In the renovated old building of what once was Ring-Lee Grocery Store is the beautiful 10 Torr Distilling and Brewing. Original wood floors, salvaged pipes, tables and wood from the old grocery store create a rustic industrial ambience. Owners Will Whipple and Randy Soule, both engineers by trade, designed the taproom and hand-built the distillery and all of the stills. The tanks are hand-welded, handmade proprietary tanks.
I walk through a cool warehouse-like facility onto the brew deck to view the distillery from above. Tanks hiss and stills purr.
What is the significance of the distillery’s name? Torr refers to a measurement of pressure. Space is 0 torr and the Torr stills run at 10, which creates a space-like atmosphere. The ingredients in the stills do not cook and are maintained at room temperature, which allows for the highest quality flavor in their spirits.
Read more of Priya’s ongoing coverage of local distilleries
I arrive to tour the facility. I walk through a cool warehouse-like facility onto the brew deck to view the distillery from above. Tanks hiss and stills purr. The company uses a centrifuge technique to produce their brew in order to give the beer a better flavor. We walk down the stairs where huge silver stills tower above us.
Four women are on the floor learning to make beer. Melissa Test, former brewer; Andrea Latos, lead brewer; Felica Reid, a taproom bartender and Molly Carling, 10 Toor event coordinator, are all staring in a large vat of what will eventually be Rose Beer.
We continue to the back of the facility where a number of stills are distilling spirits. 10 Torr utilizes a vacuum-distilled process, which is a unique and rare method. There are only a handful of distillers in the world using this process. They are inventing the process as they go. They are currently in the process of making a run of whiskey and rum, which should be available by the end of the year.
Back in the taproom, it’s time to taste some of the signature beers and spirits. Set out before me are a number of beers. I sip the Honey Blonde, made with honey from Al Bees Pure Nevada Honey in Reno. It’s light and smooth and delicious.
The second beer I taste is Dayman. The name pays homage to the show, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” I take a sip of Dayman, a Hefeweizen. I smell it and sip it again.
“It tastes like cloves,” I say.
Indeed, cloves or bananas are what most people taste when they try the brew. Next up is Hazewagon, one of their flagship beers is also one of their most popular. I am a fan of Secret Cove Cerveza, a Mexican lager. It’s light and refreshing and perfect for a hot day. The beer is made with corn from Bentley Ranch in Minden. This is another one of their bestselling brews. The last beer I tasted was No Town Brown, a nickname for Reno. It was delicious, toasty and smooth with hints of cocoa nib and caramel.
We move on to try 10 Torr’s signature vodka, their Habanero & Jalapeño Vodka, their London Dry-Style Gin and their Coffee Liquor. Each sprit was fresh, flavorful and unique. The vodka smelled like it would be super spicy, but in fact it was smooth and flavorful and perfect for a Bloody Mary. I love the coffee liquor, it’s easy and light with a rich taste of java. This would be excellent with some heavy cream and vodka.
10 Torr’s signature canned cocktails are made with their own brand of vodka featuring Lavender Lemonade, Greyhound Soda and Cucumber Cooler. Each offered a unique flavor profile. Some are available year-round while others are seasonal. Amantes Picante, made with the Habanero and Jalapeño Vodka, mint and lime is coming soon.
There are many unique things about 10 Torr Distilling and Brewing, but one that stands out is that the lead brewer and distiller is a woman, which is rare in the male-dominated industry. 10 Torr’s creativity is illuminated in the taste of the beer, spirits and canned cocktails.
10 Torr is available at local markets and served at local restaurants throughout the Tahoe Sierra, with a list of locations available online. 10 Torr is located at at 490 Mill St. Check the current schedule before visiting. | 10torr.com
