You know you have fallen madly in love with a business when you sign up for their newsletter and look intently at the events for one you can attend. That’s how we feel about Trail Distilling.
I wrote a post about one of their cocktail classes last year, and we were excited to get the information on their Whiskey Release Party. As soon as we saw the event information we purchased our tickets!
Trail Distilling is a relatively new, veteran and woman owned distillery in Trail’s End in Oregon City, Oregon. They have produced gin, vodka, and rum and have added whiskey to their production line. The Whiskey Release Party was to showcase the new product.
Event
The event was low key and personable. They typically sell 20-30 tickets per event so as not to overcrowd their tasting room. The owners are always present and eager to answer questions and serve the patrons. At this specific event they were serving drinks that showcased their new whiskey and serving food from the food truck they now have on site.
Drinks
The event included one drink per patron with more cocktails available for purchase. We were given a drink ticket to exchange for the drink of our choice. Three of us attended the event, so we were able to try three of the four whiskey cocktails they were showcasing. We tried the First City Summer Porch, the Barrel Aged Boulevardier, and the First City Fig.
First City Summer Porch
The First City Summer Porch had a beautiful blend of First City Whiskey and Lemonade. It had the taste of summer and lazy Sunday porch days.
Barrel Aged Boulevardier
Can you say boulevardier? Neither could we, but the floral aroma and flavors of the Campari and Sweet Vermouth with the First City Whiskey made for a perfect combination.
First City Figgy
One might think fig jam is only to be combined with specialty cheeses and crackers, so what a surprise to find it mixed into a cocktail! The First City Whiskey combined with Orange Bitters and Fig Jam made for a slightly sweet and dry cocktail.
Flight of Five
The Flight of Five was not on the event menu, but it is on the regular Trail Distillery Tasting Room Menu. Since we had not tried any of the spirits on their own, we decided to get the flight. Sara Brennan, co-owner of the distillery, was the one who graciously prepared the flight for us.
The flight has a sample of each of the spirits made by Trail Distillery: Trillium Gin Barrel Reserved, Trillium Gin, First City Rum, First City Vodka, and their new First City Small Batch Whiskey.
Each spirit was smooth. They each had the right amount of blending of ingredients and were aged well. They are fantastic on their own or in a cocktail. The perfection of each of the spirits made by Trail Distilling is acknowledged through the array of awards they have received, an accomplishment for a young distillery.
Food
A new addition to the distillery is Trails End Grill Food Truck.
The staff who operate the grill have 10+ years of experience in managing food trucks and making incredible food. The event showcased the culinary skills of the chefs by having sliders, potato salad, and macaroni and cheese.
Sliders & Sides
There were two different sliders, one chicken and one beef. Each one was nicely seasoned. The chicken breast slider was crisp and topped with a ranch style dressing. The beef slider was perfectly done and topped with barbecue sauce infused with the First City Small Batch Whiskey.
The sides appear to have been made specifically for the event, as they are not on the grill truck menu. They might be served at other events, though. We had to refrain from going for multiple rounds of the macaroni and cheese and the potato salad. They were that good! Both sides were fresh and like homemade. The macaroni and cheese was dense, creamy and loaded with cheese. The potato salad was like none we’ve ever tasted. It was chunky, not overly filled with mayonnaise, and flavored with herbs. Think country potato salad versus what can be found at the market.
Maybe they’ll add them to the menu…we can only hope!
Event Extras
Near the close of the event, Jerry Brennan spoke about the distillery and upcoming events.
He shared about the two clubs offered, the Trail Club and the Barrel Club. There was also a quick raffle drawing for a few items, a Trail Distilling Calendar, glasses, and a bottle of their just released whiskey. He also shared about their upcoming Distilling 101 class, which is great for anyone who wants to learn about distilling.
Thoughts
As always, Sara and Jerry Brennan are wonderful hosts. They are entertaining in their presentations and passionate about what they do. It shows in how they interact with the guests at their events and in their product. The events are thoughtfully put together and showcase the distillery products very well.
We truly enjoy going to the distillery, which isn’t often since it is a bit of a drive for us, and we hope to make it back out there soon to try the menu items from the grill.
The tasting room is beautiful, the spirits are delightful, and the food is outstanding. Trail Distillery is definitely worth a visit. You can also find them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Yelp, and TripAdvisor.
To find out more about Trail Distilling you can find them here.
Website: http://www.traildistilling.com/
Email: info@traildistilling.com
Phone: (503) 479-0003
Address: 21553 S Highway 213, Oregon City, OR 97045-9171
Tasting Rooms Hours: Friday 2:00-7:00, Saturday 2:00-7:00, Sunday 2:00-6:00 and by Appointment
Location: Trail Distilling has a large sign at the front of their property. There is ample, free parking in the parking lot surrounding the distillery and tasting room.
Note – You must be 21 to access their website.
Extra: Trails End Grill Food Truck Menu
