Category: Events

Back to School with Founding Spirits Hand Sanitizer

Last modified: September 9, 2021

Founding Spirits donated our hand sanitizer to the DC nonprofit, Serve Your City, to pack in backpacks provided for students at their 2nd Annual DC Back to School Bash serving Ward 6. 

We were delighted to provide our support to this important program. During the early days of the pandemic, we transitioned our distillery from making spirits to making FDA-approved hand sanitizer with a recipe from the World Health Organization. We used the sanitizer for our team and guests across our restaurants AND were able to provide it in bulk and in bottles to local hospitals, healthcare workers, first responders, community groups, and more. Now, we are able to provide our hand sanitizer to kids in our community as they are heading back to school.

Serve Your City is working with our District communities to help our neighbors transition back to in-person school life, ensuring they have the resources and support they need to thrive. Building off the success of last year’s inaugural Back to School Bash, which reached over 425 students and families, this year they doubled down on their efforts providing 1,000 backpacks with necessary school supplies (including Founding Spirits Hand Sanitizer).

Serve Your City works to support the basic needs for community members and provide life-changing experiences and opportunities for under-resourced Washington, D.C. students through mutual aid, community-building, and educational programming. 

Introducing Founding Spirits Gift Box

Last modified: March 23, 2023

Gift boxes are not currently available.

We have created a Founding Spirits gift box to help you with your holiday shopping.

ORDER ONLINE NOW

Our Founding Spirits gift box – Find Your Spirit – is a special Founding Spirits Tasting Kit designed to inspire delicious cocktails. It is the perfect holiday gift for your bestie, your boss, your neighbor, your cousin, for any spirit lover on your holiday shopping list.

We have developed a selection of DC-made award-winning spirits using grains and botanicals from farmers we know and trust, including fourth-generation wheat farmers, the Watne family from Minot, ND and Bay’s Best Feed in Heathsville, VA. Located in the heart of our nation’s capital, we distill small-batch spirits recognized by distillers and spirit connoisseurs worldwide. Our Founding Spirits tasting kit includes:

  • Founding Spirits Vodka (200 mL)
  • Founding Spirits Dry Gin (200 mL)
  • Founding Spirits American Amaro (200 mL)
  • A Founding Spirits tasting glass
  • George Washington University Honey (8 oz) sourced from our partnership with their Undergraduate Honey Bee Research Laboratory & Apiary that conducts vital research to understand the role of honey bees in the diversity of the world’s food supply and our ecosystem 

You can purchase our Founding Spirits gift box online for curbside pick up at most of our restaurants, local delivery, or it can be shipped across the US. If you order more than one, we can arrange for local delivery. We can also accommodate larger orders for bulk delivery or pick up.  

If you are looking for other holiday gifts, of course all of our Founding Spirits can be purchased online.

In addition, we have created a variety of Founding Farmers gift boxes as well, providing the perfect present for almost everyone on your list. In addition to our Founding Spirits Tasting Kit, our Founding Farmers holiday gift boxes include:

  • Morning Coffee & Pancakes — Everything needed to make a delicious Founding Farmers pancake breakfast at home, including our Founding Farmers house-roasted coffee.
  • Eat Dessert First!  All of the fixin’s to easily whip up a batch of our Shortbread Sugar Cookies at home and serve them with our Founding Farmers Chocolate and an assortment of scratch-made dipping and drizzling sauces.
  • Honey & Spice & Everything Nice – Make our fan favorites at home with The Founding Farmers Cookbook and some of our go-to pantry essentials.

To see full details of what is included in our gift boxes, check out our gift box ordering page.

Of course, we also have other great holiday gifts, including restaurant gifts cards, The Founding Farmers Cookbook, and our kids book – Our Family Farm ­– made by our farmer-owners. Our entire holiday gift catalogue can be found in our holiday gift guide. In addition, we have delicious treats like our new Founding Farmers Chocolate and essentials like our house-roasted Founding Farmers coffee, which can be purchased through our Founding Farmers Market & Grocery.  All of our holiday gifts can be purchased online.

Give Founding Spirits and Founding Farmers this holiday season.

Lighting Up Nats Park with Founding Spirits

Last modified: March 23, 2023

DC’s first Enchant Christmas has come to town creating a winter wonderland at our beloved Nationals Park, and Founding Spirits is delighted to take part in the festivities.

