Owners and brothers, John and Steve Vissotzky, established Double V Distillery in Battle Ground in 2009, in part, because they’d always wanted to go into business together but also to provide a company for John’s four sons and Steve’s three sons to carry on with when the elder Vissotzkys retire.
After graduating from Washington State University Vancouver, Nicholas, one of John’s sons, came on board. The timing was seamless and, John added, “we’re all Cougar grads.”
The opening of their tasting room in June of 2013, just south of Battle Ground Village on Grace Avenue, has elicited surprise from area residents that there’s a distillery in Clark County and particularly that it’s located in Battle Ground. John said that the majority of patrons so far have commented that their offerings are as good, if not better, than the nationally-recognized brands. Even their Colonel Cobb Moonshine, which doesn’t have a great reputation, is making customers out of tasters.
Interestingly, the Battle Ground location has as much to do with zoning as it does the fact that Double V’s is located near John’s home in Brush Prairie. Other areas of Southwest Washington require that a distillery be located in heavy industrial zones, which is not conducive to tourists and residents visiting a tasting room or touring the facility. Battle Ground, on the other hand, allows distilleries to be located in light manufacturing complexes.
Spirits currently available at Double V are Viscova Vodka Colonel Cobb Moonshine, Colonel Cobb Apple Pie and Griffon Gin. Released in June of 2013, Double V’s Vodka recently won a Silver medal in a blind tasting of 45 domestic vodkas put on by TheFiftyBest.com, “an award-winning online guide to fine living.”
Double V just started selling their gin in January of 2014. It’s lighter on the juniper than other brands, they use orange as the citrus instead of lime or lemon and there’s a secret floral component that hits wonderfully on the nose.
The new releases, which could be out around Christmas time if all goes well, will be labeled JS Tallman Bourbon and Whiskey. It’s a spin on their names (John and Steve) as well as their last name, Vissotzky, which translates in Polish to “high place’’ or “tall man.’’
The first release will be offered through the tasting room only, due to its estimated 30-40 cases. Colonel Cobb Apple Pie, released in December of 2012 along with the Moonshine, is an apple and cinnamon-flavored corn whiskey. It is unaged, but charring in the barrel turns the clear liquid to caramel and this reporter can verify that it tastes like apple pie – a huge kick of apple pie but the flavor of the crust, the cinnamon and the baked taste are all there.
Double V uses full-sized, 53-gallon, American white oak barrels ordered out of Kentucky. They’re heavily charred on the inside and sourced from the same cooperage that provides barrels to many of the national distillers including Jim Beam.
The Vissotzkys pride themselves on in state ingredients. The corn is certified organic from Othello. Barley is grown in Moses Lake and also certified organic. Scratch and Peck Feeds out of Bellingham are the organic-certified milling and feed-producing operation that Double V uses. The barley malt is the only non-organic ingredient used in the operation. It currently comes from Canada or the midwest and, moving forward, will come only from the United States, according to John. Due to their strict standards, Double V is able to say they’re 80 percent organic and 80 percent Washington grown.
“It’s nice to know that nothing’s been altered or treated with chemicals. The craft license we have requires 51 percent (of our product) be grown in the State of Washington. If I could do 100 percent, I would. It’s all about community, which is why we chose Battle Ground. To me, it’s important,” John said.
Locally, Double V’s spirits can be found at Mill Creek Pub, Northwood Brew Pub, Hudson’s Bar & Grill, The Grant House, Farrar’s Bistro and all the Total Wine & More’s in the State, to name a handful. John said they had a very good showing at the Craft Winefest and were featured at Battle Ground Harvest Days. Those interested, can also look for Double V’s at the Vancouver Brew Fest August 8-10.
Commenting on joining the ranks of the wine and beer-focused Northwest, John said “I think it’s pretty cool. The Northwest really set the bench in beers and the wineries are comparing with European wineries…The scary part is it’s a great industry. It’s a tough business, competition is heavy - that’s the scary aspect - but I look more toward the exciting side.”
Double V Distillery is located at 1315 SE Grace Ave., Suite 118, Battle Ground. Tasting room hours are Tue.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, go to www.doublevdistillery.com.
