PROOF

Washington Distillers Festival

Home to more than 100 distilleries, Washington's spirits community is booming. So what's the best way to explore what's going on here? Besides visiting distilleries individually (never a bad idea), your best plan is to attend PROOF, the Washington Distillers Festival, now in its eighth year.

PROOF is locally-focused. You won't find Bombay Gin or Makers Mark here. This is a world-class event that features local distilleries only. Jason Parker, co-founder/president of Copperworks Distilling Co. and a board member of the Washington Distillers Guild, partnered with Varsity Communications to get PROOF started, and it is growing each year. Dick Stephens, president of Varsity, says, "We have plans to expand the event in the future, maybe to a week or over a year instead of one day." Mhairi Voelsgen, president of the Guild and CEO of BroVo Spirits, adds "PROOF raises money for the promotion of the Washington distilled spirits industry and the legislative side of things."

The event includes, needless to say, the tasting of spirits from more than 40 distilleries. You'll have the option of tasting gin, whiskey, vodka, bourbon, liqueurs, and more. Select participating restaurants and sponsors will offer unique cocktail pairings and you'll be able to take recipes home. Distilleries will have a variety of spirits on hand for sale to take home, and there will be some new releases exclusive only to PROOF.

When tasting, it's always a good idea to have some food on hand, and this year there will be more than 20 Seattle-area restaurants and food purveyors offering small bites.

If you'd like to improve your non-professional bartending skills, Use the Booze sessions will give you some cocktail know-how straight from the industry's top mixologists. Learn to make summer cocktails, how to stock your home bar, and create garnishes.

Part of the fun of this event is getting to meet the people who craft the spirits you love; find out how they started their careers and find out which spirits they like best.

New this year is a special seminar before PROOF called Whiskey Business: Sip, Savor & Learn. There is an additional charge for this, $40. Christopher Gronbeck (photo) from The Barrel Thief will take you on tour of whiskey distilling in Washington (history, commercial inception, trends, future). Plus some mighty fine tastes.

Come find out why this industry is booming!

PROOF Washington Distillers Festival
Saturday, July 13, 2019, 5:30-9 p.m.
Fremont Studios

General Admission, $60

• Admission 5:30-9 p.m.
• Ten tasting tokens
• Commemorative shot glass
• Food samples
• Use the Booze sessions)

VIP Admission, $85

• The above plus one-hour-early entry
• Two additional tasting tokens
• Swag bag
• Glencairn tasting glass

Whiskey Business seminar, $40

• Same day, 3:15 p.m.

www.proofwashington.org

Connie Adams/June 2019