As one of the official Enchant Christmas sponsors, Founding Spirits is featured in some very special ways. We have created a unique cocktail that is already Instagram famous. Our Founding Spirits Enchanted Cocktail, served in a super cool light bulb cup, is the perfect mix of our Founding Spirits award-winning vodka, spiced syrup, lemon, and apple juice. Enchant Christmas is also warming guests up with hot chocolate spiked with our Founding Spirits American Amaro. 

Enchant Christmas DC is the place to light up your holiday season. The festivities include the world’s largest Christmas light maze, a holiday food & Christmas market, and an ice skating trail that winds through this magical space. Enchant is in town through December 29th. Tickets are available here. 

If you can’t make it to Nats Park, there are several local bars and restaurants in and around the Navy Yard area that carry Founding Spirits too, including The Ugly Mug, The Salt Line, and Roy Boys. Or, stop by Founding Farmers & Distillers – home of DC’s #1 local Vodka – where we have a bar menu sure to lift your spirits.

A Festival of Whiskey & Fine Spirits

Last modified: March 23, 2023

Last night, our Founding Spirits team participated in the eighth annual Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival, hosted by the district’s own Washingtonian magazine. This year’s event was held at Dock5, DC’s unique warehouse space located in historic Union Market. 

Our Founding Spirits team served tastings of two of our award-winning spirits: our Founding Spirits American Amaro and Founding Spirits American Whiskey. Guests also sampled a wide array of other premium whiskeys and fine spirits. Over 500 attendees enjoyed this annual event, mingling with other spirit lovers and grooving to the rock cover band sounds of the 7 Deadlies.

If you couldn’t join this year’s Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival, please stop by the bar at Founding Farmers & Distillers for a taste of our amaro and American whiskey, as well as our DC’s #1 local Vodka, all handcrafted at our on-site distillery. 

Our spirits can also be purchased online, and make great holiday gifts for all of the cocktail lovers on your list. For a special Saturday treat, book a Tour & Tasting with some friends to get a behind the scenes look into our Founding Spirits distillery… and, of course, stay for a great meal. 

Unite the District

Last modified: October 15, 2019

Great music, food & drink – that’s definitely a combination that is sure to Unite the District! On Friday, October 4th Founding Spirits joined some of DC’s best restaurants and breweries at Audi Field for Unite the District. From cuisine and arts to drinks and music, this unique, first-of-its-kind event combined all things DC and what makes our city so special. 

Event goers arrived at Audi Field at 7pm on Friday with a welcome Unite the District tasting glass, then all were invited to explore tastings from local breweries, restaurants, and distilleries. The Founding Spirits crew served up our FS Mule, made with our very own Founding Spirits Vodka, ginger, lime, and mint. Not only was our handcrafted cocktail a hit with event attendees, but the event band, Black Alley, also came by to enjoy the FS Mule and our FS American Whiskey.

If you weren’t able to attend, or just love our FS Mule and our spirits, come on over to Farmers & Distillers, the restaurant where Founding Spirits is located. If you’d like to craft your own version of a mule, you can purchase our award-winning Founding Spirits Vodka as well as our amaro and American whiskey online or at 30+ local retailers across the DMV.

You can also join us on Saturdays for our free Tour & Tasting, starting at 11am. Book your tour today. 

Citi Open 2019: That’s a Wrap

Last modified: August 16, 2019

As the Official Vodka and American Whiskey of the 2019 Citi Open – one of DC’s biggest sporting events – our tennis tournament week was packed full of festivities: from our popular kickoff event and tasty spirits to lively tastings and some friendly competition that extended beyond the courts of the Rock Creek Tennis Center.  

In addition to serving our tasty craft cocktails to guests all week long, we hosted a Founding Spirits Cocktail Clash, giving six of DC’s top bartenders the challenge of mixing their most delicious Highball using any of our Founding Spirits. 

