Opportunity knocks for XO Alambic distiller

DAYTON-Whiskey and brandy distiller "Rusty" Figgins has sold XO Alambic to a large distillery, in the Salem, Ore. area, and he is moving with his family to the Isle of Man, U.K., where he will be the master distiller and manager at Fynoderee Distillery.

Not only will Figgins continue the Fynoderee Distillery tradition of gin production, but he will be leading the way into Manx single malt whiskey production, from locally grown barley.

Figgins said the COVID-19 shutdown played a part in this decision.

"By April or May, I saw the handwriting on the wall."

Into May, Figgins no longer had anything to distill, and he was not laying any stock down.

Figgins and vintner Dave Harvey of Red Band Cellars were partnering to make hand sanitizer for use in the community, when he received this job offer from one of his clients at Fynoderee Distillery, with whom he had an established a warm relationship.

One of the conditions of his employment is that he brings a Figgins Reciprocator distillation system to the Fynoderee Distillery.

Figgins is the inventor of this pot and column hybrid still. There are ten systems, in various locations, around North America.

The eleventh, an "ultra-spec" model, will be discreetly different from the others, Figgins said. It has the same operating volume but with more copper surface area and runs using heated mineral oil.

The still will be delivered to the U.K. distillery shortly after he makes landfall in mid-September. It will be placed alongside a 2,000 litre "Next Gen" still, and a range of copper pot alembics.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of XO Alambic was held at the Blue Mountain Station on July 14, 2017.

The quality of the water is the primary reason Figgins located his business in Dayton. He said the Port of Columbia has been very supportive of him and has provided pathways he would not have had otherwise.

If he had wanted to map out the next chapter of growth for XO Alambic, he was going to need more space than the 1,600 sq. Ft. at the Blue Mountain Station afforded him. Then opportunity came knocking, and he accepted.

Figgins had everything moved out of the space he leased from the Port by midnight on Monday, August 31, and Red Band Cellars moved in the next day.

The distillery in Oregon has taken possession of all the equipment, including the Figgins Reciprocator still.