Craft Distillery in the Works for Downtown
A craft distillery is in the works to open in downtown Tacoma later this year, and boy are we looking forward to it.
Recent changes in federal and state laws now allow small distilleries to produce limited amounts of distilled beverages (vodka, whiskey, rum, etc.) and sell them to bars, restaurants and liquor stores, as well as onsite in small tasting rooms.
Artisan distillery Tahoma Spirits aims to take advantage of those changes, planning to open its own tasting room mid-2011.
Tahoma Spirits is the brainchild of Mark Robinson, an engineer/artist with big plans. He says he sees the future of Tahoma Spirits as a bright light beyond a lot of hard work. He wants to grow a loyal group of customers and has ideas that include bartender contests, tasting room open houses, tasting events at non-profit gatherings, “Refill Thursdays” where customers bring back their original bottles to be refilled and re-labeled while they watch, even challenging customers to find new, adventurous recipes of their own to add to Tahoma Spirits family of products.
He says he already has a request from a member of the Tacoma city government to create a rum flavored like the world famous Almond Roca®, produced since 1923 by Tacoma’s own Brown and Haley. Roca Rum, anyone?
Robinson says he’s looked at a number of sites downtown but does has not committed to a location.
We can’t wait to see where this goes.
E-mail Tahoma Spirits for more information.
Filed under: tacoma-business, dowtown-tacoma
9 comments
R RR Anderson January 11, 2011
do they need a water tower? with an H on it?
K KatjaMichelle January 11, 2011
You had me at vodka.
I’m excited and will keep an eye open for any updates.
L low bar January 11, 2011
time to stew up some cherry bounce
C crenshaw sepulveda January 11, 2011
Roca Rum, I just threw up a little in my mouth. Maybe a Peppermint Roca Rum in celebration of Brown and Haley defeating the tax on candy, i’m sorry I meant, tax on “food”.
L Les Squires January 11, 2011
Finally – A use for the Foremost Dairy building…Oh wait – The Social Security folks are all over it. They could be perfect roomates
R Rick Jones January 12, 2011
@5 Ditto x 2!
H Heller January 13, 2011
Great news!!
…make mine a double :)
K Kevindot1 January 13, 2011
That is nothing but exciting!!
M Morty January 21, 2011
Big plans, thin wallets…. I showed these guys property last year. I heard they don’t have the funds and since they still haven’t selected a location in this depressed market the rumors are probably true… good luck to them though.