OOLA Distillery
Overview of the Distillery
OOLA Distillery is an active producer in Seattle, Washington, making bourbon, gin and vodka with clear local roots. The distillery markets itself as a central player in the city's spirit scene and runs a Whiskey Society, which delivers quarterly special whiskies and special visiting benefits. The range spans from Waitsburg Bourbon in the flagship series to several gin and vodka expressions, and production highlights the use of local ingredients and artisanal approaches.
History
Position in Seattle and the Membership Club
OOLA describes itself as an established player in Seattle with an active Whiskey Society that sells annual memberships. The organization's communications highlight its role as a local producer of bourbon, gin and vodka, as well as offerings such as quarterly special whiskies for the club’s members. Product descriptions also mention a leadership role for master distiller and co-owner Kirby Kallas-Lewis.
Raw Materials and Production
OOLA works with local grains, including an mentioned organic Washington soft white winter wheat, high rye content and corn in their bourbon mashes. Vodka is produced with column distillation and references to a fractioning still; the vodkas are filtered once with limited activated charcoal to preserve the grain's character. The gin products are often built on OOLA Vodka as a base and incorporate both standard botanicals and hand-foraged ingredients from the region: bull kelp, spruce tips, local berries and honey are mentioned directly. The owner's own lemon verbena is used fresh and infused the same day as harvest for the citrus vodka, and the distillery experiments with oak finishes, including storing gin briefly in bourbon barrels.
Aging and Barrel Types
The bourbon production is described as aged in 53-gallon barrels, and Waitsburg Bourbon is described as handcraftedly aged for six to eight years. The distillery also uses recently emptied Waitsburg Bourbon barrels to finish-age gin for around two months and 28 days, a practice that transfers wood and bourbon character to short-aged products. Cask-strength releases are marketed at a higher ABV with no further details about barrel treatment.
Whiskeys
The range covers both spirits and whiskeys: In the OOLA Flagship collection, Waitsburg Bourbon and a cask-strength variant appear as the distillery's most notable whiskey expression. In addition, the distillery works with several gin varieties (Flagship Gin, Left Coast Gin, Barrel-Finished Gin) and vodkas (classic vodka and citrus version). The products are primarily offered in 750 ml bottles, and some items also appear in 50 ml sample sizes. The Whiskey Society also delivers quarterly, member-exclusive whiskies and related events.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | ABV | Age | Barrel and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OOLA Waitsburg Bourbon | Bourbon; OOLA Flagship | 47% | 6–8 years | 53-gallon barrels | Medium–full-bodied bourbon with a bouquet of vanilla, caramel and cherry. The spicy edge from a high rye content is balanced by sweet corn and the silky viscosity of organic Washington soft white winter wheat. Aged in 53-gallon barrels; handcrafted six- to eight-year aging mentioned in the product text.; Nose: Vanilla, caramel and cherry; Palate: Brown sugar, maple syrup, sweet corn, spicy kick from high rye content and silky wheat feel; Finish: Creamy oak, toffee and fresh cherry notes | Current; Core range; Sold out |
| OOLA Waitsburg Bourbon Cask Strength | Bourbon | 58% | 6–8 years | 53-gallon barrels | Cask-strength variant of Waitsburg Bourbon; higher alcohol (58% ABV) with the same reference to maturation in 53-gallon barrels and described six-to-eight years of handcrafted aging in the producer's text.; Nose: Vanilla, caramel and cherry; Taste: Brown sugar and maple syrup with a spicy rye-like edge and a full grain body; Finish: Mild tannins, butterscotch/toffee and persistent cherry notes | Current; Sold out |
Style and Flavor Profile of the Whiskeys
Distinct flavor directions recur across the products: sweetness from vanilla, caramel, brown sugar and toffee are highlighted in the bourbon texts; fresh fruit notes such as cherry and citrus are mentioned in both bourbon and vodka; as well as spicy notes from a high rye content, which give a warm spice to the bourbon. These three main directions (vanilla/caramel, fresh fruit/cherry/citrus, and spicy rye) form a consistent picture of OOLA's style.
Visiting the Distillery
The production facility offers visits by appointment only; the website's contact block states that production visits are "by appointment ONLY". Whiskey Society members also receive concrete visiting benefits: a free tasting plate for the member and three friends per visit, free Society Tour for the member and up to six friends, and priority access to special releases and events. Booking is required for visits, and membership accompanies special bookings and events.
Philosophy and Craft
OOLA emphasizes a sensory and local approach to spiritmaking: using local and often hand-foraged ingredients, preserving the character of the grain and raw materials through limited filtering, and rapid handling of fresh herbs to retain essential oils. Communications from the distillery also highlight values such as presence, enjoyment and community as foundational to their work.