Ellensburg Distillery
February 25th, 2010 | By: Fred Nystrom
Perhaps the best thing to come out of the 2008 Legislative session in Olympia was a little-noticed law designed to promote Washington agricultural products and, as a result, opened opportunities for small craft distillers to produce spirits using at least half their raw ingredients from Washington.
David Irons of Sammamish purchases the first bottle of whiskey from distiller Rusty Figgins.
A decade ago, when craft brewing was just beginning to make headlines, the world of beer was controlled by giant breweries and their bland beers. Then laws changed to allow small craft breweries; now we can find great craft beers in the supermarket or buy directly from Rogue Brewery’s Brew Pub on Sunset Ave.
The same story is unfolding for craft distilleries. After obtaining rather onerous federal and state permits, craft distillers can produce up to 20,000 gallons of spirits per year, which would fill 125,000 bottles of 80-proof vodka, gin, whiskey or other spirits. These craft distillers can have a tasting room and serve up to two ounce samples to guests, and they can sell two liters per day per customer.
One of the pioneers in the craft distilling world is Berle “Rusty” Figgins, Jr. A Walla Walla native, Rusty grew up in the wine business, first working with his brother Gary Figgins at the renowned Leonetti Cellar, and then as winemaker at several other noted Washington wineries. Rusty is now taking skills honed through his winemaking experience and applying them to making high quality whiskey and Peruvian-style brandy. To ensure his success as a distiller, Rusty obtained his Master Distiller certificate.
Wooden barrels age and impart flavors to whiskey and brandy.
In 2009, Rusty obtained the necessary permits and opened The Ellensburg Distillery and began to create two high-quality, delicious spirits. The first is Gold Buckle Club Washington Frontier-Style Malt Whiskey. This is a single-malt, single-barrel, cask-strength whiskey at 82.6 proof, 41.3 percent alcohol by volume. The first bottle sold for $110 to Sammamish resident and former King County Councilman David Irons. David even helped attach the label, which Rusty promptly signed for him, providing a rare souvenir for Irons: “there are only 300 hand filled bottles per cask,” says Rusty.
Rusty is experimenting with the Washington’s first commercial planting of rye in decades and looking at other heritage grains, such as Emmer and Spelt that are high in starch and low in protein to make into spirits.
The second product Rusty has created is El Chalán, a Peruvian-style grape brandy made from personally-selected Washington wine. El Chalán, $60 a bottle, is 52.7 percent alcohol by volume and 105.4 proof. Of brandy-making, Rusty explains, “brandy is the next step beyond the making of great wine.”
Gold Buckle Club Label
The Ellensburg Distillery is planning a move to a larger facility in downtown Ellensburg soon, but it is currently open to the public by appointment only, so call ahead to set up a time to visit 509.925.1295. You can also place a special order at any WSLCB store for either of the products.
