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grain that they receive from local farms.
Perhaps the most impressive, and
rightfully so, is the monumental still
room. Surrounded by huge glass windows
and even protruding up through the
roof, DOMA’s massive stills positively
gleam in the sunlight. The stills are the
heart of the Distillery of Modern Art. It
is in this space, surrounded by glass and
steel, that the mash of raw grains is finally
transformed into fine spirits.
Just outside, a hallway leads to the
event space and back door. The walls,
lined with abstract paintings, hold special
significance to Watson. As someone
who has always loved art, particularly
abstracts, he wanted to find a way to
incorporate artwork into DOMA on a
more permanent basis in addition to the
revolving gallery shows. And so he curated
a collection of original pieces that were
inspired by DOMA’s seven signature
spirits: Rye Whiskey, Corn Whiskey,
Bourbon Whiskey, Atlanta Vodka, Peach
Flavored Vodka, Nouveau Gin, and
Amaro Peach. You’ll also spy a few murals
peppered throughout the space, with plans
to continue adding more down the line.
“Intertwining art with this building
to create an event space, an atmosphere,
a vibe and to create our spirits, it was
all built to intertwine art and create an
experience,” said Watson.
The bar and tasting room at the
Distillery of Modern Art is both
comfortable and a little swanky. Modern
lighting and upscale furniture elevate the
experience to something that’s appropriate
for date nights, corporate events, girls’
night out, and even drinks with your
grandparents. Craft cocktails and spirits,
presented in a sophisticated manner,
have a broad appeal that entices new and
established drinkers alike.
DOMA has the next two years allotted
for artists to showcase there, and it has
been wildly successful, particularly once
Watson announced that DOMA would
take no commission. Meanwhile, one of
the larger spaces in the building is the
2,800 square-foot event space which
hosts events ranging from weddings to
performance art and comedy shows.
“You want to feel safe, and you want
to feel like you’re getting an experience.
Otherwise, why come out?” posed
Watson as we sat at the bar, sipping some
incredible cocktails. FFe leaned back in
his chair and scanned the room, gesturing
to the bartenders’ mixing drinks and the
tours meandering through the still room.
“The idea of being taken care of—
hospitality as an industry is the idea that
someone is taking care of you — that’s
something that is deeply important to us
here.” QH
SCAD
FASH
MUSEUM OF FASHION + FILM
1600 PEACHTREE ST. NW
ATLANTA
SCADFASH.ORG
OCT. 6, 2022-APRIL 16, 2023
Courtesy of the Horst Estate
AtlantalntownPaper.com
NOVEMBER 2022 | INTOWN 17