Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1004126
july 2018 / the tasting panel / 127 An Artist's Palate: Glass Distillery Vodka M any internationally renowned glass artists, including Dale Chihuly and Lino Tagliapietra, have found a home in Washington State. The region has an abundance of studios dedicated to the craft, so it's no wonder that this art form would inspire other creative mediums like spirit-making. An entrepreneur, artist, pilot, and chef, Glass Distillery founder Ian MacNeil is a true renaissance man who pulls inspiration from all aspects of his life and pours them into his various passions. Merging his love for art and the Pacific Northwest, he estab- lished his Seattle-based distillery to produce a line of vodka made with ingredients sourced from around the state while paying homage to local glassblowers through the brand's name and distinctive bottle shape. The flagship expression, Glass Vodka ($40), utilizes Washington wine made from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay grapes to craft an elegant spirit that undergoes a natural filtration process using diatomaceous earth. For its Glass Kona ($50), meanwhile, the distillery sources Hapuna Kihei coffee from Hawaii that's hand-roasted by Seattle's Seven Coffee Roasters and cold-brewed Japanese style before it's infused into the base of the original expression. Glass Nectar ($50) imparts a hint of artisan Washington honey to the vodka, while Glass Spice ($50) blends the base spirit with Ceylon cinnamon from Sri Lanka. In addition to its Glass line, the distillery also produces Selkirk Vodka ($30/375 ml). An extremely rare type of distilled spirit that bridges the gap between vodka and whiskey, Selkirk is created by aging Glass Vodka distillate in charred new American oak barrels for more than 15 months. Much like Washington itself, where the mountains meet the sea in a sweeping landscape, Glass Distillery and its vodkas meld inspiration from distinct places into a memorable experience every guest can enjoy.