As one tours the Plateau, there’s no shortage of places to indulge in an adult beverage. Or two.
Our little corner of the world boasts the usual array of down-home bars and taverns. There are even a few places that like to consider themselves upscale and, mostly, there are plenty of establishments that fall somewhere in the middle.
But for our “Best Of…” purposes, the Plateau boasts a spirited triumvirate of top-notch crafters: the two-man team at Carbon Glacier Distillery has turned out debut batches of vodka and whiskey, with an expanded liquid menu in view; the creative force at Elk Head Brewery has found a niche; and Wade and Judy Bennett satisfy the needs of a specialized market, concocting wines and ciders at Rockridge Orchards.
Here’s a shot-glass size look at the Plateau’s potent potables.
From renovated quarters at 533 Church St. in rustic downtown Wilkeson, Chris Lyons and Keith Quimby have created Carbon Glacier Distillery, joining a growing list of liquor aficionados whose aim is to create top-shelf liquor.
The business partners share a military background and both work for the railroad.
By dipping into personal savings and doing much of the work themselves, they transformed a building in dire need of repair into a tastefully-appointed space. The front half serves as a tasting/sales room while a back room is where the magic happens. Helping make the operation hum are wives Karol Quimby Marian Lyons.
At the heart of the operation is a $6,000 still imported from Spain, an elegant-looking contraption that turns Washington-grown grains into 80-proof pleasure.
Quimby and Lyons started with B4 vodka, then produced a special Pump Trolley whiskey that was first sampled during Wilkeson’s annual handcar races. The entrepreneurial pair have also registered names for Grey Street bourbon, Rebellion whiskey and Quimby and Jack’s gin.
Carbon Glacier’s tasting room – where bottles are sold – is open noon to 6 p.m. Friday through Monday.
This isn’t quite what one would expect, as the tasting room and production plant share quarter in Buckley’s business park.
Occupying an end spot close to state Route 410 isn’t particularly cozy, but Elk Head has gained a following nonetheless.
Through the years, Elk Head has established a foothold at various locations throughout the region, keeping its loyal followers happy. There’s plenty to satisfy beer lovers’ tastes, with numerous brews ranging from heavy to light.
For information, call 360-829-BREW.
Rockridge Orchards and Cidery
Owners Wade and Judy Bennett might be farmers at heart – they’ve been at it for three decades now – but their leap into sweet wines and hard ciders opened up an entirely new audience for the Plateau couple.
They started near an Enumclaw neighborhood, have operated since 1991 on 264th Avenue Southeast and became more visible four years ago when they purchased the farmers market just north of town on state Route 169. That’s where they operate an independent tasting room featuring their tasty elixirs.
There’s types of hard apple cider and hard pear cider. The list also includes a sweet raspberry wine, semi-sweet honey wine, bayberry wine and a spiced blackberry wine. Rockridge is a licensed distillery and coming in the not-too-distant future – meaning 2013 and beyond – the Bennetts will be producing brandy and whiskey.
The tasting room – where everything sampled also is sold – is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m seven days a week, as is the market.
The Bennetts also keep busy hustling their products at five farmers markets in the Seattle/Bellevue area.
More about their operation can be found at www.rockridgeorchards.com.
