FIRST LOOK

House Spirits Distillery Opens in Southeast Portland

The craft liquor experts open the doors to their new tasting room and distillery—the largest in the Northwest.

By Benjamin Tepler November 16, 2015

The liquor exhibit at House Spirits' new tasting room. House Spirits produces Aviation American Gin, Westward Oregon Straight Malt Whiskey, Volstead Vodka, Krogstad Aquavit, all on display here. Photo courtesy Ken Hayden

Mayor Charlie Hales gives a toast with Co-Owner and CEO Thomas Moody (left) and Founder Christian Krogstad (right) before House Spirits officially opens. Later, Hales helped bring together the facility’s first batch of Aviation Gin. Photo: Benjamin Tepler

The tasting bar with a view of the distillery in the background. The space was dreamed up by Portland-based firm Osmose Design, who employs geometric patterning, Douglas fir, and muted tones in their sleek, modern vision. Photo courtesy Ken Hayden

The “distillery archive,” aka the booze shrine. Here, you can track the progress of House Spirit’s small-batch operations dating back 6 years, from their 2010 White Dog Whiskey to a 2014 crop of rum. Photo courtesy Ken Hayden

Distillers peer into the hatch of their new, 3,000-gallon copper stainless whiskey sill, the largest west of the Mississippi. Their new facility also holds four 3,000-gallon whiskey wash fermenters, an 8,000-gallon holding tank, and a 75,000-pound grain silo for malted barley. One batch of Aviation American Gin produces 1,100 750 ml bottles. Photo courtesy Ken Hayden

House Spirit’s $6 million-dollar distillery sits in the shadow of the Morrison Bridge, right next door to the Olympic Mills building and the brand new Steve Smith tasting room. Photo courtesy Ken Hayden

On November 16, House Spirits opened the doors to its new tasting room and distillery, a $6-million-dollar operation in the shadow of the Morrison Bridge that expands the local liquor-making operation six-fold. Founder Christian Krogstad, Co-Owner Thomas Mooney, and Co-Founder/bartender Ryan Magarian were joined by Mayor Charlie Hales, who helped make the first batch of the company’s flagship Aviation Gin on Monday afternoon.

“The Central Eastside is a place where we want growth to occur… Portland-style,” said Hales. “We want it to be about craft, and quality, and innovation, and using this land well to grow our local economy. Frankly I can’t imagine a better realization of that dream.”

The 11-year-old distillery operation joins the Central Eastside’s “Distillery Row,” with New Deal and Townshend’s Thomas & Sons nearby, and the brand new Steven Smith Teamaker tasting room just across the street. Built with a 3,000-gallon copper whiskey sill and a 75,000-pound grain silo, House Spirits is now the largest distilling operation in the Northwest. The new tasting room was dreamed up by Osmose Design, the creative team behind the stunning interiors at Salt & Straw, Ava Genes, and Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Click through the slideshow above for a look at their liquor-fueled inspiration.

House Spirits Distillery
65 SE Washington Street
Open 12-6pm
Check website for tasting and tours

House Spirits, Distilleries, Tasting Rooms, Southeast Portland

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House Spirits Distillery Opens in Southeast Portland

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