Uncommon Spirits

Today is my first day on the job and I’m stoked. There’s no better word for it. Stoked exemplifies all aspects to my mood and condition at this very moment. I’m sitting in the distillery at Soft Tail Spirits with the big wooden carriage doors open. It’s a beautiful spring day; 67 degrees outside and the sun is shining. I’ve got batch #11 of our exclusive Soft Tail Vodka distilling in our custom column still while batch #12 is working through its first round in an ancient-designed alembic pot still.

 Soft Tail opened it’s doors about 12 months ago with the intention of producing a very high quality product. The first to be batched and produced was a line of Grappa’s that will truly surprise you. Grappa is a liquor that hasn’t yet taken off here in the states but has a lot to offer the refined palate. First produced in Italy during the middle ages, Grappa is made from the pomace or left-over grape seeds, stalks and skins of wine production. The pomace is distilled down to produce an alcohol that is around 40% (80 proof).

Soft Tail produces several types of Grappa, including a Blanco, Reserve, Giallo blends  and a single varietal Sangiovese. We also have a single varietal Cabernet Sauvignon that is soon to be released. Most people find Italian Grappa to be an acquired taste but the team at Soft Tail has found a way of mellowing the product and producing a Grappa that is richly fragrant in nose and decidedly smooth in flavor.

This seems to be the simple gift the folks here at Soft Tail Spirits are bringing to the craft of distilled spirits. Around October of 2009, Master Distiller, Dennis Robertson had an idea. What about adding a grain Vodka to our line of liquors. The experimentation began but yielded rough results. The bottom line is, grain Vodka is a  highly refined alcohol that often lacks in taste and sophistication. That’s why it is so often used with mixers. The very idea of a fine liquor being cut with an over-bearing mixer goes against the most discerning philosophy of Soft Tail Spirits.

 Our team is focused on producing the highest quality spirits that can be enjoyed as they were intended to be; with flavorful palates and smooth finishes. So, Dennis had another epiphany. What about producing a high quality Vodka from the apples of our fine state? Our signature Soft Tail Vodka has been the result.

 Now, I realize that we are trying to sell this Vodka and making it sound good is important in that process but the fact is, IT DAMN GOOD! It’s smooth and actually quite a refreshing break from the bite that most grain Vodka’s have. We have several delicious house recipes for fresh herbal martini’s and soda water shakers that don’t steal the flavor of our Vodka but play nicely with it. It’s worth a try and we invite you to look for us in a liquor store near you or come by our distillery and tasting room in Woodinville, Washington.

 Our product is currently being sold in 21 Washington State Liquor stores and we are working to cultivate distribution relationships outside the state. We have a very special product and a very creative team here at Soft Tail Spirits. We are all excited about what the future holds and I’m excited to be a part of the team!

 Now that we are off and running, come by and see what we have to offer.  www.softtailspirits.com

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~ by plowline on April 20, 2010.