{"id":24492,"date":"2015-06-17T06:09:18","date_gmt":"2015-06-17T10:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yurasko.net\/wfy\/?p=24492"},"modified":"2015-06-17T06:09:18","modified_gmt":"2015-06-17T10:09:18","slug":"visiting-new-columbia-distilling-makers-of-green-hat-gin-in-ivy-city-d-c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yurasko.net\/wfy\/2015\/06\/visiting-new-columbia-distilling-makers-of-green-hat-gin-in-ivy-city-d-c\/","title":{"rendered":"Visiting New Columbia Distilling, makers of Green Hat gin, in Ivy City, D.C."},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON, D.C. — <\/strong>Ever since I learned that a distillery was coming to The District<\/a>, I knew I wanted to visit it sometime. In March, I finally made the trip to New Columbia Distillery<\/a>, makers of Green Hat gin, so named for the head-wear of a Capitol Hill bootlegger named George Cassiday<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Ivy City location is on a narrow street across from a large parking lot for heavy vehicles. Inside, it’s perhaps 120′ x 40′ feet after crossing through the initial entry area. We weren’t carded. The stills are impressive in a steam punk kind of way. After an introduction to the legend of the man in the green hat<\/a> (he eventually had to serve 6 months of an 18 month sentence, yet got to walk home at night — very Werthian<\/em>), our guide explained that the grain was from Virginia’s Northern Neck – red winter wheat. The process was explained by the co-founder Michael Loew. It was a bit hard to hear him with dozens of people in the same space and music playing.<\/p>\n

Three varieties of gin are currently available: Green Hat, Ginavet<\/strong> and the new Navy Strength<\/strong>. The each have a variety of botanicals. My favorite was the Green Hat, followed by the Ginavet and then Navy Strength. I left with a bottle of Green Hat as well which despite the name, is gray on the bottle and the onesie I bought for my baby boy. I’ve tried Green Hat in a gin and tonic<\/a>, but I believe it would be better in a martini. The Ginavit would likely be good in a martini as well. <\/p>\n