By Rick Riozza
As one of Oregon’s oldest and most award-winning distilleries, Crater Lake Spirits by Bendistillery produces vodkas, gins, whiskeys, Black Butte Whiskey, infused spirits, and rare spirits. Located just east of the Cascade Mountains, the distillery pays homage to their early beginnings and kinship with the place. It was one of the first award-winning small-batch distilleries that started the craft liquor revolution back in 1996.
Crater Lake has been a very good friend to our Coachella Valley. A little over a decade ago, Crater Lake spirits was sponsoring many special culinary events that included “chef throw-downs”, where many of our valley’s best chefs were at different restaurant venues challenging each other plate for plate. It was great fun and brought in an influx of visitors and foodies to our desert surrounds.
Other past activities included Crater Lake spirit tastings events at various bars and restaurants introducing many of us to the new business starting around our valley. And if you loyal readers think about it, you’ve seen Crater Lakes ads have been appearing in this CV Weekly publication for over the past dozen years.
Although we surely miss those times and events, we still continue to have the best opportunity to enjoy their incredible spirits portfolio line-up. And their product line is not only creative and inventive but is indeed delicious!
Last year, I spoke with master distiller and mastermind Jim Bendis. When Jim Bendis founded Crater Lake Spirits in Bend, Oregon in 1996 he was one of fewer than 20 craft distilleries in the United States. In a conversation with Bendis he said at the time, “We were the first ones in the country to hand craft a vodka and a gin.”
At last count, I found at least 14 different pure and flavored spirits in their portfolio.
“Oh my we’ve come a long way. There are now over 2,000 licensed and producing craft distilleries in the country. In 2005 he started Bend Spirits, an offshoot company to offer people the opportunity to private label their own spirits brand without ever owning a distillery.” Indeed, one of the more famous distilleries that Jim was available for consultation and mentoring was the Tito Vodka company located in Austin Texas.
For those of you who well recognize the brand and wish to delve a bit more into the company and its spirit line-up please go on line to their fun, informative, and interesting website: www.craterlakespirits.com. Here we glean for you more info from their PR website:
Their Story begins like this: While most companies will regale you with tales of their grandeur and age-old traditions, we’ve been around. We’ve seen some things. And we’ve been slinging bottles at the same Bend, OR distillery since ’96.
We’re the vodka equivalent of that band you liked before they were mainstream—except we decided mainstream wasn’t our jam. We’re fine right here, in our own delightful pocket of unpretentiousness, thank you very much.
Our spirits? They’re the silent types, whispering tales of the pure, crisp waters and rich volcanic soils of Crater Lake. They won’t steal the limelight, but they’ll sure steal your heart with their smooth, timeless tastes and cheeky charm.
Drawing from tried-and-true methods, plus a splash of ingenuity, we do things by hand and taste-test every batch. Our process is a labor of love, down to the very last drop. We are the creators of joy for the extraordinary-ordinaries, the defenders of the uncool, cool, and the cheerleaders for the spectacularly simple. We believe in creating spirits that resonate with the happy, the quirky, the authentic, and everyone in between.
A quintessential bar staple with a modern twist, Crater Lake Hazelnut Espresso is more than a flavored vodka. It’s a sophisticated blend of fresh-brewed coffee and hazelnut with a touch of pure cane sugar. Perfect with coffee, chocolate, or a splash of cream.
Crater Lake Rock & Rye This ready to drink Old Fashioned is the ideal camping and adventure companion. Whether you’re swapping stories around the campfire or simply watching the clouds roll by overhead, Crater Lake Rock & Rye will serve you well. Notes of dark cherry, blood orange, and bitters make for a carefree crowd pleaser.
Versatile and packed with heat, Crater Lake Hatch Green Chile Vodka packs a dry heat reminiscent of the rugged Southwest. Notes of flavorful fire-roasted hatch green chiles blend with other peppers to create an undeniably delicious vodka.
A return to tradition, Crater Lake Prohibition Gin gives a nod to the pre-prohibition roots of American gin. Infused with wild handpicked juniper berries for a classic and definable single-botanical flavor. Mixologists love it—but you don’t have to be a pro to enjoy this timeless classic.
Anyone can create a quick and dirty spirit. Luckily, we’re not just anyone. At Crater Lake Spirits, we know that our intense commitment to quality, taste, and sustainable practices means we’re not going to be everybody’s top choice. And that’s ok.
We’re here for the spirit enthusiasts who care about what they’re drinking, how it’s made, and its impact on the planet. By purchasing Crater Lake Spirits, it shows that you share our goal of doing right by our employees, our community, and our shared future.
Come sample at either of our two tasting rooms in central Oregon. We offer tours, tasting flights, mini-cocktails, and bottles for purchase. We also have a gift shop, as well as a dog park and pump track on site at the distillery. Come try central Oregon’s oldest and most established spirits today! Let’s share a Toast! Cheers!
