New Tulsa vodka distillery could help city's schools

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) - Three former teachers are hoping to help education in the state of Oklahoma from outside the classroom.

They are starting new careers by opening a distillery on 7th Street near Utica.

When they're in production they plan to donate 5 percent of their profits to our schools.

The first product of the Oklahoma Distilling Company will be called Indian Grass Oklahoma Vodka.

Each bottle will contain water that was deposited in Oklahoma rock formations by the last ice and a stem of native Indian Grass.

While their dream is still an empty building their storage tanks and distilling equipment will arrive in about two weeks.

They'll be able to distill almost 800 gallons of vodka at one time.

Owner Hunter Gambrill taught with his sister and brother in China, but when they returned to their home state they didn't think they could make it on an Oklahoma teacher's pay.

Gambrill said, "Being able to raise a family. It's really difficult to do that on a teachers’ salary. Even if you had two incomes on a teacher salary it's really rough to make a go of it."

While all three of them loved working with kids, they said they understand the difficulties our teachers are facing.

His sister says when you've done that work, you know it's important.

So, they hope their new business will benefit our schools from the outside.

Audrey Walker said, "I think it might be an easier way to help out because we're able to get the money to filter it back into education rather than do it boots on the ground style."

Walker said she feels for the teachers who a struggling without the resources they need.

They hope their distilling venture will do well and they're proud to be making something with a distinct Oklahoma feel.

Zach Walker said, "I think one of the most appealing aspects of it is just being able to create something and be a part of, it hands on. That's one of the reasons I'm here."

They expect to be distilling by early next month.

They expect most of their initial bottling to go to Oklahoma liquor stores.

While education will be getting donations downstream, the state gets an excise tax up front.

Gambrill said the excise tax is due when they start distilling, not when their product is sold.