Hood River Distillers buys Crater Lake Spirits
Oregon-based Hood River Distillers (HRD) has acquired the Crater Lake Spirits portfolio from local producer Bendistillery for an undisclosed sum.
Following the deal, Bendistillery will continue to produce and bottle Crater Lake Spirits at its facility in the city of Bend, Oregon.
“From a product standpoint, very little will change,” said Jim Bendis, founder and CEO of Bendistillery. “We’ll continue crafting the same high-quality spirits our customers know and trust.
“The difference is that instead of navigating a complex network of state markets and distributors on our own, we’ll now produce for Hood River Distillers, whose reach and relationships are broader than ours. It’s truly a win-win.”
The Crater Lake portfolio includes gin, flavoured vodka and rye whiskey. Bendistillery has also teamed up with Deschutes Brewery to create Black Butte Whiskey, an American single malt distilled from Deschutes’ Black Butte Porter.
Hood River claims to be the largest and oldest importer, distiller and marketer of spirits in the Pacific Northwest. It also owns Clear Creek Distillery, described as Oregon’s first craft distillery, which it acquired in 2014.
“Crater Lake Spirits is an award-winning portfolio with a strong legacy, a loyal following across Oregon, and deep roots in the Bend community,” said Russell Dodge, Hood River Distillers president.
“We both share a commitment to craftsmanship and quality, which is why these new additions fit seamlessly into the HRD portfolio.”
Hood River said the agreement comes at a key time in the industry as distilleries across the country face declining consumption and shifting consumer preferences.
In April 2024, Hood River Distillers promoted Caitlin Bartlemay to the role of master distiller.
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