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| Cotton & Reed's Jordan Cotton & Reed Walker (r) (Photo: Will Matsuda) |
From our friends at Union Market...
Burgeoning Northeast DC Neighborhood Welcomes New Rum Distillery
This winter, DC’s vibrant Northeast district Union Market will welcome new local rum distillery Cotton & Reed (1330 Fifth Street, NE). Co-founded by two former consultants to NASA and the space industry, Reed Walker and Jordan Cotton, the distillery located on 5th Street near Dock 5 will launch with a signature white rum. The locale’s rustic and industrial interior will house an intimate tasting room and bar area featuring cocktails created by veteran bartender Lukas B. Smith, known for his work at Dram & Grain and Secret Monkey Social Club.
Union Market is known as a launching pad for new local businesses. “The Union Market district is a mix of creative food producers and boutique eateries,” says Jordan. “It’s become DC’s most vibrant neighborhood, and the perfect home for Cotton & Reed.
Reed and Jordan became friends while working as strategists for NASA and the aerospace industry. At work happy hours, they discovered a shared passion for spirits and decided to leave their desk jobs to start a distillery. After designing their first still at a U Street café, the duo brought on Chas Jefferson as head distiller to perfect Cotton & Reed’s own style of naturally complex white rum. The thoughtfully crafted flagship white rum, designed for cocktails, is composed of four distinct cane ingredients sourced from a Louisiana farmer co-op, fermented with Belgian Saison yeast and proofed with meticulously blended mineral water. Using a custom 500-gallon hybrid still from Portland, Oregon, Cotton & Reed will also distill rum aged on unusual Brazilian woods, dry spiced rum, and other inventive spirits. Chemical engineer Dr. Jen Phelps is leading the team’s efforts to optimize equipment and ensure consistency from batch to batch.
“Rum is our favorite spirit,” says Reed. “We traveled to lush cane fields, rusty old sugar mills, and giant distilleries in Louisiana and Puerto Rico on the path to finding the perfect ingredients and recipe. We can’t wait to show you why our rum is different.”
Cotton & Reed will hit shelves and open its doors this winter. Cocktails and tours will be offered Wednesday to Sunday from 1-9:00 PM.
ABOUT UNION MARKET:
Union Market, located a short walk from the NoMa/Gallaudet metro, is a 45-acre district that is planned for over 8 MSF of development. EDENS has a clear vision to redevelop the district into one of DC's most vibrant, diverse and thriving neighborhoods - a living laboratory for a sustainable urban community. Since opening in September 2012, The Market at Union Market, the acclaimed food market with over 40 local artisans, now averages 15,000 visitors per weekend and has hosted over 400 events. For more information about Union Market, please visit http://www.unionmarketdc.com.
