A whiskey distillery open to the public is slated to debut on Oahu before the end of 2018.
Koolau Distillery is coming to Oahu's windward, eastern shore, and its flagship offering is Old Pali Road Whiskey, an aged, amber American-style whiskey.
The distilling process uses purified Hawaiian water, pulled from an artesian well and locally sourced corn for the bourbon-style mash base. Koolau's hand-distilled whiskey is then blended with 5-year-old American whiskey.
The distillery is the endeavor of a group of U.S. Marine Corps veterans, partners Ian Brooks and Eric Dill, who both spent time stationed on Oahu in addition to overseas tours during their service.
The distillery will be the first on Oahu to age whiskey in wooden casks, according to Dill.
Koolau plans to limit production to fewer than 10,000 bottles a year to start, creating batches of eight barrels at a time (one barrel contains 53 gallons).
The facility will be open to visitors for distillery tours and tasting events.