Oregon Distilleries have made the grade!  We are now part of the 'Buy Oregon" campaign started by Ed King of King Estates Winery in Eugene.  Check it out and support your local craft liquor producers that are your local businesses who create living wage jobs and . . .  keep the money in Oregon!  These spirits, wines, and beers are some of the best in the World!

Salisha, pre-eminent Mixologist at LARKS Restaurant at the Ashland Springs Hotel did her handy work and infused Organic Nation vodka with vanilla bean and concocted a tasty Martini also including Rogue's Chocolate Stout and Umpqua's Vanilla Ice Cream.  Besides being tasty, it was a fun time.  Diane got to get behind the bar at LARKS and tell a little bit about the story behind Cascade Peak Spirits and Organic Nation. You can check out the love story in an article featured in Artisan Spirits magazine "Love at first Sip".

Cascade Peak Spirits Distillery, home of ORGANIC NATION has done it again and more!  both our certified organic vodka and gin won Gold medals at the third annual GOOD FOOD AWARDS competition for artisan food and beverage producers throughout the U.S.  This competition is the brain child of the famous Alice Waters of the internationally renowned Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, CA.  It honors crafters of chocolate, charcuterie, pickles, preserves, convections, cheese, coffee, beer and SPIRITS!
We are proud to be the top Gold Medal winners amongst the quality artisan producers that won this year.  In order to receive the Gold Medal distinction, you have to be certified organic, which of course, we are!
I was fortunate enough to meet Alice and get a hug, made my day! Along with being given the honor to receive the Spirits Category awards for the other nine distilleries.  I gave a 3.09 minute speech that validated and rewarded all of the Micro-Distilleries for crafting more palatable quality spirits.

Gigi La Rossa, is a great fan and supporter of ORGANIC NATION!  She has even been known to make her own Bourbon Balls using some of our Bourbon that David created in 2008 with the helpful hands of Thomas McKenzie of Finger Lakes Distillery in NY.

She is tireless and always ready with a helpful hint about where to go, what to do and even sometimes what to Imbibe! (that would be local certified organic spirits~ORGANIC NATION vodka and gin!)   Thanks Gigi, it is friends like you who help a small little business make a go of it!  

Check out LARKS, restaurant & bar in the Ashland Springs Hotel for great food, atmosphere and Salisha, their bartender, who is continually crafting delicious ORGANIC NATION cocktails.

The Oregon Small Business Development Center in Medford was instrumental in helping us get organized in the very beginning. This types of non-profit programs are very important the Oregon Entrepreneurs. Thanks, Gary, Ruthie and Jack!

'To start a revolution we have to believe. The Organic Home believes that to achieve one's own aims and goals, a purity of intention, focused and applied gentle effort and clearly defined goals are the 3 components to achievement. What we put into our bodies, and what we put onto our bodies, and what we use around us in our homes all have an effect on our lives, health and well-being, and ultimately an effect on all those around us, and indeed the entire world.' To read the rest of this article, go here. Founder Mark Golding has been advocating a commitment to a Sustainable, Organic lifestyle. His hub, The Organic Home, in the UK has generated a peaceful attraction to those who share similar ideals and wish to do their part. You can read their recommendation of Organic Nation Spirits, here.

The folks at White Water Warehouse are reporting that they have signed up several guests for the August 29 - 31, 2010 Rogue River rafting, kayaking & ONS Martini Madness trip. There is limited space so call Joy or Renee (the friendly office staff at outfitter White Water Warehouse) today at 1-800-214-0579. Or, check out the 2010 schedule on-line, here.

Extreme Chocolates could be a title easily misunderstood by the wrong consumer. Carrie Wong of Salem, has tackled a niche that most wouldn't even consider, hand crafting an organic vanilla extract, to be used for cooking and baking. That's extreme! She starts with Organic Nation Vodka, made in Ashland Oregon (and fulfilling the highest regiment of Organic Certification) and adds Madagascar Vanilla Beans and her own touch, 12 months later the delicate blend is bottled in 4oz frosted bottles and prepped for sale. Carrie is the only brewer on the west coast, you can find more information and where to buy here. Carrie also crafts some of the finest chocolates around. A lovely Holiday treat!

The Garden Bistro at McCully House is where you can find Valerie Vorland mixing fabulous drinks and serving beautiful dinners. I was excited to meet with Valerie Vorland who has been a bartender and server for 12 years. She said, "I love this business, you meet the coolest people, work in the coolest places and the networking is incredible! This is my calling." After a group discussion with Valerie, and Sarah Farnsworth, House Manager of the Garden Bistro at The McCully House, and staff and patrons about 'Mixology' and how everyone loves the flavor of Organic Nation vodka, it was unanimous that Organic Nation vodka is exquisite by itself. If you really wanted to order a cocktail, a well done martini was the drink of choice. Garden Bistro at McCully uses the best for their martini's, they mix with Quady North Vermouth named Vya, an herbally infused, aromatized wine. Superb is an understatement. Note: At the Garden Bistro, the wine list is 90 % local and the dinner menu is about 80% locally grown or made in the Applegate and Rogue Valleys. Organic Nation Spirits fit right in with the values of supporting local. Valerie and Sarah remind me that the Garden Bistro at McCully House is not just a special occasion restaurant, you can bring your co-workers for a business meeting, come in with your girlfriends or stop on your way back from the river. Everyone is welcome and please, please please check out the gorgeously lush patio.

Christopher said, "I used to be a barista, but now as a bartender, I serve my customers Organic Nation gin and they are much happier!" We ordered 5 entrées, so we could have a good sampling of the faire and it was a fabulous feast. Don't take my word for it, stop under the chic new awning on 21 Winburn Way and enjoy yourself!

Libations will be flowing June 25, 2009 at the Charles Froelick Gallery, courtesy of us! 'On the eve of the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, join us in celebrating the achievements of the LGBT equality movement A celebration to benefit Basic Rights Oregon PAC - working to elect fair-minded candidates into public office. Tickets are $40 in advance at basicrights.org & $50 at the door...' For more details log onto the events Facebook page.

This is a picture of the beautiful organic rye field that Mark Wheeler of Pacific Botanicals in Grants Pass, about 45 miles from Ashland, grew for ORGANIC NATION to use in the production of an Organic Rye whiskey.

Melissa, a bartender at Sweetwaters in Eugene, shows off their Organic Nation Infusions (and our Gin). Sweetwaters features an extensive list of Organic Cocktails all hand crafted in house. I was so excited to see someone using a premium vodka as the base of their in house infusions. I typically avoid infusions as a cocktail lover, knowing (from years of bartending) that most are made with rather inexpensive vodka. Sweetwaters took it a step further and made their infusions Organic, of course I was all smiles that they chose our Oregon Made Organic Vodka!!! Cheers!