Dive deeper into the flavor of the Corvallis area when you visit our local spirits makers! On the north side of town, check out Spiritopia. If you're in the south side of the city, head down 99W to 4 Spirits Distillery. On the way to the coast on Highway 20, stop in the center of Philomath for Marcotte Distilling, and then, just before Wren, pop over to Harris Bridge Vineyard.
With these tasting tips that Sarah Wayt of 4 Spirits provided, you'll savor these special places and their bespoke experiences.
Spiritopia Distillery, located at 720 NE Granger Avenue, Building B in northern Corvallis, has public hours on Saturdays, 12 p.m. to -5 p.m. Call or text Chris Beatty at (541) 990-0337, and he can let you know if tours for your group are available at other times.
While Chris has an intriguing origin story involving his Ryegrass Whiskey (the only one of its kind in the world), he has an underlying mission. He wants to help make the PNW - the country's largest producer of apples and pears - become the center for hand-crafted, fine fruit brandy. Because some of their options are considered "fortified wines," Spiritopia participates in the popular Heart of Willamette Wineries Passport!
Spiritopia's award-winning popular products are Ginger, Supercider, Peppermint, and Pomegranate liquors. In addition, be sure to ask about their seasonal Strawberry-Rhubarb liqueur and Christmas Spirit Whiskey!
4 Spirits Distillery at 3405 SW Deschutes Street is just off 99W in south Corvallis. This family- and dog-friendly spot offers more than just flights of their whiskeys, gins, rums, and vodkas - they also have made from scratch "elevated pub fare" and spirit-influenced deserts.
This relaxing destination, with a wonderful view of Marys Peak, is excellent for starting your girl's get-away, your guy's weekend out, or just hanging with the family as the kids play in the grass. While you enjoy savoring their small batch, hand-crafted spirits, you'll also feel good about how this company honors veterans and gives back to the community.
If you prefer having a cocktail, why not try their signature drink? Their Mules use Spiritopia's Ginger liqueur for a distinct local flavor!
Marcotte Distilling Company, located in a retail location at 1732 Main Street (aka Highway 20) in Philomath, offers a taste of Tennessee in the Willamette Valley. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Marcottes provide complimentary tastings of their 20-25 flavors of moonshine, ranging from fruit to creams, coffee liqueurs, seasonal options, and more.
Joe and Janelle Marcotte love bringing something new and unique to Philomath with their flavored moonshine and whiskies. Their spin on Appalachia trends fills the gap with all the other small-batch, hand-crafted beverages in this area. Learn more about their "spirit of creativity."
While they don't serve food, if you're hungry -right next door is the Vinwood Tap House which serves hearty meals and locally made brews.
Harris Bridge Vineyard, located a few minutes off Highway 20 at 22937 Harris Road in Philomath, is included in this list for their wine-based spirits of brandy, vermouth, and aperitifs. Owners Nathan Warren and Amanda Sever distill their offerings from pinot gris and pinot noir.
While there, enjoy one of Oregon's covered bridges and a picnic along Mary's River. A perk of their wine club, Ivy's Axe, includes the option of camping at one of their three riverside beaches. If you happened to have a Ginger liqueur from Spiritopia or a gin from 4 Spirits, you could make one of the cocktail recipes offered online!
Besides sharing the bottles with friends back home, don't forget to show your fun times and scenic-view photos. We'd love it if you post on social media and tag us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Note! We may share your pictures with our audience if you tag us or use the hashtag #VisitCorvallis on Instagram.
Article by Stacey Newman Weldon. Keep up with Corvallis news, events and happenings by signing up for our email newsletter.
