Our spirits

Fernet Lario - 80 proof (40% abV)

Fernet Lario is produced from a base of our very own Highside Distilling Gin, which is distilled from Washington-grown apples. We ferment and distill this gin base fully on-site and vapor-infuse it with a blend of 10 different traditional botanicals. Once distilled, we macerate six different herbs and aromatics direct in a once-used Rye Whiskey barrel for up to 10 weeks. This results in a strong mint and menthol-forward flavor and an intensely bitter finish, with a hint of smoke.  We then finish the fernet with raw Washington mint honey for a touch of balancing sweetness.  

The name, Fernet Lario, is inspired by Italian Folklore and the mythical Lariosauro of Italy’s Lake Como. Bold, dark, and ominous, the legend of Lariosauro and our Fernet make a natural pair.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Mint leaf, pine, smoke

Palate: Peppermint, earthy bitterness

Finish:  Cooling menthol, and mint   honey sweetness

KEY STATS

Fermentation Time: 7 days

# Distillations: 2 pot distillations (1 with vapor-infusion)

# Botanicals: 10 in base spirit (includes: Juniper, orange, rose, bay leaf, cubeb berry, vanilla), 5 direct maceration post-distillation (includes: peppermint leaf, black cardamom, juniper, aloe ferox)

Distillation Proof: 164 proof

Bottled Proof: 80 proof

Barrel Resting:  10 weeks in once-used 53-gallon Rye Whiskey barrel

AMaro rosina - 70 proof (35% abV)

Amaro Rosina is an aperitivo style amaro, distilled from a base of 100% Washington grown apples. We ferment and distill this base fully onsite and then macerate with a blend of 6 different traditional and local botanicals for up to six weeks. This results in a light bodied, citrus forward amaro with a drying bitter finish and a hint of fresh herbs. We then obtain the beautifully red color with a natural cochineal dye and finish it with pure cane sugar for a gentle sweet and balanced finish.

The name Rosina is a nod to Helen's Grandmother (Matt's Great Grandmother), Rosina Oliveto Mele. Rosina was the last generation of the Mele family to be born in Italy, in the small town of San Giovanni in Fiore, before moving to the US. The name Rosina is also inspired by the color of this spirit, rossa, the Italian word for red.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Fresh citrus, hop resin, rose petal

Palate: Candied orange, savory baking spice

Finish:  Lightly sweet, followed by dry and bitter

KEY STATS

Fermentation Time: 7 days

# Distillations: 1 pot distillation, 1 column distillation

# Botanicals: 6 direct maceration post-distillation (includes: Fresh Grapefruit Peel, Ginger, Bitter Orange, Bay Leaf, Gentian Root, Cascade Hops)

Distillation Proof: 178 proof

Bottled Proof: 70 proof

Barrel Resting:  None (8-10 week rest in Stainless Steel)

Harvest Gin Batch (seasonal) - Proof/ABV Varies

A once yearly release, our Harvest Gin is a unique expression of Highside Gin that has been barrel rested and macerated with fresh, locally foraged ingredients. Batch 01 started with our original apple based gin that spent over 15 months in a French Oak barrel, which previously held Petite Sirah wine from Eagle Harbor Winery. After maturation, we macerated the gin with fresh Aronia Berries harvested on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Strong winter spice and a light sweetness from the berries make this an excellent Fall/Winter gin.  Batch 02 was rested in an ex-Tequila barrel before being infused with smoked Washington Vans cherries. Batch 03 was rested in Petite Sirah barrels and infused with locally foraged blueberries and blackberries
 

KEY STATS

Fermentation Time: 7 days

# Distillations: 2 pot distillations, 1 column distillation

# Botanicals: 10 in base spirit (includes: Juniper, orange, rose, bay leaf, cubeb berry, vanilla) + a seasonal infusion post maceration

Distillation Proof: 164 proof

Bottled Proof: Varies

Barrel Resting:  Varies (Batch 01 spent 15 months in a French Oak used Petite Sirah wine barrel, Batch 02 spent 8 months in an American Oak ex-Tequila barrel, Batch 03 rested in Petite Sirah wine barrels and infused with local blueberry and blackberry)

Barrel Aged Gin (seasonal) - Proof/ABV Varies

Another once yearly release, our Barrel Aged Gin is a unique expression of Highside Gin that has been barrel rested in a combination of American Oak whiskey casks. Batch 01 was a blending of two separate Gins - one that was rested in an ex-Bourbon cask for over 18 months, and one that was rested in a freshly-charred new oak barrel (with a heavy char) for over 10 months. After maturation was complete, we blended these two gins together and let them marry in a stainless steel tank for just under a year. Heavy on the vanilla and caramel, this amber-hued gin is sure to please even the whiskey lovers out there!
 

