In the business world, word rarely spreads like wildfire. But despite the fact that a large number of residents are still not aware that Battle Ground boasts the first distillery in Clark County, Double V Distillery has amassed 250 accounts in nearly two and a half years including 40 local restaurants and beverage stores and every Total Wine & More and Fred Meyer store in Washington state.
Long before co-owner John Vissotzky opened his doors to complimentary public tastings in June of 2013, he was hard at work distilling spirits in his 1,750-square-foot space in a light industrial area off Grace Avenue.
Aside from its proximity to John’s home, he and co-owner/brother Steve Vissotzky envisioned a welcoming space that would attract residents and tourists to try their product. Other areas, including Vancouver, require that distilleries set up shop in heavy industrial zones, but Battle Ground’s zoning is more public-friendly.
“We were afraid it would be a downside,” John said. “It’s a very small community and away from where the action is so we thought it was going to be difficult to draw people, but we’ve found that Battle Ground is a very tight community. People tend to frequent other businesses in Battle Ground.”
Business growth has exceeded expectations; John shared that Double V has tripled production in two years and is on track to at least double their present output in 2016. Currently, 25-30 cases are bottled each week and the business owners are looking to expand their distilling equipment with another still and fermentation tank.
Using heavily-charred American white oak barrels ordered out of Kentucky, Double V ages their whiskey and bourbon in barrels procured from the same cooperage used by many of the national distillers including Jim Beam. This might be the secret behind their 2014 awards. Colonel Cobb Moonshine, an unaged corn whiskey, garnered a silver medal at the New York International Spirits Competition; Colonel Cobb Apple Pie earned a silver at the Great American Distillers Festival held in Portland; and Viscova Vodka received a silver medal in a blind tasting of 45 domestic vodkas put on by TheFiftyBest.com, “an award-winning online guide to fine living.”
At 80 percent organic and Washington-grown, Double V is substantially exceeding their craft license requirement of 51 percent local ingredient sourcing. Corn is certified organic from Othello and barley is certified organic from Moses Lake. Bellingham’s Scratch and Peck Feeds is the organic-certified milling and feed-producing company that Double V uses. Coming from Canada or the Midwest, barley malt is the only non-organic ingredient used at the distillery.
Being the only Clark County distillery has presented unique collaborative opportunities with the growing craft beverage industry. According to John, Heathen Brewing will be using Double V’s first-release whiskey and bourbon barrels to make a barrel-aged stout; Northwood Public House made a gin-based IPA using Double V’s gin recipe and spices; John partners with Bader Beer and Wine Supply to provide a two-day basic distilling class; and both Moulton Falls Winery and Heisen House Vineyards have used Double V to distill a varietal for a port-style wine.
In addition to their Viscova Vodka, Colonel Cobb Moonshine and Colonel Cobb Apple Pie – an apple and cinnamon-flavored corn whiskey with distinct flavors of the crust, cinnamon and baked component, Double V offers a lighter juniper, orange and floral Griffon Gin and hopes to introduce a straight three year-old barley whiskey by Thanksgiving and a three year-old bourbon barrel whiskey for Christmas. Dirty Dog, a six month-aged corn whiskey that’s part of the Colonel Cobb line, is made in limited amounts and tends to sell out upon release.
Double V Distillery is located at 1315 S.E. Grace Ave., Ste. 118, in Battle Ground. Tasting room hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Double V Distillery
1315 S.E. Grace Ave., Unit 118 Battle Ground Founded 2009 doublevdistillery.com
