BITE CREW ATL

What do you get when you combine a modern art gallery, distillery, cocktail lounge, and event space under one roof? You get Distillery of Modern Art (DOMA). The distillery opened it’s doors in the heart of Chamblee, GA a little over a year ago. Since opening, they have held special events, hosted local artists, and offered public and private distillery tours.

A few months ago, we were planning an outing with friends and decided that touring the distillery would be the perfect option. We booked our tour on their website ($15 per person) and proceeded to the distillery at our allotted time. Parking was directly in front of the building and free…isn’t free parking the best? We were greeted by Henry Rosenbaum, General Manager, with a tray of cocktails in hand. He gave each guest a cocktail and led us to the distilling room.

We sipped our cocktails (which were refreshing by the way…imagine notes of green tea, peach, and vodka) as Henry became our tour guide for the hour. From viewing the fermentation tanks, huge copper distilling machines, and wooden barrels to smelling ingredients for corn whiskey, bourbon, and rye; we got a true behind-the-scenes look at how some of our favorite spirits are made, inspected, and stored.

The multi-sensory experience continued as we entered the art gallery and event space portion of the tour. Henry informed us that DOMA partners with local artists to showcase their work and curate art installations. Beautiful paintings and artwork adorned the walls of the gallery. Each piece had the artists name and title of the piece. One of our friends even recognized a piece done by her college professor! After we perused some art, we headed to the event space. DOMA hosts a variety of events including comedy shows, live bands, and panel discussions. They also rent it out for private events. The community feel is definitely present.

The final portion of the tour including a tasting of three of spirits in the cocktail lounge: Nouveau Gin, Peach Amaro, and Corn Whiskey. We spent time discussing the notes and dabbling in a bit of Q&A with Henry. The favorite of the evening was hands down the Peach Amaro. The Peach Amaro is described on DOMA’s site as, ” a lovely mix of sweet and bitter flavors in the classic tradition of great Italian Amari. Fruit flavors of peach, Valencia Orange, and stewed black fruits contrast the herbaceous and pleasantly bitter flavors.” The balance of flavors was a unique discovery to our palates.

As the tour came to an end, Henry answered any lingering questions and encouraged us to enjoy a craft cocktail in the cocktail lounge or continue to browse the gallery. The passion he and the staff demonstrated is unmatched. From the owner to the bartender, you get the impression that everyone loves what they do. We can say this was one of the best distillery tours we’ve participated in, in a while! If you’re looking for something to do on a date night, friends outing, or after work, schedule a tour at DOMA and experience a memorable evening.