This is Matthew, our tasting guide at Vinn Distillery’s tasting room in Portland’s Distillery Row.

If you’ve read any number of our other posts one of my interests is in the science of perception and how the environment around any food/beverage product is presented affects how it tastes to you. This continues to be a life-long study.

This blog focuses on the experience of tasting. There are so many great flavors out there, so many great products to buy. What makes us open our wallets and buy is something more than what’s on the plate or in the glass. Let’s see what we can learn, shall we?

We got a hearty greeting from Mike as we came in, and he graciously let us park our giant bike in the tasting room so the seats would stay dry. Vinn has an interesting history and story. In short they produce a Chinese style distilled spirit that’s made from rice. From what I could gather in our short introduction, there are some similarities in production to sake, but it’s not the same.  Definitely worth stopping in and hearing the story for yourself.

Their number one product is a big drink in China – Baijiu. My favorite product they have there is the Mijiu Fire, which is made from the black rice.

I’m a sucker for a good story and learning new things. Had fun here, definitely will return.

– Steve