Spirited Away: Thinking Tree Spirits Adds Dimension to Eugene Libations
William Kennedy | Eugene Magazine, Eugene OR
Opening a distillery in the Whiteaker neighborhood was no accident. One particular strip along the railroad tracks of 1st Avenue is becoming a burgeoning distilling district. “It’s the Whiteaker, where everyone wants to be!” declares Bryan Jensen at the tasting room of Thinking Tree Spirits. Thinking Tree, a “farm to flask” distillery, was founded by Jensen, his wife, Emily Jensen, and distiller Kaylon McAlister—a “South Eugene” boy.
Thinking Tree’s tasting room and distillation facility are housed in an 89-year-old building nearby other craft distilleries, Heritage Distilling Company and Wolf Spirits Distillery. The trio is bringing vodka, rum, gin, and other distilled liquors to Eugene’s growing menu of locally made libations.
Thinking Tree held its grand opening in April, and Jensen says several hundred people attended, spurring brisk bottle sales in the tasting room. Jensen and his partners want to make the distillery something special and hope to become the “neighborhood liquor store.” Until, distillery’s products can be found locally at restaurants and bars like Hot Mama’s Wings, Sam Bond’s Garage, Papa’s Soul Food, liquor stores and, of course, the tasting room.
Using a 400-gallon system, Thinking Tree makes three spirits on-site: Main Stage Vodka (inspired by the Main Stage at the Oregon Country Fair), Genius Gin, and Whiteaker Rum, with a full menu of seasonal cocktails...