McMenamins plans St. Patrick’s Day whiskey

Start early on St. Patrick’s Day at McMenamins for the release of the Devil’s Bit Whiskey. Handcrafted at McMenamins Edgefield Distillery in Troutdale, it was inspired by the Devil’s Bit, a mountain in Tipperary, Ireland.

Legend claims that the devil took a bite and spit out the rock, leaving a wide gap in the mountain.

Double distilled from 100 percent “two-row” malted barley, the Devil’s Bit spent two years in a 53-gallon charred American white oak barrel. It aged another two years in a 30-gallon American white oak barrel, three years in a barrel used for McMenamins port-style wines and finished in a barrel used for McMenamins wheat-based whiskey. A press release from McMenamins states that the aroma is “balanced between the malt, the sweet new oak and the notes of port wood,“ containing flavors of “chocolate cake with a cherry glaze.”

The whiskey will be available starting at 7 a.m. March 17 in the gift shop (700 N.W. Bond St.) in 200 milliliter flasks for $17, with a two bottle per person limit.

Fewer than 1,000 bottles have been produced and last year the bottles sold out on the same day, so don’t wait too long!

McMenamins will host an all-day party March 17 featuring Jelly Bread, Five Pint Mary, Hopeless Jack and the Handsome Devil, Fiddle Play Music and Triúr Amadán. Music begins at 3 p.m. and all ages are welcome.

Sláinte!

Deschutes poker tourney to benefit employees

Deschutes Brewery will host a Texas hold ’em poker tournament fundraiser and silent auction to benefit two of their own from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Wednesday at the Bend pub taproom (1044 N.W. Bond St.).

Chris Steavens and Misael Molina, Deschutes Brewery employees, have both recently been diagnosed with cancer. All proceeds from the nights festivities will go directly toward their increasing medical expenses.

Tickets are $50 which includes buy-in, dinner, three beer tokens and two raffle tickets. You can get them at the Bend pub, the brewing facility lobby (901 S.W. Simpson Ave.) or online. If your poker face isn’t up to par and you just feel like watching, a suggested donation entry fee of $20 will still get you food and a raffle ticket. Deschutes Brewery swag will be raffled off all night.

First place prize is a $200 cash purse, second is a case of beer every month for a year and third is a $75 gift card to the pub. If you ask us, we’re pulling for second place.

— Bulletin staff