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ILLUSTRATION: chibirmingham.com
It'll be a wet weekend in Portland, regardless of the weather. The Great American Distillers Festival is bringing 35 microdistilleries to the Tiffany Center to showcase to hundreds of spirit-samplers. (There will also be seminars, field trips and a cocktail competition; see distillersfestival.com for the full schedule.) But what is a drinker who can't stand straight spirits to do? Make a mixer kit! Just slip ginger beer (I like Cock & Bull), tonic (I like Fever-Tree), simple syrup, lemons and limes into a bandolier, toolbelt or fanny pack and you're ready to turn the latest local libations into tiny well drinks worthy of any lilliputian dive bar. Here are a few examples from new distilleries.
BULL RUN DISTILLING
Opened just weeks ago in Slabtown by House Spirits co-founder Lee Medoff, Bull Run now makes only vodka but plans to release rum and whiskey in the next two years.
Spirit: Medoyeff Vodka
Mixer: Squirt of lime juice, tablespoon of ginger beer.
DECO DISTILLING
A year-old distillery producing rum, flavored and otherwise, from New Deal's facility in inner Southeast.
Spirit: Deco Ginger Rum
Mixer: Juice of one half lemon, two dashes simple syrup.
ELIXIR, INC.
Cottage Grove's first distillery has just one product, an Italian-style bitter liqueur made from Peruvian cinchona bark.
Spirit: Calisaya Liqueur
Mixer: Three tablespoons tonic, garnish with a tiny wedge of lime.
STONE BARN BRANDYWORKS
An ambitious but very small-scale operation just south of Powell Boulevard making fruit brandies, grappa, ouzo and rye whiskey.
Spirit: Apple Brandy
Mixer: Squirt of lemon juice, dash of simple syrup.
SUPERFLY DISTILLING
A tiny Brookings distillery dedicated to russet potato vodka.
Spirit: Superfly Vodka
Mixer: Three tablespoons ginger beer.
Headout Picks
WEDNESDAY OCT. 20
[MUSIC]
Wondering what the new Starfucker jams sound like? The electro-pop whiz kids are back to make us all forget about its ill-fated Pyramiddd period.
THURSDAY OCT. 21
[PUPPETS]
Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre and Wanderlust Circus team up in a marionette tale about a living puppet who loses his head.
[COMEDY] NORM MACDONALD
The leading impressionist of the '90s and former SNL cast member does three nights at Helium Comedy Club. Helium Comedy Club, 1510 SE 9th Ave., 888-643-8669. 8 pm Thursday, 8 and 10:30 pm Friday-Saturday, Oct. 21-23. $20-$35. 21+.
FRIDAY OCT. 22
[SCREEN]
From the same director, Bert I. Gordon, who brought you last week's giant rats in
here are giant, well...ants.
SATURDAY OCT. 23
[MUSIC]
Three of PDX's most beloved bands from the scuzzy rock era play as part of Satyricon's last hurrah.
[COMEDY] MIKE BIRBIGLIA
Whether he's scaring off dates with horribly misplaced humor or getting booed off the stage of a cancer benefit, Birbiglia's one of the funniest comedians working today. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 234-9694. 8 pm. $25.
SUNDAY OCT. 24
[MASKS AND MAMMARIES]
A bizarre blend of stripping,
and stand-up, the slogan of which is "
" Just go to vimeo.com/14505616 and watch the trailer yourself.
TUESDAY OCT. 26
[SCREEN]
Two monstrosities from Italy's Godfather of Gore:
contains "the longest rabid bat attack in cinema history"; in
a zombie fights a shark.
WWeek 2015