House Spirits Distillery

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House Spirits Distillery is an American craft distiller based in Portland, Oregon. It was founded in Corvallis in 2004 and moved to Portland in 2005.{{cite web |url= http://www.distilleryrowpdx.com/house-spirits/ |title= House Spirits Distillery |publisher= Distillery Row PDX |accessdate= April 20, 2014}}{{cite news |last= Culverwell |first= Wendy |title= House Spirits' Gin Win |url= http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/print-edition/2013/03/08/house-spirits-gin-win.html |accessdate= April 20, 2014 |newspaper= Portland Business Journal |date= March 8, 2013}} Its production facility and tasting room is located on Portland's Distillery Row, in the Central Eastside Industrial District.{{cite news |last= Culverwell |first= Wendy |title= Portland's Growing Distillery Industry Provides Economic Boost |url= http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/print-edition/2012/05/25/portlands-growing-distillery-industry.html?page=all |accessdate= April 20, 2014 |newspaper= Portland Business Journal |date= May 25, 2012}} The distillery's flagship brand is Aviation American Gin, which comprised 80% of its production in 2012,{{cite web |url= http://www.thekitchn.com/aviation-gin-maker-tour-173650 |title= A Visit with Colin Howard of House Spirits Distillery in Portland, Oregon |last= Cyd |first= Leela |date= July 18, 2012 |publisher= The Kitchn |accessdate= April 20, 2014}} and around 40% in 2016,{{cite news|last1=Korfhage|first1=Matthew|title=Portland's Aviation Gin Just Got Sold Off to New York—Here's Why|url=http://www.wweek.com/bars/2016/11/17/portlands-aviation-gin-just-got-sold-off-to-new-york-heres-why/|accessdate=2018-03-06|work=Willamette Week|date=November 17, 2016|location=Portland, Oregon}} after the company's move into a larger distillery facilitated a major expansion of production of its whiskey brand.

Production of Westward Oregon Straight Malt Whiskey, made from malted barley grown in the Pacific Northwest, accounted for around 50% of the company's production in late 2016. Other products include Krogstad Festlig aquavit and Volstead Vodka. Small-batch artisanal liqueurs from House Spirits have included Japanese-style shōchū and coffee liqueur.{{cite web |url= http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/04/distillery-tour-house-spirits-portland-krogstad-aviation.html?ref=latestc |last= Anderson |first= Heather Arndt |title= Behind the Scenes at House Spirits Distillery |publisher= Serious Eats |date= April 5, 2011 |accessdate= April 20, 2014}}

In 2013, the company made plans to expand its distribution to 35 states in a deal with distributor Southern Wine & Spirits. The same year, House Spirits opened a second tasting room at Portland International Airport.{{cite journal |url= https://www.pdxmonthly.com/articles/2013/8/9/house-spirits-lands-at-pdx-airport-august-2013 |date= August 9, 2013 |last=Gorder |first= Alisha |title= Gorder House Spirits Lands at PDX Airport |journal= Portland Monthly |accessdate= April 20, 2014}} Former NFL quarterback Joe Montana is an investor in the company.

In November 2015, House Spirits opened a new, larger distillery in Portland's Central Eastside Industrial District. The $6 million, {{convert|14,000|ft2|m2|adj=on}} facility, built almost entirely new, also included a tasting room.{{cite news|last=Bakall|first=Samantha|title=First look: House Spirits Distillery's new $6 million distillery and tasting room|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=November 18, 2015|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/drinks/2015/11/first_look_house_spirits_disti.html |accessdate=2018-03-06}} At the time, House said the expansion would enable them to double their production of American Aviation Gin and increase their production of Westward Oregon Straight Malt Whiskey tenfold.

In late 2016, the company sold its flagship brand, American Aviation Gin, to New York-based distributor Davos Brands,{{cite news|last=Rogoway|first=Mike|title=Portland-based House Spirits sells flagship Aviation gin to Davos Brands|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=November 17, 2016|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2016/11/portland-based_house_spirits_s.html |accessdate=2018-03-06}} but the company continues to be the gin's sole distiller.{{cite news|last=Butler|first=Grant|title=Actor Ryan Reynolds buys a stake in Portland-made Aviation Gin|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=February 27, 2018|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2018/02/actor_ryan_reynolds_buys_a_sta.html |accessdate=2018-03-06}}

On April 8, 2025, House Spirits Distillery filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, blaming financial challenges and a decline in alcohol sales after the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to overcapacity and unsold inventory.{{Cite web|url= https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2025/04/westward-whiskey-files-for-bankruptcy/|title= Westward Whiskey files for bankruptcy|first=Nicola|last=Carruthers|date=April 9, 2025|access-date=April 10, 2025|website=The Spirits Business|language=en}}