PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eastside Distilling, Inc. (NASDAQ: EAST), makers of craft spirits, today announced the expansion of the Company’s American Single Malt Whiskey program with the commissioning of a custom 500-gallon capacity still. The newly commissioned still was manufactured with high quality, German produced, distilling copper and is designed specifically for higher volume production of the Company’s multiple gold medal award-winning American Single Malt Whiskey. The still and its associated malt fermenters are now operating in the Company’s Portland facility. Eastside Distilling and its subsidiary Big Bottom Distilling are seeking to become a higher volume producer in the emerging American Single Malt Whiskey market, where locally grown Pacific Northwest barley is a key ingredient.
In addition to Eastside’s American Single Malt Whiskey, the still is also designed to produce gin, brandy, agave and rum products in much larger volumes and more efficiently than the Company’s existing still. The still dramatically increases Eastside’s distilling capability to approximately 20,000 cases of product per year.
In order to meet current standards of being designated as an “American Single Malt Whiskey,” a whiskey must meet the following standards:
- Made from 100% malted barley
- Distilled at one distillery
- Mashed, distilled and matured in the U.S.
- Matured in American oak barrels, not exceeding 700 L
- Distilled to no more than 160 proof
- Bottled at 80 proof or higher
Big Bottom’s American Single Malt Whiskey starts with a premium two-row malted barley, grown in the Pacific Northwest. Big Bottom’s proprietary yeast strains were painstakingly developed for single malts by veteran Lead Distiller Travis Schoney. Entered in several domestic and international competitions, the single malt has never achieved less than a gold medal.
Travis Schoney, Lead Distiller at Big Bottom Distilling, commented, “The ‘distilled at one distillery’ component of American Single Malt Whiskey is critical to the uniqueness of the product classification by the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission of which Big Bottom Distilling is a member. Eastside and Big Bottom are one of the few craft distillers in the Pacific Northwest that can lay claim to meeting these standards. Two of three local distillers that compete with us were acquired by Remy Martin and Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey, while a third has investment from Diageo. Obviously, we are not alone in being excited about the new American Single Malt Whiskey category and intend to become a leader in the premiere area of U.S. barley production in the Pacific Northwest.”
Tom Wood, VP of Production, commented, “Big Bottom American Single Malt has won several spirits industry awards, recently including a Gold Medal from the 2019 Berlin International Spirits Competition, where Big Bottom was also named USA Whiskey Distillery of the Year. Our new still will not only allow for Eastside and Big Bottom to better produce our American Single Malt Whiskey in higher volume, but will allow us to produce gin, brandy and rum products more effectively as well. The versatility of the still, including interchangeable botanical baskets, allows us to make the highest quality product while also helping to drive down overall production costs.”
About Eastside Distilling
Eastside Distilling, Inc. (NASDAQ: EAST) has been producing high-quality, award-winning craft spirits in Portland, Oregon, since 2008. The Company is distinguished by its highly decorated product lineup that includes Burnside Bourbon, West End American Whiskey, Goose Hollow Reserve, Below Deck Rums, Portland Potato Vodka, Hue-Hue Coffee Rum and a distinctive line of fruit infused spirits. Eastside Distilling is majority owner of Big Bottom Distilling (makers of The Ninety-One Gin, Navy Strength Gin and Delta Rye whiskey) and the Redneck Riviera Whiskey Co. All Eastside, Big Bottom and Redneck Riviera spirits are crafted from natural ingredients for quality and taste. Eastside’s MotherLode Bottling subsidiary is one of the Northwest’s leading independent spirit bottlers and ready-to-drink canners. For more information visit: www.eastsidedistilling.com or follow the Company on Twitter and Facebook.
Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain matters discussed in this press release may be forward-looking statements. Such matters involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the following: changes in economic conditions; general competitive factors; acceptance of the Company's products in the market; the Company's success in obtaining new customers; the Company's success in product development; the Company's ability to execute its business model and strategic plans; the Company's success in integrating acquired entities and assets, and all the risks and related information described from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the financial statements and related information contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and interim Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Examples of forward-looking statements in this release may include statements related to our strategic focus, product verticals, anticipated revenue, and profitability. The Company assumes no obligation to update the cautionary information in this release.