Aviation American Gin has quietly gone wheels up on its Portland distillery, tasting room and visitor center, abruptly ending the brand's Slabtown showcase. The site, known for tours, cocktail flights and a Ryan Reynolds themed escape room, stopped serving guests at the end of June after distillation work had already been moved offsite.
A sign on the door at 2075 NW Wilson St. said June 28 was the tasting room's last day, as reported by Willamette Week. The nearly 33,000 square foot building, which included a tasting room, gift shop and draft cocktail bar, had already seen production transition to other company facilities last year, according to the Portland Business Journal.
Diageo Frames Closure as Efficiency Move
A Diageo spokesperson told industry publication The Spirits Business that "after careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close the Aviation American Gin Visitor Center in Portland, Oregon," adding that the change reflects "evolving business needs." According to The Spirits Business, bottling and blending were shifted away from the Portland site last year, and Diageo has not disclosed how many, if any, local jobs were affected.
A Brief Local Run
The distillery and visitor center opened in September 2022 as a nearly 33,000 square foot brand home offering tours, tasting flights and a novelty "Ryan Reynolds office" escape room, per a Diageo press release announcing the launch. That release also notes Diageo acquired Aviation American Gin in 2020 and built the Wilson Street location as a consumer facing showcase for the brand.
What Is Next for the Building and the Brand
The closure arrives as Diageo pursues a broader restructuring under new CEO Dave Lewis, a cost cutting push that industry outlets say has included instructions to reduce headcount and other expenses. It remains unclear what will become of the Wilson Street property or whether the closure resulted in layoffs; Diageo has offered limited comment and industry reporting says details remain outstanding.
