Dogwood Distilling Information

While Dogwood Distilling, which makes D.L. Franklin, might not yet be a household name, it's one in a growing legion of Oregon-based distilleries that hope to position the state as a leader in the industry. Oregon is, of course, known as the micro-brew capitol of the universe, but with 54 businesses licensed by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to distill, the booze biz appears to be catching on. Hottenroth says it took approximately 14 months to get the paperwork sorted with the state, but as of last summer he's been legal and making vodka at his distillery in Forest Grove. The next step is expanding into new products, following the lead of other local distillers by crawling up the shelves from vodka, to gin and finally to the dark stuff. "The long-term goal for me is whiskey," he says. But whiskey takes time. It has to age three to five years if not longer, tying up resources - while Hottenroth can put out approximately 100 cases of vodka in two weeks. Hottenroth will begin his whiskeys this spring, but Dogwood's Union Gin, expected to hit the shelves in May, will be out first. If his name seems to ring a bell, it's because Hottenroth has been a part of the Oregon liquor scene for about 15 years, beginning as a sake maker at Forest Grove's SakéOne - a period during which he traveled to Japan and learned about filtration - then as the owner of Cornerstone Pub and Grill. Hottenroth sold the pub 10 years ago and moved to Portland, where he started the Concordia Ale House, and helped build the Green Dragon and the recently shuttered Integrity Spirits. He says the switch to distilling was twofold. After 20 years in the alcohol industry - which began in California where he installed vineyards - the only thing he hadn't done yet was distill his own product. He also "wanted a job with no employees. At Dogwood, in addition to making the product, Hottenroth is also the salesperson and billing manager. It may sound a little lonely, but Hottenroth says he's found plenty of encouragement inside the world of ...