>>>
>>> HELLO, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO TONIGHT WITH
CASSIDY.
CASSIDY.
CASSIDY. A LOCAL DISTILLERY WAS JUST
VOTED ONE OF THE BEST CRAFT
DISTILLERIES IN THE COUNTRY BY
USA TODAY.
USA TODAY. THE WOMEN OF FREELAND SPIRITS
ARE PAVING THEIR OWN PATH IN AN
INDUSTRY WHERE JUST 2% OF
DISTILLERS ARE WOMEN AND THEY
ARE AMONG THE FIRST TO BE
FEATURED IN A NEW SERIES HERE
CALLED A WESTERN POUR.
TAKE A LOOK.
>>
>> WE'RE
>> WE'RE HERE. WE'RE WOMEN.
WE'RE WOMEN. WE'RE DELVING INTO AN AREA
THAT'S TRADITIONALLY DOMINATED
BY MEN AND WE'RE EXCITED TO
FORGE A NEW PATH AND BRING SOME
NEW FLAVORS TO THE MARKET.
>>
>> I
>> I THINK WE'RE MOSTLY KNOWN FOR HAVING REALLY GOOD PRODUCTS
AND FOR THE FACT THAT WE'RE
WOMEN OWNED AND OPERATED.
THAT BEING SUCH A UNIQUE FACTOR
IN THIS INDUSTRY WITH LESS THAN
1% OF THE WORLD'S DISTILLERIES
OWNED AND OPERATED BY WOMEN,
THAT'S SOMETHING PEOPLE REALLY
LIKE ABOUT OUR STORY.
IT MAKES THEM FEEL SOME SORT OF
WAY.
>>
>> WELCOME TO FREELAND SPIRITS. WE LIKE TO BEGIN OUR TOUR HERE
IN THE HALLWAY.
THIS MUIR ROW ACTS AS AN INFO
GRAPHIC OF OUR ORIGIN STORY.
WE LIKE TO BEGIN WITH MEMA
FREELAND AND WE GREW UP IN
TEXAS.
TEXAS.
TEXAS. MEMA NEVER HAD A DROP OF BOOZE,
BUT SHE DID TEACH JILL ALL GOOD
THINGS COME FROM SCRATCH.
IT'S ONE OF OURTENENTS HERE.
>> WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE A
BEAUTIFUL SOURCED BOURBON TO
WORK WITH.
WORK WITH. THERE'S SO MANY CHALLENGES WITH
A DISTILLERY AND WITH WHISKEY
YOUR NUMBER ONE CHALLENGE IS
TIME.
TIME.
TIME. TO
TIME. TO HAVE WHISKEY RELEASE
WHENEVER YOU'RE STARTING,
OFTENTIMES YOU'LL LOOK FOR HIGH
QUALITY PRODUCT.
QUALITY PRODUCT. WE DID THAT.
JILL SOURCED A BEAUTIFUL THREE
AND 12 YEAR BOURBON WE WERE
ABLE TO BRING HERE IN BARREL
AND FINISH IN WATER BARRELS.
OUR GOAL IS THIS IS A MEANS TO
GET OREGON GROWN GRAIN TO GLASS
WHISKEY WHICH IS OUR FUTURE,
BUT FOR NOW WE'RE REALLY PROUD
AND HAPPY OF THIS DELICIOUS
BOURBON THAT WE HAVE TO WORK
WITH AND TO BE ABLE TO FINISH
IT IN SOME OF THESE INCREDIBLE
BARRELS FROM PRODUCERS NEARBY
IS REALLY EXCITING TO ADD THAT
LITTLE WATER OF OREGON PURE
WATER TO A SOUTHERN STYLE OF
WHISKEY.
THERE'S
THERE'S A
THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT NOW WITH WE'RE REALLY SEEING A
RESURGENCE OF REGIONAL SPIRITS.
BACK IN THE DAY BEFORE
PROHIBITION THEY WERE ALL
REGIONAL SPIRITS.
