Marcotte Distilling Company sits on Main Street in Philomath, Oregon, a small college town just outside Corvallis in the heart of the Willamette Valley. Founded by husband-and-wife team Dan and Renee Marcotte, this craft distillery opened its doors in 2019 after years of planning and navigating the complexities of Oregon’s distilling regulations. Dan brings a background in engineering while Renee handles the business side, and together they’ve created something that feels authentically Oregon—focused on local ingredients and small-batch production. The Marcottes didn’t stumble into distilling by accident. Dan had been home-distilling as a hobby for years, perfecting recipes and techniques in their garage before deciding to go professional. The journey from hobbyist to licensed distiller took nearly three years of paperwork, permits, and finding the right location. They settled on a converted commercial space in Philomath specifically because they wanted to be part of a smaller community rather than getting lost in Portland’s crowded distillery scene. Their approach emphasizes quality over quantity, with Dan handling production on a custom-built 200-gallon copper still. What you’ll find at Marcotte is straightforward craft distilling without the pretense. The tasting room has a clean, modern feel but keeps things relaxed and approachable. Dan and Renee are often on-site, and you’re likely to meet one of them during your visit. They produce vodka, gin, and whiskey, with plans to expand their aged spirits offerings as their barrels mature. The focus here is on letting visitors taste the difference that local ingredients and careful attention to detail can make.