HOOD RIVER — Hood River Distillers (HRD), the largest and oldest importer, distiller, producer, and marketer of distilled spirits in the Pacific Northwest, announced that it has agreed to acquire the Crater Lake Spirits portfolio from Bendistillery on April 2. Terms were not disclosed, according to a press release.
Under the agreement, Bendistillery will continue to produce and bottle all Crater Lake Spirits products at its facility in Bend, maintaining the craftsmanship and quality the brand has delivered for nearly three decades.
“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.”
Hood River Distillers, founded in 1934, also owns Clear Creek Distillery, Oregon’s first craft spirits distillery, which it acquired in 2014. Established in 1996, Bendistillery founded the nation’s first craft vodka and gin. The combined portfolio now represents more than 160 years of craft distillation expertise.
“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, HRD president. “We both share a commitment to craftsmanship and quality which is why these new additions fit seamlessly into the HRD portfolio.”
The agreement comes at a pivotal time in the beverage alcohol industry as wineries, breweries, and distilleries across the country are facing the challenges of declining alcohol consumption and shifting consumer preferences.
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