REGIONAL SPIRITS. EVERYBODY WAS MAKING SPIRITS
FROM WHAT WAS BEING GROWN IN
THE AREA AND THEN AFTER
PROHIBITION IT WAS ALL BIG
BRANDS THAT DOMINATED THE
MARKET AND TOOK OVER.
SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO SEE
THESE EXPRESSIONS OF REGIONAL
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND
CREATING ALL THESE DIFFERENT
SPIRITS.
SPIRITS.
SPIRITS. IT'S REALLY ALMOST A WAY TO
TRAVEL WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR
HOME.
HOME.
HOME. YOU
HOME. YOU CAN JUST OPEN A BOTTLE AND
EXPERIENCE ALL THESE LOCAL
INTERESTING FLAVORS.
INTERESTING FLAVORS. >> THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE
SOMEONE WHO DOUBTS YOU, THOUGH,
BECAUSE YOU'RE A WOMAN.
THAT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES,
BUT I'VE HAD PEOPLE QUESTION
WHETHER I'M ACTUALLY THE
DISTILLER OR JUST THE FACE OF
THE COMPANY AND MY RESPONSE TO
THAT IS WELL, LET ME GET MY LAB
COAT OUT AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT
AZIOTROPES IF THAT MAKES YOU
HAPPY, BUT FREELAND IS
DEFINITELY A PROJECT THAT WE'RE
REALLY PROUD THAT WOMEN ARE IN
LEADERSHIP IN.
WE
WE THINK
WE THINK A LOT OF OURSELVES AND WHERE WE WANT TO BE AND HOW WE
GET THERE.
GET THERE. WE DO THINK OF HOW OTHER PEOPLE
HAVE GOTTEN THERE AS WELL, LOOK
AT DIFFERENT CASE STUDIES, LOOK
AT DIFFERENT SUCCESSFUL
DISTILLERIES AND LOOK AT OUR
CURRENT COMPETITION AS WELL.
THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT
PORTLAND IS EVERYONE IS VERY
INVITING AND THE WHOLE
COMMUNITY IN ITSELF IS VERY
UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN ONE
DISTILLERY DOES WELL IN A
COMMUNITY, WE ALL DO BETTER.
>> WE HAVE TO GET THERE SMALL
STEPS.
STEPS.
STEPS. NOW WE'RE FOCUSED ON WINNING
THE WEST.
THE WEST.
THE WEST. WE'RE EXCITED TO BE IN
CALIFORNIA AND WASHINGTON AND
DOING GREAT HERE IN OREGON, BUT
I DEFINITELY CANNOT WAIT TO
ENTER MORE AND MORE STATES.
>> WHILE WE DO COMPETE WITH THE
LARGER BRANDS WE'RE TRYING TO
DO OUR OWN THING.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR CRAFT TO CONTINUE TO
EMBRACE IS WE ARE SMALLER.
THAT GIVES US A DIFFERENT
ABILITY TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS
AND WE NEED TO RUN WITH THAT
AND SEE WHERE THAT TAKES US.
>>
>> SO
>> SO BEAUTIFUL AND IT LOOKS SO TASTY.
TASTY.
TASTY. YOU CAN WATCH THE EXTENDED
VERSE OF OUR FEATURE ON THE KGW
YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND WE ALSO
HIGHLIGHT TWO OTHER LOCAL
DISTILLERIES, BULL RUN
DISTILLERY AND WESTWARD
WHISKEY.
WHISKEY.
WHISKEY. >>> OF COURSE, WE CAN JUST
WATCH THAT SEGMENT AND THINK
WOW, I WOULD LOVE A BEVERAGE.
WE HAD TO BRING THEM IN STUDIO.
SO WE HAVE FREELAND SPIRITS TO
DO A TASTING AND CELEBRATE
BEING NAMED ONE OF THE TOP
CRAFT DISTILLERS IN THE
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY. WE HAVE MOLLY AND JILL RIGHT
HERE.
HERE.
HERE. WE
HERE. WE HAVE GIN, CANNED GIN AND WE
NEED SOME OTHER TASTE TESTERS
TO TRY IT WITH US.
WE HAVE AKILA AND CHRISTINA
WAITING IN THE WINGS.