KEY STATS

Fermentation Time: 7 days

# Distillations: 2 pot distillations, 1 column distillation

# Botanicals: 10 in base spirit (includes: Juniper, orange, rose, bay leaf, cubeb berry, vanilla)

Distillation Proof: 164 proof

Bottled Proof: Varies

Barrel Resting:  Varies (Batch 01 spent 18 months in used Bourbon plus 10 months in freshly-charred new oak)

NOCINO - 64 proof (32% abV)

Nocino is a traditional Italian liqueur made by infusing green (un-ripened) walnuts in alcohol, along with a blend of other botanicals. Our Nocino started with a base of our own Apple eau-de-vie, distilled from local Washington Apples. We then macerated green walnuts harvested right here on Bainbridge Island for just over three months, along with a blend of warming winter spices. The resulting spirit is nearly black in color with toasted nuts and rich molasses on the nose. The palate is full of baking spice, licorice root, raisins, and candied fruit. Finished with demerara sugar, it has a layered sweetness and a syrup-like viscosity. Perfect to sip on after a meal or mixed in to your favorite winter cocktail. 

TASTING NOTES

Nose:  Toasted nuts, molasses

Palate:  Warm baking spice, licorice, raisins, candied fruit

Finish:  Allspice, cinnamon, and clove with a syrup-like viscosity

KEY STATS

Fermentation Time: 7 days

# Distillations: 1 pot distillation, 1 column distillation

# Botanicals: 8 (including: Green walnuts, wild cherry bark, sarsaparilla, star anise, allspice, green cardamom, juniper, and lemon peel)

Distillation Proof: 178 proof

Bottled Proof: 64 proof

Sunset Hill Amaro - 76 proof (38% abV)

We teamed up with the amazing team at Baker’s restaurant in Seattle to craft our first ever collaboration amaro! Inspired by traditional alpine styles of amaro, but leveraging botanicals native to our home region. Consider it our take on a “Cascadian” style of amaro—it’s like we’ve     encapsulated the Pacific Northwest in a bottle! We worked closely with the team at Baker’s for over a year to hand pick a unique blend of local      botanicals that were then infused into our house-made apple eau de vie. Macerated for over 2 months before finishing with demerara sugar and bottling at 76 proof. A light sweetness on the front end, gives way to rich pine, spruce, hints of ripe fruit, and earthy undertones. Cheers!

TASTING NOTES

Nose:  Evergreen, spruce tip,  caramel

Palate:  Dark cherry, rooty, herbal,  umami

Finish:  Savory baking spice,  cherry cola

KEY STATS

Fermentation Time: 7 days

# Distillations: 1 pot distillation, 1 column distillation

# Botanicals: 10 (Fresh fir and spruce tip, yarrow, shore pine, rhubarb root, porcini mushroom, rosehips, cherry, strawberry, blackberry

Distillation Proof: 178 proof

Bottled Proof: 76 proof

American Single Malt whiskey 001 - 100 Proof (50% ABV)

This batch of whiskey is a blend of 2 different barrels of some of the first rounds of Single Malt we produced. Our mash bill was built off an old Scotch Ale home brew recipe we used to brew (less the hops), and includes 100% malted barley from the PNW - pale malt, crystal 40, crystal 120, and Munich malts. Milled, mashed, and fermented on-site to a distiller’s beer of 9% ABV before being double pot distilled on our custom pot still. Both batches of new make entered the barrels at 115 proof - one in a 53-gallon ex-Bourbon cask for over 3.5 years and the other in a new 53-gallon air seasoned American Oak barrel with a heavy char for 3 years and 3 months. These 2 barrels were then married together in a stainless steel tank and proofed to 100 proof (50% ABV) prior to bottling. 

TASTING NOTES

Nose:  Vanilla, fresh sawn oak, honey

Palate:  Caramel, toasted barley, slight heat

Finish:  Dark chocolate,  coating mouthfeel

KEY STATS

Mash Bill:  100% PNW Malted barley (Pale, Munich, C40, C120)

Fermentation Time:  7 days

Distillations / Type:  2 pot distillations

Barrel Aging: 3 .5 years in 53-gallon used American Oak Bourbon barrel, blended with 3 years and 3 months in a 53-gallon heavily charred new American Oak barrel

Barreled Proof: 115

Bottled Proof:  100