PROOF Washington State Distillers Festival This Weekend

PROOF, a celebration of local distillers now in its third year, is coming to Seattle’s Fremont Studios this Saturday, July 11^th. Featuring more than 40 Washington distillers and food from local restaurants, attendees can sample a variety of spirits and meet the distillers making Washington a leader in craft spirits.

Many of those spirits will be craft whiskies, including Seattle’s 2bar Spirits (2bar Bourbon), Seattle’s 3 Howls (Rye Whiskey), Seattle’s Westland Distillery (American Single Malt Flagship, Sherry Wood and Peated), Arlington newcomer Bad Dog Distillery (corn mash Bad Dog Whiskey), Bainbridge Island’s Bainbridge Organic Distillers (Organic Battlepoint Whiskey), Auburn’s new Blackfish Spirits Distillery (Doc Brewer’s Rye Whiskey), and the Fremont neighborhood’s very own (but lesser known) Mischief Whiskey and John Jacob Rye Whiskey. Attendees will also get to sample Aberdeen’s relatively unknown but well reviewed Whiskah River Distillery’s Thirteen Corners American Malt Whiskey (a white unaged whiskey with a surprisingly smooth flavor).

Also at the event will be Gig Harbor’s Heritage Distilling Co., best known for their Batch No. 12 series of liquors popular with Seahawk fans everywhere. They’ll be sampling their bourbon from the series, a 92 proof from a mash bill of corn, rye and malted barley, but they’ll also have their Elk Rider Rye Whiskey available (a Gold Medal winner from TheFiftyBest.com in New York last year that’s incredibly smooth for a 92 proof whiskey).

Some Oregon distilleries will also make an appearance including Bendistillery’s Crater Lake Rye Whiskey, a product of the company famous for its vodka that wanted to revive the tradition of each town making its own rye whiskey. Theirs features 95% rye grain and pure Cascade Mountain water as a northwest nod to its peppery finish that defines American ryes.

PROOF Washington will also offer information sessions throughout the evening including cocktail artistry, cocktail and food pairings and the art of at-home barrel aging. Festivalgoers can purchase products on site as well. Tickets are available online here ($65.00 for VIP or $45.00 for General Admission). PROOF is a 21+ event only; so don’t forget to bring your ID. Fremont Studios is located at 155 N. 35^th Street Seattle, WA 98103.