PORTLAND, OR – December 6, 2016 – Eastside Distilling, Inc. announced Tuesday the appointment of its Master Distiller, Melissa “Mel” Heim, to the additional role of Executive Vice President of Operations. As Executive Vice President, Ms. Heim is now the senior-most operational manager at the company’s Portland headquarters and production facility.
Ms. Heim, who earns industry accolades for her keen palate, holds the distinction of being the first female master distiller west of the Mississippi. Before joining Eastside, Ms. Heim perfected her spirit crafting skills under the tutelage of the master distiller of Portland’s Rogue Distillery & Public House. Appropriately for her new job position, Ms. Helm co-founded and served as president of ClearBoots Society, an organization that supports women’s leadership in the spirits industry.
A Portland native, Ms. Heim is an active soccer player in the PDX adult recreation league and, as a pre-teen, set Oregon records by achieving her first of three black belts in the Korean martial art of Tae-Kwon-Do with over twenty years of mixed martial arts experience. She graduated from Canby High School in 2001 and went on to study English at the University of Oregon where she was a member of the school’s Tae-Kwon-Do Club.
“As our new Exec VP, Mel will continue to put the highest possible quality into our spirits as we increase production to meet growing demand both here in Oregon and in exotic new markets like China, Canada and Seattle,” said Grover Wickersham, Executive Chairman of Eastside Distilling. “Mel has truly ‘paid her dues’ and earned her new senior leadership role. Despite being a youthful and energetic 33 years old Master Distiller, Mel is already a modestly grizzled ten-year veteran of the craft spirits movement. Mel has created by herself, or helped to create, a portfolio of whiskeys including Burnside Bourbon, Barrel Hitch, Cherry Bomb, Marionberry, and our popular Portland Potato Vodka and Coffee Rum. Mel, in my opinion, is just hitting her stride, and we at Eastside expect that she will be helping us offer our loyal customers some insanely great new spirits in the future.”
“I am excited to take on a greater leadership role with Eastside Distilling,” said Melissa Heim, Executive VP of Operations. “Eastside is helping Oregon make a significant contribution to the boom in craft distilling. We’ve been enjoying strong growth trends in whiskeys and bourbons over the last few years with increased popularity among millennials and women. Eastside plans to fully benefit from these trends by continuing to provide innovative and high-quality spirits at affordable prices. I truly enjoy making and offering small batch, unique products like our beer schnapps made from local Portland beers, and our limited release bourbons aged in Oregon Oak, which is something I’m very proud we pioneered and are still the best at crafting.”
About Eastside Distilling
Eastside Distilling, Inc. (OTCQB: ESDI) is located in Southeast Portland’s Distillery Row, and has been producing high-quality, master crafted spirits since 2008. Makers of award winning spirits, the company is unique in the marketplace and distinguished by its highly decorated product lineup that includes Barrel Hitch American Whiskies,Burnside Bourbon, Below Deck Rums, Portland Potato Vodka, and a distinctive line of infused whiskeys. All Eastside spirits are master crafted from natural ingredients for unparalleled quality and taste. The company is publicly traded under the symbol OTCQB: ESDI. For more information visit: www.eastsidedistilling.com or follow the company on Twitter and Facebook.