Homegrown Homecoming
by Emily Kovach
Since its founding in 2005, Philadelphia Distilling, perhaps best known for Bluecoat Gin, has been operating out of its headquarters in a nondescript industrial park in Northeast Philly. The company is on the cusp of a serious upgrade—this month, it will relocate to Fishtown, as part of the entertainment complex adjacent to the Fillmore Philadelphia concert venue on Delaware Avenue. “We wanted a place where people could come and have cocktails, learn about the distilling process and really feature the whole grain-to-glass process,” says co-founder Andrew Auwerda.
The 15,000-square-foot former factory will more than triple the company’s capacity, allowing Philadelphia Distilling to add new products like aged whiskies, amaro, and extra small batch experiments and one-offs. The aesthetic merges the building’s industrial roots with a modern sensibility: atrium-like vaulted ceilings, exposed brick galore, and dramatic windows and light fixtures. In addition to the production facility, which will be on display behind a huge cocktail bar, the space will be home to an R&D lab, a retail space, a restaurant, complete with an outdoor patio by Groundswell Design Group (of Spruce Street Harbor Park), and a fourth floor tasting room and party space with superb skyline views. The facility is slated to open this month, and the restaurant and courtyard components will evolve throughout the winter and spring.