ARE YOU GUYS PREPARED TO TASTE
SOME GIN?
SOME GIN?
SOME GIN? >> OH, YES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GIN
CONNISSEURS ALREADY?
CONNISSEURS ALREADY? DO YOU NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
GIN?
GIN?
GIN? WHERE DO YOU FALL?
>> ALREADY THERE.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO LEARN MORE.
I LIKE GIN A LOT, BUT TELL ME
MORE.
MORE.
MORE. >>
MORE. >> GIN WAS THE FIRST SPIRIT YOU
GUYS STARTED MAKING.
IS THIS YOUR GIN, THE OFFICIAL,
THE ORIGINAL GIN?
>> YES.
>> YES.
>> YES. FREELAND IS NAMED AFTER MY
GRANDMA FREELAND WHO NEVER
TOUCHED A DROP OF BOOZE IN HER
LIFE BUT TAUGHT ME THE GOOD
THINGS COME FROM SCRATCH.
I GREW UP IN HER GARDEN WITH
HER.
HER.
HER. SO
HER. SO WE WANTED TO INVOKE
GRANDMA'S GIN.
GRANDMA'S GIN. MOLLY BEING OUR MASTER
DISTILLER, BACKGROUND IN
CHEMISTRY, MASTERS IN
DISTILLING IN SCOTLAND WAS ABLE
TO TAKE THAT STORY AND CREATE
FREELAND GIN.
FREELAND GIN. >> WHAT SHOULD WE BE TASTING AS
WE MAYBE ARE GIN CONNISSEURS,
MAYBE ARE SOMEWHERE IN THE
MIDDLE?
MIDDLE?
MIDDLE? >> WE USE THIS REALLY COOL
TECHNIQUE FOR MAKING SPIRITS.
IT'S A DUAL DISTILLATION AND IT
REALLY ACHIEVES THIS HERBA CEO
US AND FRESH FLAVORS FOR THE
GIN.
GIN.
GIN. WE
GIN. WE USE A LOT OF FLESH FLAVORS
AND ROSEMARY AND THYME AND
JUNIPER.
JUNIPER.
JUNIPER. >> IT SMELLS SO GOOD.
DID YOU TASTE IT ALREADY?
>> I TOTALLY TASTE THE THYME.
>> WOMEN ACTUALLY HAVE MORE
OLFACTORY CELLS AND MORE TASTE
BUDS.
BUDS.
BUDS. THE
BUDS. THE WORLD HAS YET TO HAVE THE
TASTE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR A
WOMAN TO MAKE THEIR SPIRITS.
>> THAT'S AMAZING.
LESS THAN 2%?
>> LESS THAN 2%.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. HOW DID IT FEEL WHEN YOU FOUND
OUT USA TODAY NAMED YOU ONE OF
THE BEST DISTILLERIES IN THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY?
ENTIRE COUNTRY? >> JUST GOOD TO HAVE THE
RECOGNITION FOR WHAT WE ALREADY
KNEW.
KNEW.
KNEW. >>
KNEW. >> FIND BLOWING.
>> SO ZACH IS ZOOMING IN ON
THIS.
THIS.
THIS. YOU
THIS. YOU HAVE THE GIN LOOKS
BEAUTIFUL.
BEAUTIFUL. THE GIN IN THE BOTTLES LOOKS
REALLY BEAUTIFUL, BUT THEN YOU
HAVE THESE ADORABLE LITTLE
CANS.
CANS.
CANS. THESE ARE CANNED GIN AND
TONICS?
TONICS?
TONICS? >> THAT'S RIGHT.
IF YOU ALL WANT TO CRACK ONE
OPEN, THIS IS THE SECOND THING
TO TRY.
TO TRY.
TO TRY. IT'S FRIDAY, RIGHT?
>> EXACTLY.
>> EXACTLY. >> SO THIS IS OUR GIN AND ROSE
TONIC.
TONIC.
TONIC. >>
TONIC. >> CHEERS.
>> CHEERS. >> IT IS A ROSE TONIC THAT WE
COLLABORATED WITH PORTLAND
SYRUPS TO CREATE MADE
SPECIFICALLY TO GO WITH OUR
GIN.
