Acting as the perfect nightcap to Portland’s Cocktail Week, The Great American Distiller’s Festival will be returning for its sixth year at southwest Portland’s own Tiffany Center next weekend.
According to Kelly Kerbs, one of the event’s coordinators, Rogue Brewery is the secret behind this spectacular event.
“They don’t like their name splashed all over the place, and on the site they’re listed as a “sponsor”, but it was their idea. They don’t want to take all the credit; they’re more passionate about furthering the industry and developing support for craft spirits. But really, this wouldn’t happen without them,” Kerbs said.
This year’s event will bring the highest number of distillers yet, with 45 different providers in attendance. Some are local, including New Deal Distillery, Bull Run Distillery and House Spirits. Yet a great number, like Texas’ Balcones Distillery and Corrido Tequila from Arizona, are coming from all across the United States. Actual distillers from the distilleries will be pouring, not representatives, and they will be providing small samples and cocktails for guests.
Since Portland is becoming one of the top cities for micro distillery, The Great American Distiller’s Festival is the perfect event to represent our city’s talents.
“The event is just furthering the message to supporting craft spirits. It’ll be a great time to geek out,” said Kerbs.
Another element of the festival that has been drawing people from all over is the Cocktail Invitational, which will be sponsored by “Imbibe Magazine,” the Oregon Bartenders’ Guild, and Bull Run Distillery. Twenty-five bartenders will compete for the grand prize of $1,000; second place will get $500 and the third-place winner will get $250.
Portland will be rightfully represented by bartenders from Bluehour, Gilt and Everett Street Bistro, as well as local writer and mixologist Jason Greer.
The competition gives each bartender a “black box” that holds an “Iron Chef”/”Chopped”-like secret liquor ingredient. Then, each bartender has to develop a drink recipe on the spot, and produce the drink for the judges in 10 minutes—all while entertaining questions and comments from the event’s host.
One of those who will receive one of the special drinks made will be returning judge and Imbibe Magazine’s founder, Karen Foley.
“Each year has been better than the previous because the competitions really build on themselves. More people have become involved, from a broader geography, and all different styles of bartenders are represented,” Foley said.
According to Foley, the difference between good bartenders and great bartenders is knowledge. By having knowledge of older, more traditional cocktails, bartenders have more room to experiment—but not too much—with the cocktails you see on menus today. She believes appreciation for customers’ tastes and giving excellent customer service are a must.
“They really have a chef-like instinct of knowing which flavors go well together and what skills are needed to achieve the best cocktails,” Foley said.
Laurelhurst Market’s bartender/sommelier and last year’s Cocktail Invitational winner, Evan Zimmerman, will also be a judge.
Zimmerman created the winning drink last year called the Peggy O, which was a twist on a 1930s drink titled the Dolly O’Dare. The Dolly O’Dare was made with gin, dry vermouth and apricot brandy. Zimmerman’s drink, made with the secret ingredient White Dog (an aged whisky from House Spirits), was made with dry and white vermouths and apricot brandy.
“It was very simple and elegant—the kind of drink you can have more than one of,” Zimmerman said.
He believes the key to winning is “designing a drink that is delicious and not too out-there. Something that everybody can wrap their head around, not just bartenders,” Zimmerman said.
It seems that the Great American Distiller’s Festival will be just that— a combination of extreme drink knowledge from professionals and those who just enjoy a good drink and want to learn more. Just remember to tip your bartenders. ?