3rd Annual Great American Distillers Festival

Well, it's time for the Annual Great American Distillers Festival. This is the 3rd year and it's been moved to a bigger house, a castle really--the Gerding Theatre, previously the National Guard armory in downtown Portland, OR. The event is on Saturday and Sunday, August 25th and 26th, from 11AM - 8PM and 11AM - 7PM respectively.

So just what is the GADF? It's a spirit tasting event with, at last count, 50+ craft-distilled spirits from across the country, a Mix Master mixology contest, seminars on distilling and making cocktails, a Frank Sinatra impersonator, a full bar, and more.

Why is the first of its kind craft-distillers festival in Portland? Oregon is already known for its world renown craft beer, but in recent years it has also become known for its craft distilleries, too, which have grown out of the culture of the craft breweries that pepper the state. There are more distillers in Portland than any other US city, and more than any other state except California. Rogue Spirits, whose distillery in the Pearl District was the first to craft rum in the State, is proud to be part of this small, but ever-growing movement that is sweeping the country. Click here to read what the New York Times had to say about the Craft Distilling movement.

Rogue Spirits will be there! A $10 entry fee gets you 3 free tastes of spirits. Food will be prepared by Portland based Ten 01. For a complete list of distillers or information on the mixology competition and distilling seminars, click here.

This year's event will benefit the Portland Center Stage.