Local Distillery Gifted at the Oscars and More News

Old Ballard Liquor is going Hollywood (in the best way), 2bar Spirits is going to take over Local 360, and Seattle Distilling Company is talking shop at the Distillery Nation podcast. Plus, support a swell bartender-focused design company, and get some sweet stuff for yourself.

Old Ballard Liquor Co. at the Oscars: Okay, the big night for Hollywood was last week, but did you know that one of our own local distilleries was a part of said big night? It turns out that Alicia Vikander (who won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the The Danish Girl) contacted Old Ballard Liquor Co. owner and distiller Lexi to request that have them provide their Swedish-style Älskar Aquavit as a personal gift from her to all other Swedish Oscar nominees! Old Ballard already has tons of fans in our own large local Nordic community – as well as around the country. And now its fame has spread even farther. I love picturing a bunch of movie stars drinking Älskar (which, if you haven’t had it, is a citron-flavored aquavit with caraway, coriander, grains of paradise, and other spice hints, which goes great with oysters).

Mavenhal Bartender Bar Back Kickstarter is On: The Seattle-based design company with bartending roots has unleashed a Kickstarter for its newest product. Mavenhal started with the successful and handy Bartender Bag, and now it’s proposing the Bar Back, an urban multi-carry bartender backpack, tote and bag. This pack has tons of options, and isn’t just for professional bartenders – it’s also ideal for the home cocktail lover who likes to take their mixing avocation on the road, as it’s the perfect thing for taking tools and ingredients to parties and dates and such. It’s really a portable party in a bag, and well worth your support (plus you can grab so great gifts).

2bar Spirits Night at Local 360: Downtown spot Local 360 is hosting another Distillery Night on March 10, and this time the distillery in focus is 2bar Spirits. The friendly folks from 2bar will be there from 4 to 10 p.m., and you’ll be able to taste a range of cocktails made with their spirits, talk about the distillery, and generally have a swell time. If you don’t know 2bar yet, it’s a Sodo-based distillery with a Texas history, and it makes bourbon (and a few other whiskies on occasion), moonshine and vodka.

Seattle Distilling Company on Distillery Nation: A podcast that “takes you inside the story of starting a small craft distillery” seems like it could actually spend a whole year in Washington, because we have the best small distilleries anywhere! And Distillery Nation is probably a believer, too, after talking to Seattle Distilling Company’s Tami Brockway Joyce in its most recent podcast. The always-fun and always-friendly Brockway Joyce talked all about setting up their swell Vashon distillery while on the podcast, and gave some great advice, including “don’t panic.”