Some news from our friends at House Spirits Distillery in Portland…

House Spirits Distillery, now celebrating more than a decade as a leader of America’s craft distilling community, welcomes two industry-leading talents to its roster of dedicated brand educators: Erin Hayes, rum aficionado and former Bar Manager of the award-winning tropical bar Lost Lake in Chicago, IL, and Jordan Felix, whiskey expert and former Beverage Director at Multnomah Whiskey Library in Portland, Ore.

Hayes, who recently relocated from Chicago to Los Angeles, joins House Spirits Distillery as national director of education and advocacy. Felix, who will remain in Portland, the home of House Spirits Distillery, will serve as portfolio educator and westward whiskey advocate. Both have joined the craft distillery’s team full time and will educate the beverage trade on House Spirits Distillery’s diverse portfolio of award-winning brands that include Westward American single malt whiskey, Krogstad aquavit, Volstead vodka, and the company’s forthcoming rum release, Casa Magdalena.

Since 2015, Hayes has served as a critical member of the House Spirits distillery brand supporter team in a part-time capacity, where she worked hand-in-hand with bartenders and beverage program leaders from across the country to raise awareness and build affinity for the company’s portfolio. Together, and under the tutelage of Brooke Arthur, vice president, global education and advocacy for House Spirits Distillery, Hayes and Felix will manage House Spirits’ growing roster of brand supporters.

These strategic hires come at an ideal time for House Spirits Distillery, as the company has just closed out a landmark year in 2016. In the first full year in its new distillery location – which increased production capacity sixfold and made House Spirits Distillery the largest distilling operation in the Pacific Northwest and the largest craft distillery on the West Coast by both capacity and volume—House Spirits’ dedicated team of six distillers produced more than 1,000 barrels of its Westward American Single Malt Whiskey, more than any other independent Single Malt distillery in the U.S.  Additionally, last November, House Spirits Distillery opened the world’s first-ever airport distillery tasting room at Portland International Airport. There is more in store for 2017 as House Spirits grows its brand supporter team, launches Westward American Single Malt Whiskey nationally, and introduces the newest addition to the portfolio, Casa Magdalena Rum, a cane-to-glass rum distilled in Guatemala then aged and blended at the company’s distillery in Portland.

“Brooke Arthur and I are thrilled to have Erin and Jordan as full-time members of our House Spirits Distillery team, and know that the talent and passion each of these supporters will apply to our spirits will serve as a major asset to our portfolio of brands,” says Thomas Mooney, CEO, House Spirits Distillery. “2016 was a major turning point for our company, due in large part to our talented family of Brand Supporters and our dedicated and gifted team of distillers. With these two talented ambassadors onboard, we are looking forward to another record year in 2017.”