GIN.
GIN. WE
GIN. WE DECIDED TO PUT IT INTO A
CAN.
CAN.
CAN. IT'S
CAN. IT'S BEAUTIFULLY BALANCED.
>> IT IS, GOES DOWN VERY EASY.
>> IT'S LIKE A LITTLE BIT SWEET
WITH THE ROSE AND THE PORTLAND
SYRUPS IN THERE.
>> SWEET BUT NOT TOO SWEET.
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. IF PEOPLE ARE LIKE MAYBE THIS
IS A GOOD ENTRY LEVEL FOR GIN
IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
THAT THINKS OH, GIN IS TOO -- I
DON'T KNOW -- WHATEVER FOR YOU,
THEN THIS PUTS IT INTO A NICE,
BEAUTIFUL PACKAGE.
BEAUTIFUL PACKAGE. >> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> OF COURSE, WE'RE FOCUSING ON
THE GIN AND WON'T CRACK OPEN
THESE BOTTLES, BUT WHAT ELSE DO
YOU HAVE IN THESE BEAUTIFUL
BOTTLES?
BOTTLES?
BOTTLES? >> WE HAVE OUR BOURBON HERE
WHICH WAS THE SECOND PRODUCT WE
LAUNCHED LAST NOVEMBER AND
WE'RE LAUNCHING BATCH FIVE
PRETTY SOON.
PRETTY SOON. IT'S A MIXTURE OF THREE AND 12-
YEAR-OLD SOURCED WHISKEY
FINISHED IN BARRELS FROM ELK
COVE.
COVE.
COVE. CAN
COVE. CAN YOU TASTE IT?
>> A WOMAN COULD.
>> WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND ALL OF
YOUR BEAUTIFUL SPIRITS AND THE
CANNED COCKTAILS?
CANNED COCKTAILS? >> ALMOST ALL LIQUOR STORES
ACROSS THE STATE.
WE'RE ALSO IN CALIFORNIA AND
WASHINGTON AND AT OUR OWN
TASTING ROOM ON NORTHWEST
VAUGHN.
VAUGHN.
VAUGHN. PLEASE COME IN.
WE HAVE A FULL COCKTAIL BAR.
YOU CAN TASTE ALL OF OUR
BEAUTIFUL SPIRITS AND MOST
DELICIOUS COCKTAILS.
DELICIOUS COCKTAILS. WE OFFER TOURS DAILY AT 3:00.
>> THEY SHOULD FOLLOW YOU ON
SOCIAL MEDIA.
SOCIAL MEDIA. I FOLLOWED YOU GUYS ON
INSTAGRAM FOR A WHILE AND
PRODUCER CHRISTIAN AND I HAVE
BEEN SAYING THEIR BOTTLES LOOK
SO BEAUTIFUL.
SO BEAUTIFUL. IT PROBABLY TASTES GREAT.
WE SHOULD HAVE THEM ON BECAUSE
YOU'RE ALWAYS POSTING PICTURES
OF PUTTING FLOWERS IN THE
BOTTLES ONCE THE BOOZE IS GONE.
>> YOU CAN'T GET RID OF THAT
BOTTLE.
BOTTLE.
BOTTLE. >> WHERE WOULD YOU SAY WOULD BE
THE PERFECT CASE TO TAKE A
CANNED GIN AND TONIC?
>> PICNICS.
>>
>> EVEN
>> EVEN IN THE RAIN? >> YES, FOR SURE OR, I GUESS,
THIS WOULD BE A SUMMER
ACTIVITY, BUT LIKE OUT ON A
RIVER OR A LAKE SOMEWHERE, NICE
COLD CAN.
COLD CAN.
COLD CAN. >> DON'T DISCOUNT HOLIDAYS, TO
SURVIVE THE IN LAWS.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> THANKSGIVING.
>> THANKSGIVING. THANK YOU SO MUCH, LADIES.
CHEERS!
CHEERS!
CHEERS! YOU GUYS, AMAZING BEING HONORED