Upcoming Festivals, Distillery News, and Ultimate Bartending

Hello local spirit, cocktail and cider lovers! We’re entering one of the tastiest times of the year, with upcoming distillery and cider festivals, and with our local distillers continuing to expand and release new items. Plus, the Ultimate Bartending Championships recently happened. Read all about it below.

Proof Tickets Now on Sale: It’s not too early to start planning for our state’s big celebration of local distilleries. Happening on Saturday, July 9, at Fremont Studios, this delicious occasion features more than 40 WA distillers providing samples of their spirits and liqueurs, as well as chances to meet the distillers and learn more about the care and dedication that goes into making their products, and the ability to take some bottles home. There are also classes and educational opportunities from local bar stars, and snacks available from local eateries. Pick up your tickets now at proofwashington.org.

Pacific Northwest Cider Awards Tickets On Sale: The third annual PNWCA are right around the corner–the one-day judging happens on June 24, and the all-day festival on June 25. It’s held at the Woods tasting room in SoDo.  There were more than 145 ciders made from 38 cideries in the competition last year, and even more are expected this year. At the festival, which runs from 12 to 7 p.m., there’ll be more than 30 ciders on tap for tasting, including ones from cideries in Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Canada. Expect food and the chance to vote in the People’s Choice Award. Get your tickets at: pnwca.com.

Big Gin Partners with Hood River Distillers: Two Northwest family distilleries, Captive Spirits–the Ballard distillery that makes the Big Gin line–has aligned with the 82-year-old Oregon-based distillery Hood River. Hood River has developed not only tasty products since its inception in 1934, but also has a great staff and infrastructure, which will open up a bunch of opportunities for Captive Spirits and the Big Gin brands, including launching a new 2,800-square-foot distilling facility in the Ballard Shipyard this fall with a tasting room.

Copperworks Sherry Barrel Gin Here and Whiskey on the Way: Downtown-based Copperworks has recently released the ninth and newest in its line of barrel-finished gins: a Sherry Barrel Gin. Resting for 250 days in oak that had aged Oloroso sherry, the gin has a distinctive aroma and taste (expect mulling spices and maple sugar on the former, and stone fruit, dried figs, and sherry on the latter). Get it while it’s available at the distillery or online. Plus, Copperworks’ first American Single Malt Whiskey is coming! It should be out in the latter part of summer, and is made from 100 percent pale malted barrel and aged in charred American oak. Bottles are available to be reserved now.

Sander Raav Wins Seattle Ultimate Bartender Championship: It’s been a few weeks, but hopefully Boka bartender Sander Raav is still celebrating his triumph in the Ultimate Bartender Championship, hosted by the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) and Monkey Shoulder Scotch. The Seattle finals took place at the Herb & Bitter Public House, wherein competitors faced multiple rounds, including The Knowledge Round, The Mixiodic Table, Pouring, Nosing, Stock Take, Tray Service, and Round Building. Raav beat out a number of other worthy shakers, including finalists Brandon Weaver and Mark Sassi.