shop now

Your New Favorite Women's Travel Memoir: CALL YOU WHEN I LAND

PRE-ORDER
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
BUY
OUR TRAVEL BOOK!

Unearth Women

  • Feminist City Guides
  • Travel
    • Travel Trends & Tips
    • Hotels
    • Food & Drink
    • Pandemic Travel
  • Women-Owned
  • Women to Watch
  • BIPOC Stories
  • Unearth Women Stories
  • About Unearth Women
  • Our New Book, Wanderess!
  • Shop Our Online Store
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Writer Guidelines
  • Contact Us
  • Buy Our Writers Coffee
November 21, 2018

The Woman Behind Portland’s Female-Owned, Freeland Spirits

By:Rachel Gould

© Jordan Hughes

Founder Jill Kuehler and distiller Molly Troupe are the leading ladies behind Portland’s small-batch craft gin and whiskey distillery, Freeland Spirits. Named after Kuehler’s sprightly teetotaler “Meemaw” Freeland who “never touched a drop of booze in her life,” almost every step of the process—from grain to glass—is handled by women. That makes Freeland Spirits one of the rare female-owned and operated distilleries in the world—not to mention in history. Troupe, who is the masterful alchemist behind the elixirs that make Freeland Spirits one of Oregon’s most talked about distilleries, speaks to Unearth Women about the distillation process and her experience as a woman in a male-dominated industry.

Unearth Women (UW): How did you first get into the distilling business?

Molly Troupe (MT): I got into distilling because of my love for chemistry. I was earning a Bachelors degree in chemistry with a plan to work in forensics after graduation. However, during my studies, I discovered that I didn’t like that part of chemistry as much as I thought [I would]. With some soul searching—and imbibing—I thought that maybe spirits could be a [better] career path. The more I learned about it, the more I loved about it. I found a Masters program for Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and jumped at the chance to learn more while living abroad for a year. After absorbing as much as I could, I came back to Oregon and have been in the industry ever since.

UW: How many women were in the Brewing & Distilling Masters program with you?

MT: The year I attended, 25 percent of the class were women. It was the highest percentage, I believe, that the program had seen.

UW: Does the distillation process differ depending upon brand tradition?

MT: Distillation, while in theory stays the same, does change depending on the source of alcohol, the botanicals in use, the type of still (a distillation apparatus that boils liquid and condenses vapor as it cools) used, and more. It was great to learn the process of distillation in Scotland because their tradition and practices are strong and evolving.

Freeland Spirits pinot barrel-aged bourbon | © Jordan Hughes

UW: As the sole alchemist behind Freeland Spirits, can you walk us through your process?

MT: Freeland Gin is unique in that it’s produced via a dual distillation process. We use 19 different botanicals, all of which are macerated (let sit) with a neutral, high proof alcohol. The maceration process lets all the essential oils, or flavors, extract into the alcohol. Thirteen of these botanicals are combined in our Kothe still, where we apply heat and use the difference in boiling points of alcohol and water to separate the two. The other six botanicals are processed through a vacuum distillation set-up. This allows us to separate alcohol and water using a vacuum pressure without heat. These two distillates are combined, and we add water to bring our alcohol content to 90P or 45 percent alcohol by volume. Freeland Bourbon is a combination of three-year and 12-year-sourced Bourbon that we finished in Elk Cove Pinot Noir barrels. It is a high rye bourbon, which shows in its sweet and playful character.

UW: What makes Freeland Spirits gin and whiskey different from the products of another distillery?

MT: Our [products] are different because of our unique processes, our eye for detail, and because of our talented team. While I’m the one running the still and working on recipes, we have strong leadership in Freeland’s founder, Jill, Jesse, our Sales Manager and sommelier, and Mark, our Food Program Manager. Not to mention our amazing bar staff. This entire team helps to finesse our products and make them shine.

UW: How would you describe your experience as a woman in a historically male-dominated field?

MT: While there have been some bad experiences in this male-dominated industry, my overall experience has been great. I have found male and female mentors that have been helpful in shaping me and my career. This industry is so special because it’s filled with impassioned nerds who are often the best and kindest people.

 © FreelandSpirits.com
© FreelandSpirits.com

UW: Would you say that the industry is opening itself up to embrace more female distillers?

MT: Absolutely. It’s great to be part of the growing number of women in distilling. There will come a day when Freeland can’t say we are part of the one percent of distilleries owned by women, and our whole team is excited for that day to come.

UW: Any advice for aspiring distillers, particularly women?

MT: Don’t hesitate to reach out for mentorship. Most women I know in this field are eager to encourage and guide aspiring distillers.

Freeland Spirits tasting room | Courtesy of Freeland Spirits

UW: What’s next for Freeland Spirits?

MT: World domination. Just kidding. We have a few more releases planned for the future. Stay tuned!

7 Comments

About Rachel Gould

Rachel is Executive Editor at Unearth Women. As Executive, Rachel is tasked with capturing the compelling narratives of formidable ladies from around the world as well as editing stories for the print publication. Formerly Art & Design Editor at Culture Trip, where she was an original member of the core editorial team that collaboratively established the digital publication’s voice, Rachel lives in pursuit of the social, cultural, and political power of visual art.

Rachel is living in her hometown of New York City, where she currently works as a freelance journalist and hosts art vlog Several Circles, which delves into the human interest stories of pioneering artists from history to the contemporary day.

« Meet the Woman Diversifying Scotland’s Art Scene
A Social Media Detox in Southern Iceland »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Landing this November!

Unearth Women’s New Travel Guide

The Unearth Women Newsletter

Let’s Get Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Member of the Female Founder Collective

Menu

  • Press
  • Writer Guidelines
  • Buy Our Writers Coffee
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 Unearth Women· Design by Alpine Lane

  • About Unearth Women
  • Our New Book, Wanderess!
  • Shop Our Online Store
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Writer Guidelines
  • Contact Us
  • Buy Our Writers Coffee