There are nearly two dozen craft distilleries in Oregon and five of them have set aside competition among themselves to form Distillery Row.

You may already know that Portland, aka "Beervana," is one of the world's great beer cities and that Oregon wines are highly respected. But Oregon also leads the country in the new and growing field of craft distilling, and the creation of

widens that lead.

The nonprofit trade association comprises five independent distilleries: Deco Distilling, House Spirits Distillery, Integrity Spirits, New Deal Distillery and Stone Barn Brandyworks. All are located within a few blocks of one another in Southeast Portland's industrial district, and the collective's mission is to promote the area as a creative, cultural and collaborative center of the craft-distilling industry.

"Our goal is to showcase Portland's unique spirits companies," said Distillery Row president Michael Heavener, whose own Highball Distillery is currently mothballed while Heavener seeks a new location. "Distillery Row will foster economic growth through manufacturing and tourism and will support the culinary, social and artistic endeavors of our city."

Distillery Row

Deco Distilling:

1311 S.E. Ninth Ave. Main products: Deco Silver Rum, Deco Ginger Rum. decodistilling.com

House Spirits Distillery:

2025 S.E. Seventh Ave. Main products: Aviation Gin, Krogstad Aquavit, limited-release apothecary spirits. housespirits.com

Integrity Spirits:

909 S.E. Yamhill St. Main products: 12 Bridges Gin, Lovejoy Vodka, Lovejoy Hazelnut vodka and Trillium Absinthe. integrityspirits.com

New Deal Distillery:

1311 S.E. Ninth Ave. Main products: Portland 88, Hot Monkey, Mud Puddle and New Deal vodkas. newdealdistillery.com

Stone Barn Brandyworks:

3315 S.E. 19th Ave. Main products: Hard Eight Rye Whiskey, Red Wing Coffee Liqueur, Eastside Ouzo, Pear and Apple brandies. www.stonebarnbrandyworks.com

That support was evident last month at the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art's Time-Based Art Festival. Distillery Row members donated locally made spirits to stock the festival's bars, and a special Distillery Row Bar was staffed by the distillers and featured cocktails specially designed for the event.

Distillery Row members have also committed to coordinating when they open their doors for tours and tastings.

"Each distillery has its own posted hours throughout the week," said Heavener, "and they have also agreed to common weekend hours to encourage tourism and help define the Eastside Industrial District as a destination, and to establish the distilleries as a tourist attraction."

As a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, Distillery Row will be able to participate in more fundraising events in the future and develop ties with the surrounding Portland community. Everything is currently on a volunteer basis, but as the group entices new distillers to the area, it will likely become a dues-paying group and the president's job a paid position.

"Each of these manufacturers have their own unique philosophy, process and vision for their spirits," Heavener said. "Yet they all agree that Distillery Row represents something greater than the sum of the parts."

--John Foyston, Special to The Oregonian