Freeland Spirits sits in Portland’s trendy Northwest district on Vaughn Street, housed in a converted warehouse that feels more like an artisan workshop than a traditional distillery. Founded in 2017 by Jill Kuehler, a former Nike marketing executive who left the corporate world to chase her passion for craft spirits, this operation focuses exclusively on gin and whiskey production using locally-sourced ingredients. The 4,000-square-foot facility combines production space with a sleek tasting room that draws both serious spirit enthusiasts and curious locals looking for something different. What started as Kuehler’s side project quickly evolved into one of Portland’s most talked-about micro-distilleries, with her background in brand building evident in every detail from the minimalist bottle design to the carefully curated visitor experience. The space itself tells the story of Portland’s industrial past meeting its craft future, with exposed brick walls, copper stills gleaming under Edison bulb fixtures, and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the production area with natural light. Kuehler’s team includes master distiller Jake Holshue, who brings experience from both large-scale and craft operations, and together they’ve created a lineup that reflects the Pacific Northwest’s botanical abundance and the founders’ commitment to doing things their own way.