Established: 2011
Explore the former granary barn constructed by the Imbrie family in the 1850s that functions today as one of two McMenamins distilleries. Its crowning glory is a century-old, 160-gallon Alambic Charentais pot still. Originally found in an old barn in Cognac, France, this copper beauty now sits atop bricks recycled from Edgefield, Kennedy School and the Crystal Hotel. The first spirit released from its elegant curves was White Owl Whiskey, and the creativity and craft continues today.
Many of the spirits born in our distillery were raised on a steady diet of Grateful Dead – and other artists, but the Dead has played a special tune in the minds of our distillers. Their first experimental whiskey recipes were based on beers. Philosopher’s Stone and Barn Owl Bitter from our brewery next door. When labeling a batch, brewers and distillers abbreviated these to Phil and Bob, so naturally, recipes dubbed Jerry, Mickey and Billy followed. Head Distiller Bart Hance explains, “We all used to be a bunch of Dead Heads.” Used to be?
Eventually it was decided that a Garcia was needed, and that the recipe, like the man himself, should be more colorful, so Bart and his co-distiller Arthur Price selected five colorful, flavorful grains and – nine years later, in 2021 - a new Devils Bit Whiskey emerged. Annual releases of Devils Bit join a growing collection of craft spirits: whiskeys, rum, gin, brandy and hazelnut liqueur.
McMenamins spirits are available for purchase at the Cornelius Pass Roadhouse and 12 other McMenamins locations.
Did you know we have another distillery? Visit the Edgefield Distillery, our first in the company, founded in 1998.
