Dive deeper into the flavor of the Corvallis area when you visit our local spirits makers! On the east side of town, check out 2 Towns Ciderhouse's Craftwell Cocktails. If you're in the south side of the city, head down 99W to 4 Spirits Distillery. On the way to the coast on Highway 20, stop in the center of Philomath for Marcotte Distilling, and then, just before Wren, pop over to Harris Bridge Vineyard.
With these tasting tips that Sarah Wayt of 4 Spirits provided, you'll savor these special places and their bespoke experiences.
2 Towns Ciderhouse’s Tap Room at 33930 SE Eastgate Circle, Suite E, is their tasting room on Highway 34, in the same space where they first crafted their first commercial batches of hard cider. The name honors Corvallis (home of Oregon State University, where founder Lee Larson graduated) and Eugene (home of University of Oregon, where founder Aaron Sarnoff-Wood graduated).
As innovators in the cider space, it wasn’t long before their love of pushing the boundaries of craft beverages using real fruits led them to go beyond ciders. Craftwell Cocktails are available in convenient ready-to-drink cans, or try their new “Signature” line of premium bottled cocktails. With Craftwell’s easily portable deliciousness, enjoy creating your own cocktail moments.
4 Spirits Distillery at 3405 SW Deschutes Street is just off 99W in south Corvallis. This family- and dog-friendly spot offers more than just flights of their whiskeys, gins, rums, and vodkas - they also have made from scratch "elevated pub fare" and spirit-influenced desserts.
This relaxing destination, with a wonderful view of Marys Peak, is excellent for starting your girl's get-away, your guy's weekend out, or just hanging with the family as the kids play in the grass. While you enjoy savoring their small batch, hand-crafted spirits, you'll also feel good about how this company honors veterans and gives back to the community.
If you are visiting in November, be sure to check out their annual “Corvallis Spirits Festival,” an all-inclusive day of tastings and entertainment!
Marcotte Distilling Company, located in a retail location at 1732 Main Street (aka Highway 20) in Philomath, offers a taste of Tennessee in the Willamette Valley. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Marcottes provide complimentary tastings of their 20-25 flavors of moonshine, ranging from fruit to creams, coffee liqueurs, seasonal options, and more.
Joe and Janelle Marcotte love bringing something new and unique to Philomath with their flavored moonshine and whiskies. Their spin on Appalachia trends fills the gap with all the other small-batch, hand-crafted beverages in this area. Learn more about their "spirit of creativity."
While they don't serve food, if you're hungry -right next door is the Vinwood Tap House which serves hearty meals and locally made brews.
Harris Bridge Vineyard, located a few minutes off Highway 20 at 22937 Harris Road in Philomath, is included in this list for their wine-based spirits of brandy, vermouth, and aperitifs. Owners Nathan Warren and Amanda Sever distill their offerings from pinot gris and pinot noir.
While visiting on a delightful weekend (they are open afternoons Fridays - Sundays in May through November), enjoy one of Oregon's historic covered bridges and a picnic along Mary's River. A perk of their wine club, Ivy's Axe, includes the option of camping at one of their three riverside beaches. Be sure to ask them about their custom cocktail recipes!
Here's a tip - they participate in the popular Heart of Willamette Wineries Passport!
You could tour these places on your own, but if you would like a knowledgeable guide (and driver) for a tasting tour, then check out For The Love Of Scenic Wine Tours and their spirits tour!
Besides sharing the bottles with friends back home, don't forget to show your fun times and scenic-view photos. We'd love it if you post on social media and tag us on Facebook or Instagram. Note! We may share your pictures with our audience if you tag us or use the hashtag #VisitCorvallis.
Article by Stacey Newman Weldon. Keep up with Corvallis news, events and happenings by signing up for our email newsletter.
