19TH HOLE

BY SIMON MCMAHON STEPHENS

Bourbon doesn’t necessarily scream Pacific Northwest, but instead conjures up images of something a little more southern. Nathan Kaiser is changing that. Born in Texas and raised on the familyowned 2BAR Ranch, Kaiser not only borrowed the name but also instilled his Texas roots, pride and work ethic into building his Seattle distillery. 2BAR Spirits was officially founded in 2010, and opened its doors to the public in October 2012. Apart from Kaiser, 2BAR has only one other employee (excluding the canine VP of Corporate Morale) — head distiller Maddie Kelly who has made something of a name for herself in the trade. That such a small team should build what has become the largest privately owned craft distillery in Seattle shows how committed it is to creating an exceptional grain-to-glass experience.

And the company is growing at such a pace, it’s literally selling whiskies faster than it can restock them. 2BAR’s main spirit is its ‘Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey’. The liquor is made grain-to-glass using 100 percent locally sourced Northwest grains. At 100 proof, it has subtle notes of butterscotch, vanilla, honey, dark chocolate, and cherry. Another favorite is the newly released Straight Bourbon Whiskey. A full-flavored whiskey at 80 proof, it sips super smooth.

Kaiser is a leader in the Washington Distillers Guild, and always looking to promote his adopted state and the Seattle spirit scene. And despite the pandemic, 2BAR’s popularity has grown rapidly. It mashes more than 20,000 pounds of grain per month with the expectation it will fill 145 full-size distilling barrels with just its flagship bourbon this year alone.

With hard work and a fierce dedication to their craft, Kaiser and Kelly will continue producing quality, locally sourced spirits for years to come. Buy these exquisite whiskies at 2BARspirits.com. Cheers!