Check out our products at Wine World and Spirits

Check out our products at Wine World and Spirits

Wine World and Spirits in Seattle is carrying our products. They are located on the west side of I-5 at the exit for 45th Street.  (This is the University of Washington exit, but go west.)  Their address is 400 N.  45th, and their sign can be seen from I-5.

Their spirits department is in the back of the store, and John Slagle and Patrick Caffall are familiar with our products. Usually one of them is on the floor in the spirits department, and can help you navigate their store.

$10 statement credit for American Express Cards

$10 statement credit for American Express Cards

If you have an American Express card, and wish to participate in Small Business Saturday on November 30,  just register your card at ShopSmall.com before Saturday.

American Express will give you a $10 statement credit on your Hardware Distillery purchase made that day.

Bee’s Knees Peachy Keen, Batch No. 4

Bee’s Knees Peachy Keen, Batch No. 4

Last night we started bottling batch no. 4 of Bee’s Knees Peachy Keen. This is our first batch from Rich Lady peaches, which rested for 2 months in a 15-gallon, white American oak barrel.

The Wildflower Honey from Silver Bow in Moses Lake complements the peaches. The nose is great and quite peachy.

$10 statement credit for American Express Cards

We will be open on Veterans Day

Our Tasting Room will be open on Monday, Veterans Day, noon to 4 p.m.

Gift boxes are in, and we recently bottled Whiskey and Aquavit. Check out our new Aquavit cocktail, the Julevit, just in time for the holiday season.

The first R month and R Gin

The first R month and R Gin

The R Gin is made from a single malt barley, which is cold smoked at the Hama Hama Oyster Co. in their oyster smoker. This gives the gin a gentle smokiness, which pairs well with oysters.

Many believe that oysters are best in the months with the letter “R.” September marks the beginning of the winter “R” months. As the waters grow colder, the oysters grow firmer and more delicious.

It is time to start shucking those oysters, and enjoying them with R Gin in a cocktail, or on the rocks, just like the oysters.

Bee’s Knees® – Rich Lady Peaches

Bee’s Knees® – Rich Lady Peaches

The next batch of Peachy Keen Bee’s Knees® will be distilled from Rich Lady peaches from Gilbert Orchards in Yakima, Washington. Rich Lady peaches have a warm yellow flesh, a rich dark red skin, and they smell delightful. This batch should be available in about 4 months.

Locals Night & Grand Opening

Locals Night & Grand Opening

We just had our Locals Night to thank our friends and neighbors for their support as we struggled to open our distillery and for their support our first summer that we have been open.

The evening began with the Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony. Immediately after the ribbon-cutting, the one and only cash register in the tasting room stopped working and remained frozen for the entire evening.

Whoever told us to do a small event before our Grand Opening, so that we would know what we are doing, gave us good advice.

 

We are now ready to have our GRAND OPENING, which will be held Saturday, September 7, from noon to 6 pm.

Merry Cherry Bee’s Knees®…coming soon

Merry Cherry Bee’s Knees®…coming soon

I just drove to Eastern Washington to buy more honey and to return the bing cherry bins to Bigfork Orchards. This is a photo of the orchard, as I am driving away.

We have started the Merry Cherry Bee’s Knees® and have one barrel aging. We have enough cherries to make enough Merry Cherry to fill several more barrels. In the meantime, the Hoodsport Coffee Co. is serving Merry Cherry ice cream from un-aged Merry Cherry Bee’s Knees®.

Bee’s Knees® Merry Cherry

Bee’s Knees® Merry Cherry

On the first day of July, I drove to Bigfork Orchards, near Mattawa, WA, on the Columbia River to buy bins of bing cherries. The orchard is in a beautiful setting with rows of tall trees creating walls around and within the orchard.

Bing cherries suffered this year. Due to extreme weather conditions, cherries cracked and split. Unsuitable for retail, but perfect for distilling, I bought 960 pounds. Of course, this was before I realized that each cherry has to be pitted. I don’t know how many cherries are in a pound, but it looks like a lot.

 

We'll be washing and pitting a LOT of cherries!

We’ll be washing and pitting a LOT of cherries!

The cherries will be fermented with honey and distilled to become a cherry Bee’s Knees®. After aging in a new white oak barrel, it will be transferred to a red wine oak barrel from Stottle Winery, and the Bee’s Knees® Merry Cherry will be ready by Christmas.

Winner of the Wood Fish

Winner of the Wood Fish

Last week I attended my first Mason County Chamber of Commerce social event. They had a drawing for door prizes, and I was completely flabbergasted to win a large fish carved from wood.

winner of wooden fishAt the distillery we analyzed various locations to install the fish. Then we found the perfect spot. It is the gateway to the production area and the tours with Chuck.

It will also serve as a reminder and inspiration for the gin we are going to make to be paired with salmon from the Hood Canal. The salmon season will begin in the fall. We are thinking of using a rye bock beer base for this gin, as both the salmon and the rye bock make me think of the beginning of cool, crisp days, and the change in season from late summer to early fall.

Crab season is here!

Crab season is here!

crab seasonThe First of July marked the opening of crab season on the Hood Canal. It is one of the best things about summer.

There is nothing better than warm summer evenings, out on the deck or by the fire pit, made even better with fresh crab. And now, I can relax even more with my Pink Gin and my Crabby Ginny.

 

Grand Opening, but not for us

Grand Opening, but not for us

A couple of weekends ago, there was a grand opening in Hoodsport. Somehow there was a mix-up, and many thought that it was our grand opening.

Instead, the actual grand opening was for the new public restrooms, which are just across the street. Unfortunately, we had to work in the distillery, and missed the event. We heard that they served hot dogs, and everyone had a good time.