Review: The Hardware Distillery Vodka
The Hardware Distillery was founded by Jan and Chuck Morris in 2012. They opened their doors the summer of 2013. The distillery is located next to Washington’s Hood Canal in Hoodsport Washington. Jan Morris was laid off from her job as an attorney one month before her 60th birthday. When the Washington State Unemployment office considered her unemployable she acquired and remodeled a former hardware store originally built in 1930. Jan runs the business and in the cold winter off season teaches watercolor painting. Her watercolor designs are featured on each of their spirits bottle labels. Her husband Chuck is the distiller of their vodka and a dozen other spirits including, whiskey, aquavit, and gin. Hardware Distillery Vodka is made from Washington State grown pears. A homemade pear cider is distilled until it is a spirit. The vodka is then charcoal filtered before bottling at a lightly elevated 86 proof. The vodka also serves as a base for their aquavit. The aroma leads with vanilla and baked pear. Additional time brings out chewy caramel. The sweet vanilla and burnt sugar entry is joined by pear building to a juicy baked cinnamon pear peak. It fades with caramel and finishes with tart pear, vanilla, caramelized sugar, and baking spice. The extra octane in Hardware Distillery Vodka gives this an extra flavor boost without an extra blast of heat or burn.
Made in Hoodsport Washington
43% Alcohol
Score: 91
Award: Gold Medal