Inside Republic Restoratives, D.C.’s first women-run distillery

Pia Caursone, left, opened a bourbon distillery with her best friend Rachel Gardner, right, in May. Carusone decided to pursue her dream of owning a distillery after the 2011 shooting of her boss, Gabby Giffords. (草莓传媒 File Photo/Rachel Nania)

It鈥檚 been a year since Pia Carusone and Rachel Gardner their plans to open a women-run distillery in D.C.鈥檚 Ivy City neighborhood. After a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign, months of construction and a lesson or two in forklift driving, the wait is over:听 is open for business. Here鈥檚 a peek inside the District distillery that has everyone buzzing. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania) (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

草莓传媒/Rachel Nania

Republic Restoratives is the latest operation听to join a handful of other spirits producers in Ivy City. The Northeast neighborhood is also home to New Columbia Distillers, and 听Atlas Brew Works is around the corner. Carusone credits the District’s relaxed regulatory laws for the growth of the distilling community. 鈥淒.C. has been really welcoming to this industry and that鈥檚 why you鈥檙e seeing a lot of folks open up here,”听she听said. 听 (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

草莓传媒/Rachel Nania

And the area’s听availability of warehouse space makes Ivy City an ideal destination for brewing and distilling startups. 鈥淒.C.鈥檚 just changing a lot, and neighborhoods like this 鈥� I mean, Ivy City. You never, a couple of years ago, would think that you鈥檇 see so much activity here. I mean, a women-owned distillery across the street from a Nike store. The change is so so rapid,” Carusone听said.听 (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

草莓传媒/Rachel Nania

Republic Restoratives has听big plans for whiskey, but right now, the only product available is vodka. After all, it takes time for whiskey to age. 鈥淲hen folks come in for a tour, they might see a lot of activity around the whiskey distilling happening. We don鈥檛 have any for sale or taste just yet, but there鈥檚 a lot of that happening,”听Carusone said.听 For the past few years, Carusone and Gardner have been working closely under master distiller听Rusty Figgins. The stills in the backroom of the 7,000 square-foot space are his custom design.听听 (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

草莓传媒/Rachel Nania

The distillery’s Civic Vodka is a 100-percent corn-based vodka that听Carusone describes as smooth, crisp and clean, with a mildly sweet finish.听鈥淭hat鈥檚 the kind of vodka we like to drink and what we are trying to make here,” she said. 听 (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

草莓传媒/Rachel Nania

In the tasting room, visitors can sample the distillery’s vodka in a number of different forms. Bartender David Strauss developed the cocktail program, which includes听everything听from Bloody Mary’s to classic martinis, Moscow mules听and a “Civic Screw” (a take on a screwdriver with fresh-squeezed juice and a Champagne topper). Expect to see whiskey cocktails added to the list once the first run is complete.听听 (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

草莓传媒/Rachel Nania

Barrels take over the听second floor of Republic Restorative’s distillery. Yes, the upstairs will be home to lots and lots of whiskey, but Carusone says it听will also be used as an event space in the future. Union Kitchen is directly across the hall from the distillery, which opens up the possibility for potential collaborations with chefs and other food听producers. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

草莓传媒/Rachel Nania

Republic Restoratives is located on the corner of New York Avenue and Fenwick Street, directly across from the 听and around the corner from . A large glass-and-steel-framed garage door connects the tasting room, which is filled with vintage pieces and plants, to the outdoors. 鈥淲e did everything we could to kind of celebrate the nature of the building and not change too much,”听Carusone said about the distillery’s design.听 (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

草莓传媒/Rachel Nania

Carusone and Gardner initially announced their plans for Republic Restoratives with an Indiegogo campaign. The duo surpassed their goal of $75,000 and raised a total of $119,643. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

草莓传媒/Rachel Nania

The cocktail bar at Republic Restoratives is open Thursday through Sunday from 5 p.m. until midnight. Distillery tours take place on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 11 a.m. Visitors can 听on the distillery’s website. (草莓传媒/Rachel Nania)

草莓传媒/Rachel Nania