Zero-waste philosophy inspires limited-release Umi Ramen Spirit from Stone Barn Brandyworks
Portland-based distiller Stone Barn Brandyworks has partnered with noodle maker Umi Organic to make a singular spirit in the style of whiskey, made from the Portland company’s first batches of organic ramen noodles made in 2015 and 2016.
Six years ago, distiller Andy Garrison had reached out to CEO of Umi Organic, Lola Milholland, to see if she had any ramen noodles she couldn’t sell. “Whiskey is made from grain, so are noodles!” he reasoned. He wanted to try to make a whiskey-like spirit using Lola’s excess noodles. Umi was a brand new company, and as Lola learned the ins and outs of managing her inventory, she was overjoyed to find a home for her soon-to-expire product. Zero waste—a win-win.
Over 1,000 days of barrel aging later, they had Umi Ramen Spirit presented by Stone Barn Brandyworks. The flavor? Omoshiroi.
Umi Ramen Spirit will be released this January as part of an annual event, the Kobe + Portland Yakisoba Project. Now in its third year, this project brings together food artisans from across the Pacific to create interactive food-based opportunities for Portlanders to experience Kobe food and drink culture. Several beloved restaurants and bars around Portland will present a meal that evokes the blurry magic of late nights, drinking and snacking with friends, revealing secrets, and haunting your favorite haunts. The Umi Kobe Combo is a Happy Meal for the late-night crowd featuring singular Umi Ramen Spirit served as an ice cold Kobe-style highball with a yakisoba-pan: yakisoba noodles tucked into a tender hotdog bun. Join in on the adventure.
Learn more about the Kobe + Portland Yakisoba Project at umiorganic.com/kobe.
About Stone Barn
Stone Barn Brandyworks is a boutique distillery in Portland, Oregon, focused on making craft spirits that capture the essence of the Northwest. We started out in 2009 making fruit brandy and liqueurs inspired by the European tradition and since 2012 have developed a single barrel whiskey program that treats grain and oak with that same attention to provenance and quality. Our spirits are all distilled on a small, custom made copper pot still, and we source local and organic ingredients whenever possible. Stone Barn Brandyworks
About Umi Organic
Umi Organic is a woman-owned business in Portland, Oregon, that produces high-quality, organic, Japanese foods for wholesale and retail. Its flagship product is a fresh ramen noodle with authentic bounce and chew, which won a 2020 Good Food Award. The company maintains a strong commitment to local sourcing by building long-term relationships with regional farmers and millers. Umi’s yakisoba was named one of the best school lunches in the nation by Food Management in 2019. Its products are in 60+ grocery stores in Oregon, Washington, and California, and also available at the King and Hollywood Farmers Markets in Portland, Ore. Learn more at umiorganic.com. Follow along on Instagram @umiorganic #inthenoodz.
About Kobe International Club PDX
Kobe International Club PDX is part of a worldwide networking initiative for anyone who is passionate about or interested in learning more about the city of Kobe, Japan. Literally, Kobe lover's club in PDX Follow @kobeclubpdx #kobepdx and www.facebook.com/KICPDX/