WASHINGTON, DC — Washington, DC based District Distilling Co. is bringing a new brand to the District with the launch of its new Embassy Row spirits label. A revival and celebration of heritage regional liqueurs from around the world, Embassy Row is an exploratory series of small-batch internationally-loved spirits.
“The inspiration for this label launch came the day that we moved to DC” says Matt Strickland, head distiller at District Distilling Co. “My family and I were driving down Mass Ave. and seeing all of the embassies from around the world was such a cool way to enter Washington. It struck me that our DC-based distillery would be an ideal place to experiment and explore sprits from around the world. That is exactly what Embassy Row is.”
The first spirit launched under the Embassy Row label will be the Embassy Row Grappa. Often called ‘Italian moonshine’ and historically used as a way for Northern Italian workers to stay warm in harsh winter months, Grappa has evolved into a well-crafted spirit in Italy and around the world. Grappa is distilled using the skins, pulp and seeds of the grapes left after pressing for wine and District Distilling Co. has partnered with Boxwood Winery in Middleburg, Virginia to use the cabernet sauvignon grape must. The must is brought from Middleburg to District Distilling Co. where Matt Strickland starts the distilling process no less than 48 hours after the grapes are pressed to preserve full aromatic presentation.
Debuting in September 2017, The Embassy Row Grappa will be released in the District Distilling Co. tasting room. 50 cases will be produced.
Strickland has several liqueurs in the work under the Embassy Row label, due for release in 2018/2019.
About District Distilling Company
Opened in August 2016, District Distilling Co. is an urban distillery experience in Washington, DC. Built inside a series of historic row houses in DC’s U Street Corridor, the impressive distilling facility houses a custom-made 12-foot copper pot still and 26-foot twin copper column system imported from Germany. The distillery, led by head distiller Matt Strickland, produces several labels of spirits, including Checkerbark and WildJune Gins, Backroom Bourbon, Buzzard Point Rum label, C & O Tradesman label and new Embassy Row label of experimental liqueurs. District Distilling Company provides guests the full spectrum of the culinary experience by Chef Justin Bittner, allowing diners to enjoy expertly crafted cocktails using spirits distilled in-house, as well as, dishes centered around ingredients from the local bounty.
District Distilling Company is located at 1414 U Street, NW and is open Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturday and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday from 4 p.m. to midnight The kitchen is open for weekend brunch and nightly dinner with late night bar service. For more information, please visit http://www.district-distilling.com/.