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Aviation American Gin Opens Distillery, Visitor Center

Aviation American Gin is celebrating the grand opening of the “Aviation American Gin Distillery and Visitor Center” in its hometown of Portland, Ore. The state-of-the-art, nearly 33,000 sq. ft. facility features an intimate tasting room, exceptional draft cocktail bar and gift shop. As part of the interactive experience, visitors can get a sneak peek at co-owner Ryan Reynolds’ office, which doubles as an escape room, inviting guests to solve a series of puzzles and identify various Easter eggs to get out.

The new Aviation Gin experience offers guests a behind the scenes look at how Aviation Gin is distilled in its uniquely American style, crafted with a blend of botanicals, which delivers an approachable and uniquely balanced flavor profile. Like all successful partnerships, none is overpowering or masking, but each plays a part in bringing out the best in all. Aviation Gin was created to be balanced and smooth to complement any cocktail or even fly solo.

“About three years ago, we set out to create a one-of-a-kind distillery and tasting experience to give people the opportunity to get a look at how we make the world’s greatest spirit – Aviation American Gin, that is. We’re thrilled to announce that the Aviation American Gin Distillery is officially open for business in Portland, Ore., and everyone (21 years and older) is welcome,” said Ryan Reynolds, Aviation American Gin’s co-owner. “If a grown-up theme park and a bartender fell in love and produced offspring, it would be this gin factory.”

Helmed by award-winning industry veteran and distillery director, Hollie Stephenson, the facility will offer educational tours of the distillation process and bottling line, as well as tasting flights and unique seasonal draft cocktails. Stephenson will bring her vast production and tasting room experience to the site as she oversees the distilling and bottling operations, as well as the newly constructed visitor center and tasting room.

“Portland, Ore., is such a vibrant city with a rich, unrivaled spirits & cocktail scene. We’re proud to be opening the Aviation American Gin Distillery in the company’s hometown,” said Christina Choi, senior vice president at Diageo. “Knowing how beloved the brand is, we’re excited to invite consumers to explore, sip and learn about how our premium, uniquely American-style gin is distilled.”

The tours will be held in intimate groups of no more than 12 visitors and will cost $28 per person, which includes a guided tasting. Guests are invited to enjoy the distillery at their leisure and those who are visiting the bar can sip on cocktails and tasting flights (limited to 2.5oz per day) without participating in the full tour.

The distillery will be serving six draft cocktails that will rotate seasonally, starting with: Ryan’s Nitro Negroni, Fizzy Bees Knees, Grapefruit Collins, Aviation G&T, Saturn, and the Flora Dora. A straight tasting of Aviation American Gin will also be available to purchase for $5. Guests must be 21+ with valid ID to sample or purchase cocktails.

In 2020, Diageo acquired Aviation American Gin through the acquisition of the Davos Brands portfolio.

The Aviation American Gin Distillery is located at 2075 NW Wilson St. Portland, OR 97209, and is open Thursday through Sunday from noon – 7PM PT. Guests can book their visit at https://www.aviationgin.com/visit-us. For more information and to stay up to date on the latest news, including distillery details, please visit www.aviationgin.com or follow @aviationgin on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

Aviation American Gin [42% Alc/Vol. Imported by Diageo, New York, NY] reminds you to drink responsibly.

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Fridays on the Farm: A Young Farmer’s Mission to Make an Impact

From the U.S. Department of Agriculture. To read the entire story, click here.

young farmer

Kendall Rae Johnson is the youngest certified farmer in Georgia. Photo by Amelia Dortch, NRCS.

This Friday meet Kendall Rae Johnson, the youngest certified farmer in Georgia. Before starting school each morning, this 7-year-old starts her day by heading outside to her backyard, an urban oasis where she grows fresh fruit and produce. This oasis is called aGROWKulture and it’s an urban farm located in the heart of Southwest Atlanta.

Kendall’s love of vegetables started at a young age while cooking collard greens with her great-grandmother, Laura-Kate, who used to always say, “Hey, don’t throw my stems away. I can put those back in the dirt.” That’s when Kendall developed her interest in growing practically “anything” at only three years old.

“She would go ahead and put seeds in pots from some foods that we ate,” said Kendall’s mom, Ursula Johnson. After those pots grew into a patio garden, her dad, Quentin, built her a larger garden for her 4th birthday.

The garden has now expanded to cover the fayoungemily’s entire backyard and is becoming a source of fresh produce in the area. Kendall sells food basket subscriptions and grow boxes and donates food boxes. The farm is also a learning hub in their metro-Atlanta community where Kendall regularly hosts classes about urban agriculture and conservation.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Chestatee-Chattahoochee Resource Conservation and Development Council partnered with aGROWKulture to construct a high tunnel, enabling Kendall to grow fresh produce all year. It’s a great growing resource for Kendall and a big attraction to others.

Pointing out the high tunnel, Kendall said, “I call it Kendall’s Garden Playhouse! When other kids visit us and see it, they get really excited and ask a lot of questions.”

Read the full story here. For updates on issues of interest to the specialty food industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.

Farmland Bacon Helps Luke Bryan Kick Off Tour

Luke Bryan’s country music and Farmland bacon what’s not to like? Luke Bryan discovered a new, tasty way to help kick off his 2022 Farm Tour!

The country music star was surprised at his second tour stop in Mechanicsburg, Ohio, with a fun way to celebrate … a bacon-themed bar where everything served – from cocktails to snacks – was brimming full of Farmland bacon.

With eccentric drink options like Farmland Bacon-Infused Bourbon Manhattans and Farmland Bacon-Popcorn Bourbon Sours, made with the singer’s Two Lane Beer, it’s fair to say Luke Bryan was intrigued by the savory display. The bar even offered an array of delicious bacon-themed snacks ready to curb any pre-show appetite, including Bacon Swizzle Sticks, Bacon-Wrapped Hush Puppies, and Bacon On-The-Ranch Pinwheels.

As an official partner of Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour, Farmland presented its Bacon Bar to commemorate the annual concert series that gives back by awarding college scholarships to students from farming families who are attending a local college or university near the tour stops. To date, more than 60 scholarships have been granted.

In the brand’s continued efforts to support agriculture and farming communities, Farmland is proud to launch year two of its Honoring the Heartland Tour and be an official partner of country superstar Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour for a second consecutive year.

Throughout the 12-week mission, Farmland has been making two or three trips per week across the Midwest to deliver grab-n-go meals to those working in the agriculture industry, farming communities, and grocery/retail, and provide monetary donations to support the next generation of farmers.

To further invest in the future of the agricultural industry, Farmland is also excited to introduce its Farmland FFA Heartland Grant Program, which will be providing $20,000 in financial support to eligible members of the FFA to improve students’ work experience and to help with their development in the agriculture industry.

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