The Willamette Valley is Oregon Wine Country, but wine isn’t the only alcohol being made in the valley. Over the years, while Portland’s distilleries have been getting noticed, Willamette Valley distilleries have quietly been producing small-batch spirits and are ready for you to visit. These six artisan distilleries are conveniently located within 25 minutes of Chehalem Ridge B&B and near wineries. Guests who wake up in our cozy rooms can start their morning with a filling, gourmet breakfast and then discover local distilleries with tastings of whiskey, bourbon, and vodka (and more!) interspersed with wine tastings.
Dive Deep with the Distiller at Killdeer Distillery
Killdeer Distillery is a small family-owned and -run operation in a converted barn on a farm where you might meet the chickens and sheep. Colin, as master distiller, not only makes the Vodka, Gin, and Whiskey, but also leads the tastings so you can glean insight from him and the insider’s view to the process. Colin bottles each barrel individually, so there’s batch to batch variety that show the nuances of each step of the his creations. They are open for tastings Thursday through Sunday, noon-5, appointments recommended.
Spirits with a side of History at Ewing Young Distillery
Ewing Young Distillery is named after an important but little-known Oregon Pioneer) who happens to be buried 100 yards away from the tasting room). Sharing space with an equine farm and veterinary practice, it is a great place to visit with a picnic or catch one of their many events that showcase a food truck. They offer four different tasting options so you can focus on whiskeys and bourbons or choose their “Not a Fan of Whiskey Flight” that includes gin, vodka, pepper vodka, and strawberry-rhubarb vodka. They are open for tastings Saturday and Sunday, 1-5.
Local Grains into Local Whiskey at Branch Point Distillery
Branch Point Distillery is located in the hills of Dundee surrounded by wineries. Focusing solely on whiskey, they work with local farmers to source all their grain, distilling on-site in classic copper pots and aging in oak barrels which let the Pacific Northwest weather influence the finished product. They offer whiskey flights and a cocktail flight as well as barrel house experience which includes a tasting straight from the barrel. You can also reserve a guided tour of their grain-to-glass process to go deep into the distilling processes. They are open for tastings Thursday through Sunday, noon-5.
Small-batch Production at Ransom Distillery
Ransom, one of the oldest distilleries in the Willamette Valley, opened in 1997 with their “Old Tom” Gin which refers to the gin being aged in a barrel. Ransom’s farm and distillery, located in Sheridan, are both Certified Organic. You can find their spirits tastings at The Great Oregon Wine Co. & Distillery Tasting Room in Dundee. They are proud to keep the “hand” in handcrafted and celebrate that there are “no robots” involved. Spirits available include whiskey, gin, vodka, bourbon, and vermouth. They are open for tastings Thursday- Monday 11-5
Spirited Variety at Bull Run Distillery
Bull Run Distillery, named after Portland’s main water source, has its distilling facilities located in Portland with their Carlton Post tasting room in the walkable town of Carlton. Bull Run has embraced wine country in some of their spirits, like the Medoyeff Starka, which is their Medoyeff Vodka at high proof aged in well-seasoned Oregon Pinot Noir barrels. For a tasting, you will choose 5 different liquors to taste from the wide range of 18 products at their indoor bar or outdoor patio. They are open for tastings Friday through Sunday, noon to 6.
Bringing Winemaking into Spirits at Brixeur Distillery
Brixeur Distillery, located on the same estate as Trisaetum Winery, uses elements from winemaking to create unique spirits. By employing recently-used wine barrels to make their whiskey, grapes from the estate in the vodka, and local botanicals in the gin, winemaker/brixeur James Frey creates liquor with personality. Spirit tastings are not included in the wine tasting at Trisaetum so you need to make a special appointment to try the flights of either clear spirits, whiskeys, or a mix – all followed by 2 mini cocktails. Tastings available Saturdays & Sundays from 10 to 4, reservations required.
We know wine tasting can sometimes get a little too… winey, so while visiting Oregon Wine Country, make sure to carve out a little time to try the artisanal handcrafted spirits from these Willamette Valley distilleries. We invite you to start off your day with a hearty breakfast from Chehalem Ridge B&B and bookend it with a relaxing evening on your private deck. Our knowledgeable innkeepers are happy to help you plan your day as well. Whether you are seeking wine, beer, or liquor, the Willamette Valley is your destination for all things alcohol.
