Our Spirits
Info Sheets:
Green Geisha Wasabi Flavored Vodka
Green Geisha is an infusion of pure Wasabi root and neutral grain spirits, proofed with spring water from Quail Ridge Farm in Alpine, Oregon (about five miles from the distillery).
Because we use pure Wasabi root, Geisha has a surprisingly sweet start with a vegetal body. The slight spicy punch arrives at the end, and is nothing like the horseradish burn usually associated with sushi Wasabi.
The pure Wasabi gives the spirit its lovely green color. There are no other added flavorings or colors.
Enjoy straight, ice cold, or mixed as a martini or Bloody Mary.
$20 a bottle. Available in any Oregon Liquor store, order #1065B.
Sugar Momma Sipping Vodka
Let’s start with a couple questions we’re often asked:
“Everyone makes vodka. Why is your vodka different?”
Fermented from molasses and cane sugar, distilled on site using columns we built ourselves, then proofed with local spring water, our Sugar Momma is a smooth sipping vodka unlike other flavorful vodkas. Sure, it can be mixed with a number of ingredients, but it truly shines all by itself (or shaken with ice).
We’ll let Scott Stursa of the Corvallis Epicurean speak for us:
The stuff exudes a distinct bouquet of brown sugar, similar to a lot of rums. On the palate it’s extraordinarily smooth, and has a richness uncharacteristic of vodka. Seriously, if you’re a rum fan, this is your vodka. When the weather warms up a bit more, I’m going to try this in a Mojito.
Historically in the U.S., vodka has been a spirit designed to hide behind mixers, unlike the traditional vodkas from Russia and Poland, which allowed their base fermentable (usually potato) to assert itself.
“If we use molasses and cane sugar, why isn’t it rum?”
This question is answered by the still. We pot distill our molasses wash, then run the resulting low wines through reflux columns designed to distill to 97% alcohol. Most, but not all, of the flavor is stripped out.
“Awesome. How much?”
Only $17.95 a bottle. Order in any Oregon liquor store: #6949B.
For a the growing list of liquor stores that carry Hard Times’ spirits, see our retail locations map. Let us know if you want us to contact a liquor store near you, or if you know someplace we should do a tasting!