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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. (²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ File Photo/Rachel Nania)
It’s been a year since Pia Carusone and Rachel Gardner their plans to open a women-run distillery in D.C.’s Ivy City neighborhood. After a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign, months of construction and a lesson or two in forklift driving, the wait is over:Ìý is open for business. Here’s a peek inside the District distillery that has everyone buzzing. (²ÝÝ®´«Ã½/Rachel Nania) (²ÝÝ®´«Ã½/Rachel Nania)
Republic Restoratives is the latest operationÌýto join a handful of other spirits producers in Ivy City. The Northeast neighborhood is also home to New Columbia Distillers, and ÌýAtlas Brew Works is around the corner. Carusone credits the District’s relaxed regulatory laws for the growth of the distilling community. “D.C. has been really welcoming to this industry and that’s why you’re seeing a lot of folks open up here,”ÌýsheÌýsaid. Ìý (²ÝÝ®´«Ã½/Rachel Nania)
And the area’sÌýavailability of warehouse space makes Ivy City an ideal destination for brewing and distilling startups. “D.C.’s just changing a lot, and neighborhoods like this — I mean, Ivy City. You never, a couple of years ago, would think that you’d see so much activity here. I mean, a women-owned distillery across the street from a Nike store. The change is so so rapid,” CarusoneÌýsaid.Ìý (²ÝÝ®´«Ã½/Rachel Nania)
Republic Restoratives hasÌýbig plans for whiskey, but right now, the only product available is vodka. After all, it takes time for whiskey to age. “When folks come in for a tour, they might see a lot of activity around the whiskey distilling happening. We don’t have any for sale or taste just yet, but there’s a lot of that happening,”ÌýCarusone said.Ìý For the past few years, Carusone and Gardner have been working closely under master distillerÌýRusty Figgins. The stills in the backroom of the 7,000 square-foot space are his custom design.ÌýÌý (²ÝÝ®´«Ã½/Rachel Nania)
The distillery’s Civic Vodka is a 100-percent corn-based vodka thatÌýCarusone describes as smooth, crisp and clean, with a mildly sweet finish.Ìý“That’s the kind of vodka we like to drink and what we are trying to make here,” she said. Ìý (²ÝÝ®´«Ã½/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 includesÌýeverythingÌýfrom Bloody Mary’s to classic martinis, Moscow mulesÌýand 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.ÌýÌý (²ÝÝ®´«Ã½/Rachel Nania)
Barrels take over theÌýsecond floor of Republic Restorative’s distillery. Yes, the upstairs will be home to lots and lots of whiskey, but Carusone says itÌýwill 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 foodÌýproducers. (²ÝÝ®´«Ã½/Rachel Nania)
Republic Restoratives is located on the corner of New York Avenue and Fenwick Street, directly across from the Ìýand 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. “We did everything we could to kind of celebrate the nature of the building and not change too much,”ÌýCarusone said about the distillery’s design.Ìý (²ÝÝ®´«Ã½/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. (²ÝÝ®´«Ã½/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 Ìýon the distillery’s website. (²ÝÝ®´«Ã½/Rachel Nania)
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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. (²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ File Photo/Rachel Nania)
April 19, 2026 | A taste of D.C.'s newest distillery (²ÝÝ®´«Ã½'s Rachel Nania)

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