted ahead of the Fourth of July.

“Every minute we’re open, we’re seeing people coming in,” he said. “People have been locked down for the last 14 months, they’re dying for something to do. The limiting factor is just staff.” [Article Continued Here]

…20. Sample mini cocktails // If you’re more of a fan of spirits than beer, Crater Lake Spirits is worth a visit. They are known for their mini cocktails, where they whip up delicious concoctions for you to try. 

There are two locations: the downtown tasting room and the distillery, which is located in Tumalo – about 15 minutes from downtown….

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Vodka remains far and away the most consumed category of spirit in the United States. But although it accounts for one-third of all spirits sales (according to Nielsen)—with whiskey a distant second at 25 percent—vodka has been on a slow and steady decline for over a decade, according to data from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis. And it rarely enjoys the top-shelf placement of, say, craft gin or Japanese whisky. [Article Continued Here]

Last spring, distilleries across Oregon teamed up to produce hand sanitizer amid a national shortage driven by the coronavirus pandemic. Now, many of those same distilleries have hundreds of gallons leftover. In some cases, the switch to sanitizer resulted in a loss of thousands of dollars.

We spoke to multiple distilleries that started making hand sanitizer last spring and each one said they are mostly moving away from the sanitizer business. [Article Continued Here]

There’s nothing quite like a refreshing, ice-cold cocktail at the end of a hot day. And here in Central Oregon, where we get plenty of sunshine this time of year and through the summer, there are plenty of local watering holes to choose from. The hip town of Bend is dotted with cocktail bars, lounges and secretive speakeasy-esque locales, all serving up some of the best drinks around. [Article Continued Here]