In 2008 Washington lifted a law that made it difficult for would-be craft distilleries to set up shop in the state. The new law now allows these micro-distillers special tax breaks and the ability to operate tasting rooms, under the condition that at least 51 percent of the ingredients come from Washington. This created a boom in the state’s craft distilling industry, as Washington now has more distilleries than any other state and Seattle more than any other city. But this is not to say that the spirits industry outside of the Evergreen State is suffering. British Columbia is leading the way in Canada — the province has more distilleries than any other — with Oregon and Montana also chomping at the bit. If you love drinking or making spirits then the Pacific Northwest is the place to be right now. Here, we take at seven of the newest craft distilleries in the region.
Four Leaf Spirits || Woodinville, WA
Opening last October, Four Leaf Spirits makes tea-infused spirits using the tea from Seattle-based Remedy Teas. Sásta, Irish for “satisfied” or “content,” is an herbal tea liqueur distilled with rooibos tea, chamomile, mint and Pacific Northwest honey. At this year’s American Craft Spirit Awards, the liqueur took home a silver medal in the Specialty Spirits category. As an added bonus, part of Four Leaf’s proceeds are donated to both cancer research and education nonprofits.
Wildwood Spirits Co. || Bothell, WA
Master distiller and sommelier Erik Liedholm, in a partnership with chef John Howie, opened the Bothell-based Wildwood Spirits Co. last December. Before opening his own distillery, Liedholm was making his award-winning spirits out of his home state with a mentor at Michigan State University. Now batches from Northwest ingredients (many from Liedholm’s own yard) are distilled in Bothell with Liedholm and Howie adopting a farm-to-table philosophy for Wildwood Spirits Co., which they’ve dubbed “farm-to-distillery.”
Cadée Distillery || Clinton, WA
Carrying on the five centuries-old distilling tradition of Scotland’s Campbell clan is Cadée Distillery from “Isle of Whidbey.” The ambitious distillery ties into the seafaring climate of both the owner/distiller’s heritage (a true Scotsman) and that of Whidbey Island, making a plethora of spirits from vodka and several gins to a number of whiskeys and bourbons, many with nods to the motherland. The distillery opened last March with the goal of using only the purest ingredients, which is denoted by their name, which means “pure” in Gaelic.
Scratch Distillery || Edmonds, WA
After beginning their distilling operations last July in Edmonds, Bryan and Kim Kerrick of Scratch Distillery promptly blew the house down by taking home five bronze, five silver and two gold medals from spirits competitions around the country, as well as New York International Spirits Competition’s award for Washington Gin Distillery of the Year. The Kerrick’s dedication to the creation of their much lauded gins (among other spirits as well) go to prove their slogan, that “gin equals love.” Check it out at one of the Giniology classes offered and take a Scratch-inspired gin home with you.
Temple Distilling || Lynnwood, WA
Last October husband-and-wife team AJ and Jaime Temple started Temple Distilling, the first distillery ever opened in the Seattle suburb of Lynnwood. Since then, the couple has been busy creating two gold, silver and bronze award-winning gins (Chapter One and Chapter One Navy Strength) and an all-natural small batch limoncello.
Spotted Bear Spirits || Whitefish, MT
A trio of traditional pot stills produces the “essence” of the spirits from this young female-led distillery in the famed ski town. The spirits for now maintain a rye vodka based and have been infused with everything from sugar beets to pears and apples. Plans to add gin, coffee liqueur, an agave spirit and more are in the works. In the mean time, try the spirits on their own or in one of the many rotating craft cocktails the tasting room offers, with house-made syrups, tinctures and shrubs.
Thomas & Sons Distillery || Portland
Not content to let Washington have all the fun is Rose City-based Thomas & Sons Distillery, the new tea-based spirits making branch of Townshend’s Company. As well as taking inspiration from their sister tea company, Thomas & Sons have created a Northwest inspired fernet, an alpine liqueur and a rose petal and white tea spirit they call White Rose.
Sons of Vancouver Distillery || Vancouver, BC
Unsurprisingly located in Vancouver, the aptly named Sons of Vancouver Distillery seeks to show that there’s plenty to love in the craft distilling world of the north. Makers of amaretto, vodka and a chili-flavored vodka, the duo behind the distilling operation used Indiegogo to fund their production and have received heaps of buzz about since opening doors early last year.