  • Roger Molina, Farmers & Distillers, introduced the Ace Highball, his take on a classic Aperol Spritz, made with Founding Spirits Vodka, lemon, mint, club soda, and Aperol. 
  • Christine Kim, Service Bar, played with fresh peaches and Founding Spirits Vodka in her Game-Set-Peach cocktail.
  • Frank Mills, Roy Boys, was definitely the star of the {Boomerang} show with his charismatic shake making the rounds on Instagram. His Love & Match-rimoney Highball, made with Founding Spirits Vodka, grapefruit, and florals, was packed full of just as much punch.
  • Andra Johnson, Serenata, mixed up her It’s All Love cocktail, with a choice of Founding Spirits Vodka or our Founding Spirits American Whiskey blended with flavors everyone seemed to love, including: strawberry, banana, pomegranate, ginger, and walnut, to name a few. 
  • Eric King, 100 Proof Strategies, came in strong with his Brown Derby Energy, mixing Founding Spirits American Whiskey with a spiced grapefruit syrup that was understated, yet full of flavor.  
  • Jo-Jo Valenzuela, The Game DC, came in HOT with his spiced mango soda and Thai basil-infused Tangdang Soda, mixed with a choice of Founding Spirits Vodka or our American Whiskey. This drink was on fire during the competition, and Jo-Jo ended up taking home a well-deserved “W” this year. 

Each bartender absolutely killed it, and we’re grateful for their participation in what we hope will become an annual event. Another huge shout out to all the event goers who stopped by our tasting booths at Citigold and outside Market Square. 

Now that the tournament is over but summer is still heating up our streets, we look forward to continuing to toast all things DC and seeing many of you out at our distillery, located at 600 Massachusetts Ave, just inside Farmers & Distillers. Stop by for a cocktail or a tour, grab a bottle to take home, or place your order for delivery online.

Direct from the Big Easy: Tales of Founding Spirits

Last modified: July 19, 2021

Our Founding Spirits team is back from the Big Easy and sharing their tales of this weekend’s spirited Tales of the Cocktail event. 

Known as one of the most spirited, sought after events in the world of cocktails, Tales of the Cocktail returned to New Orleans for its 17th year and our team was happy to be in the mix once again. Part education, part networking, and part family reunion, we shared our small-batch, award-winning line of spirits – Founding Spirits Vodka, Founding Spirits American Amaro, and Founding Spirits American Whiskey. 

Hosting “Meet the Distillers,” guests mixed & mingled with our dynamic Founding Spirits distillery team, led by Distillery Director Jon Arroyo, Distillery Manager Bob VanLancker, and Vice President Clyde Davis, Jr. Also on hand, our Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Meaghan O’Shea. 

We welcomed event goers with three handcrafted cocktails made with our Founding Spirits: 

  • Amaro Zombie made with Founding Spirits American Amaro, Wray & Nephew rum, Pernod Absinthe, falernum, grapefruit, lime, pineapple, and grenadine
  • Missionary’s Downfall made with Founding Spirits American Whiskey, Wray & Nephew Rum, Crème de Pêche, lime, and honey
  • Bitter Colada made with Founding Spirits American Amaro, Wray & Nephew rum, absinthe bitters, pineapple, cane syrup, and coconut cream

We also served up some delicious eats from the Dog Haus restaurant team, thanks to our pop-up partnership, and connected with industry professionals from around the globe while rocking out at the “Indie Spirits that Rock” event. 

Now we are back home at our distillery in the heart of DC. Our team left New Orleans inspired by great talent, energized by our new friends and fans, and ready to continue sharing all that is Founding Spirits in our distillery with our tours & tastings, at our restaurant, and at liquor stores across the DMV, and beyond. 

Tales of the Cocktail event proceeds benefit the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, a leading, non-profit organization created to educate, advance, and support the craft cocktail and hospitality industry through programs that benefit not only individual industry professionals, but also to make a lasting impact within the communities that host events.

The Perfect Match: Founding Spirits + DC’s Citi Open

Last modified: July 22, 2021

Another big win for our Founding Spirits team. We are thrilled to serve as the Official Vodka + Whiskey Sponsor at this year’s Citi Open.

Each year, the world’s top tennis players descend upon Washington, D.C. to compete in the famed Citi Open. Founding Spirits is delighted to play a part in the excitement surrounding this elite tournament.

