Leela S.
Yelp
Wow, what a cool place! I didn't know Oola existed on Capitol Hill until a few days ago, and tonight I had the opportunity to tour the distillery and taste some of their spirits. It's a neat little space--don't go in expecting something on the scale of, say, Grey Goose, because this is a craft distillery after all--with a very classy sales room that you walk into from the front door. Right away, you notice that nearly all their products have won awards of some sort. Not a bad start!
The owner, Kirby, gave my group a great explanation of how the distilling process works for vodka, gin, and bourbon (the three spirits that Oola produces in various avatars). I definitely picked up some interesting tidbits for cocktail parties in the future! Of course, the explanation was followed by tastes of these three spirits. The vodka is easily among the best I've had, with refreshing notes of vanilla and even coriander. I'm not a gin person by any means, but I can actually see myself drinking this one! The barrel-aged gin, which is almost like a crossover between gin and whiskey, was a great new type of spirit that I tried. And, as you would expect, the bourbon was totally solid as well.
Most of us in the group left with at least one bottle of Oola's offerings. Yes, prices are a few dollars higher than what you'd pay for a mass-produced brand at your neighbourhood liquor store. However, given the fact that Oola's spirits taste WAY better and that you're supporting a local business that sources all its grains from other local organic farms (and even gives back to these farms in other ways), I think it's definitely worth it. The icing on the cake would be if Oola opened a little bar within the facility. I'd be there all the time!