Evil Roy’s Distillery

Location: 209 S. Sequim Ave.

Tasting room hours: 4:30-9 p.m. Monday-Tuesday; closed Wednesdays; 4:30-9 p.m. Thursday-Friday; noon-10 p.m. Saturday; noon- 7 p.m. Sunday

More info: 360-504-3916

Evil Roy’s Distillery serves several creative alcoholic concoctions, from a salsa flavored agave spirit to a pumpkin based rum to a green gin at its new tasting room at 209 S. Sequim Ave.

Business owners Eric and Janice Oster said their distillery is gearing up to hold a grand opening for its tasting room from 4:30- 9 p.m. on Friday, July 13, with a ribbon cutting at 5 p.m. The business will offer appetizers catered from Pacific Pantry, Galare Thai and Jose’s Famous Salsa as well as food and beverages made with a few of the distillery’s products.

Eric says distilling has been a part of his life since he was a young child. He learned basic distilling from his father Roy, whom his business is named after, and continued learning about the process with his brother over the years. What once was a hobby is now Eric’s full-time job.

When it comes to distilling, Eric says he enjoys playing with ingredients and recipes to create his own styles of vodkas, rums, gins, whiskeys, brandys and more.

“I’m basically a chef,” Eric said.

“You make all the ingredients and have to do all the processes correctly.”

Owners also plan to source their ingredients from local farmers, cideries and business.

“We want to keep it all local and support the community,” Janice said. “We love being a part of the local community.”

The Osters said they had their craft distillery in Carnation for several years before moving their home and business to Sequim in February. Eric grew up in Shelton and wanted to return to the Olympic Peninsula.

“The community has been overwhelming with support,” Eric says. “We’ve been amazed with how many people are stopping by.”

The business is in its first phase of opening the tasting room where guests can sample and buy a variety of spirits Eric creates. Owners say the next phase of business is opening the distillery and the third phase includes partnering with a local brewer to open a brewery within its more than 4,000 square foot space.

“To make a good whisky, you have to brew a great beer,” Janice said.

Owners say they are waiting to have the distillery and brewery space approved through proper channels before opening its second and third phases of business.

The distillery’s two best selling products are the Salscal and the Emerald City Compound Gin, owners say. The Salscal is an agave spirit made from salsa — that smells and tastes like salsa, too — inspired by the couple’s favorite Mexican restaurant. The Emerald City Gin is made with nettles, lemon mint and citrus peal infused with the distillery’s vodka to create a green gin.

Eric says his personal favorite is the Rye Whisky using organically grown rye, wheat and oats and Janice says hers is the Emerald City Gin.

The drinks aren’t the only aspect of the business owners like to have fun with — the tasting room also boasts Western and Victorian decor. In the past, Janice said they have always decorated the business for Halloween.

“We love to have fun,” Janice said. “Distilling is what we love to do.”

Owners say they plan to paint the outside of the building — what once was an automotive shop — to match the inside with red and grey colors. Once the distillery is approved, Eric said he would like to offer tours as well as informal classes on distilling. The business also offers free tastings to its customers.

For more information about Evil Roy’s Distillery, visit its website at www.evilroyselixirs.com or its Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/evilroyselixirs/.

The tasting room at Evil Roy’s Distillery held a soft opening in June and boasts a Western and Victorian interior. Sequim Gazette photo by Erin Hawkins

Evil Roy’s owners say they hope to partner with a local brewer in the future to open a brewery in addition to its distillery . Sequim Gazette photo by Erin Hawkins