How to Plot Your Course Through Washington’s Distillery Tours
Did you know there are more than 100 distilleries in Washington state? This means that there is a “spirit for every palate!” You’ll find everything from your favorite single malt whiskey to a gin that sings with fresh botanicals. With beautiful geography, unique farmland, and rich urban centers, you’ll love your drive through Washington. Here’s how to plot your course through Washington’s distillery tour adventures.
Chuckanut Bay Distillery in Bellingham, Washington
This winner of the 2023 Washington Liqueur Distillery of the Year at the coveted New York International Spirits Competition is one stop you need to make. This craft distillery has ambiance in spades! It’s located in a historic, large, 18,000-square-foot building in the heart of Bellingham’s picturesque downtown. Not only will you find their production room, but they also have a tasting room, a restaurant, and a bar.
After a lot of hard work, they debuted their first vodka in 2013, a potato vodka made from Washington’s Skagit Valley Yukon Gold potatoes. They have many other spirits, including whiskey, vodka, gin, and liqueurs.
When it comes to the distillery tour, you’ll smell it before you even get to taste it. They will show you how they use charred American white oak barrels to age their award-winning bourbon and let you feel the heat from an active ferment. Plus, you can see inside their secret barrel room and much more. Your tour includes two mini cocktails and a souvenir glass. It lasts about an hour, and you must be 21. They also offer private tours and corporate events.
Admiralty Distillers in Port Townsend, Washington
They are the first craft distillery on the Olympic Peninsula. Located in a picturesque port, they use water from the Olympic Mountains and local ingredients for all their spirits. Their goal is to lessen their impact on the environment and nurture relationships in the community.
The spirits here are unique and flavorful:
- Eau de Vie is a flavorful clear, colorless fruit brandy. This light spirit uses fermented ripe fruit that is distilled and quickly bottled to preserve its freshness.
- They have several brandies, including a Fruit Brandy that uses apples picked from their neighbors’ yards. Their Marc Brandy is styled after a classic Grappa. They distill it immediately after pressing it and let it rest for a year. For their Brandy, they focus on Orange Muscat grapes (a rare grape that is planted on only 100 acres in Washington state).
- Their Pennant Gin is slightly sweet, and they use grapes as a base with notes of juniper, savory spices, citrus, and locally grown lavender.
Their tours and tasting room are by appointment only. Visit their website for details.
3 Howls Distillery in Seattle, Washington
Located in Seattle’s industrial SoDo neighborhood with an urban vibe, this distillery is where the magic happens. While they are firmly rooted in the Pacific Northwest, the inspiration for 3 Howls comes from Isla, Scotland.
This is where their founder heard the story of the Cù-Sìth (pronounced koo-shee). The legend says a giant hound roams Scotland’s highlands and moors and that it howls three times before taking souls to the underworld. They loved how the story brings together the old-world distilling practices of Scotland to the new world of Seattle.
The team starts each spirit with a distinct base:
- Their Single Malt Whiskey starts with European malted barley.
- Their White Label Rum starts with sweet Barbados molasses.
Then, they naturally flavor their vodkas, gins, rums, and whiskeys and vapor infuse them for a magical experience. There are 12 different products, and they are all bottled by hand. For a tour, visit their website, where you can request one.
Skunk Brothers Spirits in Stevenson, Washington
Nestled in the Columbia Gorge, this award-winning craft distillery is a maker of grain-to-glass spirits. A family of disabled veterans began the distillery with a focus on locally-sourced, quality spirits. They pride themselves on building on their grandfather’s Prohibition-era moonshine recipe.
The “skunk” in their name comes from their father. He gained the nickname when he ran into a skunk during a snowstorm. Skunk’s father was an Oregon moonshiner when it was illegal. They are glad to be running a very legal craft distillery.
A few of their specialties include:
- Smoke Jumper Bourbon is a peated bourbon that is sweet and smoky. Their secret is the peated malt added last. They use an accelerated aging process for a smooth, enticing bourbon.
- Moonshine Corn Whiskey is 100 proof and made from 100% Washington-grown corn. It has notes of caramel, vanilla, oak, and maple, with a peppery finish.
- Sweet Apple Pie Brandy is their grandfather’s recipe. They changed it by adding their own apple brandy, Washinton honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, pie spices, and a cinnamon stick in each bottle.
They have a wide range of event experiences that include tours and tastings. Check out the event section of their website for the most up-to-date information.
Frequently Asked Questions About Washington Distillery Tours
What is Washington famous for?
Olympic National Park is by far the most visited attraction. If you go, you’ll be met with a vast one million acres full of forests, mountains, and even beaches.
What is the signature drink of Washington?
The official state fruit is an apple, so the state’s signature cocktail is the Washington Apple. To make it, mix equal parts whiskey, sour apple schnapps, and cranberry juice.
Is home distilling legal in Washington?
No. It is illegal to produce distilled spirits if you don’t have a license.
Ready, Set, Go…to a Washington Distillery Tour
The beauty of the state of Washington is unsurpassed. Half of it is covered in forests, and you’ll also see mountains and spectacular beaches. So, as you plot your course through Washington’s distillery tours, you’ll also enjoy a varied and beautiful landscape.
Enjoy visiting both small and large distilleries, as you never know what gem you might find!
If you want more information about the best craft distillery experiences in Washington or other places in the United States, please visit Distillerynearby.com. It’s your ultimate online source for whiskey, bourbon, vodka, gin, and other spirits.