Join us at this year’s Citi Open in DC’s beautiful Rock Creek Park Tennis Center July 27th through August 4th. We will be serving up two very special Founding Spirits craft cocktails featuring the #1 vodka crafted and sold in DC, our very own Founding Spirits Vodka, and our Founding Spirits American Whiskey for Citi Open guests to enjoy:

  • Our Match Point Mule is a delightful summertime refresher blending our award-winning Founding Spirits Vodka with fresh lime juice and mint syrup, shaken and served over ice, then finished with ginger beer and garnished with fresh lime and mint. 
  • Our Break Point Buck is made with our Founding Spirits American Whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and a tasty blackberry syrup, shaken and served over ice, then topped off with ginger beer and a fresh lemon and blackberry garnish.

We will also have our uniquely delicious, quadruple award-winning Founding Spirits American Amaro on hand for guests to enjoy.  

Can’t wait to see you there this July 27 – August 4, along with approximately 72,000 of our fellow Citi Open attendees, to cheer on many of today’s top tennis greats, including: Belinda Bencic, Bianca Andreescu, Kevin Anderson, Sofia Kenin, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Kei Nishikori.  

Follow us at Founding Spirits on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for any updates and to see all of our small-batch spirits and smash hits coming your way at the Citi Open. 

Sippin’ On Founding Spirits at the RAMMYS

Last modified: January 17, 2020

Last night was filled with exciting festivities and celebrations at the 37th annual Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s biggest event of the year – the RAMMYS. Founding Spirits was happy to serve as event bar sponsor while supporting our town’s best restaurant industry revelry and awards ceremony.

Each year, RAMMY goers don their finest party formalwear to celebrate the best of the best on DC’s restaurant scene. This year’s event gala was held at the Walter E. Reed Convention Center, just blocks from our award-winning Founding Spirits distillery in downtown DC.   

Founding Spirits Distillery Director Jon Arroyo, Vice President Clyde Davis, Jr. and their team were on hand to share Founding Spirits with gala guests and celebrate a great year of exceptional talent and creativity, industry growth, and delicious food and drink. 

We were delighted to serve up two specially-crafted cocktails, made just for the evening’s festivities. Our:

These tennis-themed craft cocktail names have significance for our team, as: Founding Spirits has been named the OFFICIAL VODKA and the OFFICIAL WHISKEY of the Citi Open! 

If you weren’t able to make it to this year’s RAMMYS, come join us at the Citi Open, in DC’s Rock Creek Park Tennis Center from July 27 – August 4, for a chance to get a taste of these refreshing summer cocktails and all of our spirits, including our award-winning Founding Spirits Vodka.

Stay tuned to Founding Spirits on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more details. 

Tiki by the Sea, Jersey Shore Style

Last modified: July 19, 2021

Our Founding Spirits dynamic trio, Jon Arroyo, Bob VanLancker, and the newest member of our FS team, Clyde Davis, Jr. have been spending some quality time over the past two weeks at the Jersey Shore with other mixologists, bartenders, and Tiki connoisseurs from around the globe.

This summer’s Tiki by The Sea in Wildwood, NJ was held over two weekends (June 9-11 and June 16-18). Our crew spent their days filled with Tiki learning, swapping trade secrets and Tiki tips, and learning about the ancient Polynesian Tiki culture and the history of Tiki bars.  

Founding Spirits Distillery Director, Jon Arroyo, presented “The Magic of the Frozen Cocktail” to a packed house, sharing what makes a great Tiki cocktail across our restaurants. For us, it often starts with our very own award-winning small-batch spirits, which we had on hand for everyone to taste in some of our magic frozen cocktails.

Even though our Tikis are most well-known at Farmers Fishers Bakers, we have plenty of Tiki-inspired cocktails right next to our distillery, at the bar at Farmers & Distillers restaurant.

So, let our distillery team’s field trip to the Jersey Shore serve as a reminder – the sun is shining, the temperatures are rising, and Tiki season is here. 

Stop by our bar and get a taste of all the magic that is the Tiki cocktail. Also check out our Weekend Tiki Patio at Farmers Fishers Bakers set right on Georgetown’s Waterfront at the Washington Harbour. It is the perfect setting for some Tiki fun every weekend, all summer long. We’ll have Tiki classics, a great mix of blended drinks, and you can even get a taste of our deliciously perfected, The Margarita 2019

Tiki by the Sea is a trade-focused educational and immersive cultural experience into the culture, spirits, and drinks of the Tiki era. It is held in Wildwood, NJ in June and Fregene, Italy in September.