Edmond’s Scratch Distillery Turns 10
The story of how Scratch Distillery in Edmonds, Washington, started around a gin-erific romance between Kim and Bryan Karrick is bottled into Pacific Northwest distillery lore. And now the distillery into which they’ve poured their hearts and minds is turning 10. To honor the delicious gins, whiskies, rums, aquavits, liqueurs and vodkas they’ve released during those 10 years — as well as the Edmonds community and the people that have supported Scratch — they’re having a month of events and exclusive releases.
But before taking a sip at an event or of a release, let’s pause a moment to remember that their tasty award-winning spirits and liqueurs (and by golly, Scratch has won a lot of awards) weren’t created out of thin air. Craft distilleries are not an easy proposition. Too many don’t make it to age 10. For Scratch to celebrate this anniversary, it’s taken a combination of incredibly hard work stirred with a ton of creativity. And a garnish of amiable friendliness, too, as anyone who has been lucky enough to stop by the distillery knows.
For two scrumptious examples, take their Pride Spirits Club and GINiology classes. First, the club. It’s a swell way to establish community while getting products to welcoming drinkers. Karrick once told me, “keeping the club members — and everyday customers — interested and invested is what has kept me alive in this business.” While helping keep her imagination and the still running, club members get scrumptiously well thought-out benefits: three bottles quarterly, special club-only releases, early access to releases, cocktails at club events, discounts and an annual private tour.
And then there are the brilliant GINiology classes. Scratch itself started with gin and, if you, like Bryan and Kim, enjoy gin and haven’t taken a class my advice is: sign up today. In the class you get to create your own bespoke gin at the distillery under Kim’s expert tutelage. This takes place after learning gin history from Bryan — with some gin cocktails along the way, naturally. I took a class when they first kicked off, and the minute I was done, I wanted to take another (which I did). GINiology classes, like the Pride Spirits Club, combine good booze and a good time, and in the end, you feel you’ve met some friends, too. That’s what 10 years are made of.
That and, of course, the Scratch lineup of spirits and liqueurs themselves.
The list is awe-inspiring, from their first gins tailored to making Martinis and G&Ts, to the best pepper vodka pouring anywhere, to their smoked single malt based on maplewood-smoked malted barley, to the Sip Double Gold-winning WAquavit, to the tiki-tastic Lilikoi Liqueur and brand-new herbally Liqueur Verte, to their summery white rum, and the many, many gins, vodkas, whiskies, aquavits, liqueurs and rums in between. Each one is handcrafted with non-GMO, organic ingredients from Washington.
Creativity, community and spirits and liqueurs made with care and love by Scratch for 10 years. That’s certainly a reason to celebrate. So, check out the list of events and releases below — and if you missed any, be sure to sign up for the Scratch newsletter so next time you won’t. Then, stop by Scratch Distillery to take part. You’ll be glad you did.
Tuesdays on the Deck
These are happening every Tuesday in July, 5 to 7 p.m. You’ll find a themed discounted cocktail, plus weekly drawings for different prizes. Every $50 spent on scrumptious Scratch stuff provides you with an entry for the drawings. Here’s the Tuesday cocktail and prize line-up:
- July 1: Vodka-based cocktail, mixer basket prize
- July 8: Gin-based cocktail, GINiology at Home experience prize
- July 15: Rum-based cocktail, personalized cocktail training and class for four prize
- July 22: Aquavit-based cocktail, private tour and tasting for four prize
- July 29: Whiskey-based cocktail, a bottle of Scratch’s limited whiskey release prize
Whiskey Flight Sundays
These special Sundays feature $20 flights of Scratch’s unique Edmonds Own Whiskey (which won a Sip 2024 Best of the Northwest Platinum award). These are available while supplies last.
- July 13: “Library Day.” Enjoy pours from four different Single Barrel Edmonds Own Whiskies, including the inaugural first barrel from 2018. The remaining library selections (15 bottles) will be available for purchase.
- July 20: Explore the Edmonds Own Whiskey evolution via tastings of four different ages, showcasing its journey to becoming a smooth, sought-after spirit.
- July 27: Sample flights of the same whiskey proofed to four different strengths and discover the perfect balance of nose and finish, alongside how Scratch determines the best proof for bottling whiskey.
Free tours will also take place on Saturday, July 12, and Saturday, July 19, at 1 p.m. These are ideal for learning more about Scratch and how crafting tasty spirits and liqueurs works.
Plus, keep an eye open for announcements about three fantastic special anniversary celebration releases in July. Follow Scratch on social media for updates and to learn more, or follow us here at Sip or My Edmonds News.
