One of the top states in the nation for craft spirits, Washington has more than 100 distilleries, many of them with inviting tasting rooms and patios where you can sample products and enjoy creative cocktails and delicious food. Infused renditions of classic spirits like vodka, gin, bourbon, and rye form the backbone of most craft distillery menus. But unique, sometimes seasonal liqueurs flavored with locally sourced ingredients like blackberries, coffee, and lavender are wildly popular as well.
You can learn more about the state’s spirits scene through the Washington Distillers Guild, which also produces an interactive online Washington Distillery Trail.
Explore Washington State Distilleries
Stop by these inviting Washington distilleries to sample some of the state’s most distinctive craft spirits.
Adrift Distillers, Long Beach
Good for: cool architecture, beach setting, innovative infusions
Owned by the Adrift Hospitality boutique hotel group and adjacent to the flagship Adrift Hotel, this craft distiller is known for its tart-sweet cranberry liqueur, which uses berries harvested right on the peninsula. The production and tastings take place in an eye-catching building with tall windows and an outdoor space just a stone’s throw from scenic Long Beach. Also popular is the robust coffee liqueur made with locally roasted beans, herbally infused amaro, and highly quaffable gins and vodka. Adrift Distillers features its spirits at its nearby restaurants Pickled Fish and the Shelburne Pub.
Bainbridge Organic Distillers, Bainbridge Island
Good for: certified organic, classic spirits, central location
Founded in 2009, Washington’s first USDA-certified organic distillery is known for its wheat vodka and whiskey. Bainbridge Organic Distillers’ dedication to sustainable practices is evident in every aspect, from sourcing local, organic grains to using environmentally friendly packaging and partnering with other small businesses. Located a short ferry ride from Seattle, the distillery can be found in a small shopping center that’s also home to popular Fletcher Bay Winery and Bainbridge Brewing. Flights are served in distinctive trays fashioned out of whiskey casks. Be sure to try the aromatic Yama Mizunara Cask single-grain whiskey, the only non-Japanese whiskey aged in these casks made with a rare oak. Other products include organic vodka and gin, and a distinctive whiskey aged in Barbados rum casks.
Bellewood Distilling, Lynden
Good for: orchard setting, innovative infusions
A favorite destination for all ages, especially during the fall harvest, this family run orchard, farm market, and restaurant outside Bellingham is also home to one of the most inviting Washington distilleries. Stop inside the Bellewood Distilling tasting room, where the knowledgeable staff will show you the towering copper still and pour samples of velvety vodka distilled from Honeycrisp apples along with a signature whiskey-barrel-aged brandy that recalls the fine Calvados brandies of France’s Normandy. Gin as well as pumpkin spiced- and coffee-infused liqueurs round out the selection. Pick up house-made honey-roasted peanut butter, apple chips, and caramel sauce in the market, or have a seat on the patio of Bellewood’s Ten Mile Cafe Grill and feast on—you guessed it—apple pie.
Blue Spirits, Leavenworth
Good for: inviting outdoor seating, beautiful setting, great food, innovative infusions, classic spirits
Nestled on the edge of downtown in this picturesque Bavarian-inspired village in the eastern foothills of the Cascades, Blue Spirits offers tastings in a light-filled space with varnished-wood accents or on a covered terrace with fire tables—a favorite place to relax with a cocktail on a brisk winter day. Pets and families are welcome in both areas. With a name that honors the pristine waters of nearby Lake Chelan, the company carries an extensive line of products, including an aromatic gin produced with local lavender and wild sage, a sippable aged rye whiskey, an old-school Caribbean-style rum, and a bounty of vodkas with intriguing flavors like grapefruit, cucumber, and a kicky blend of hot chiles and peppercorn. Come for a tasting flight or to enjoy cocktails and a bite to eat.
Bluewater Organic Distilling, Everett
Good for: certified organic, creative cocktails, innovative infusions
This sleek, industrial space with a covered terrace overlooking the bustling Port of Everett offers tastings of its copper-kettle-distilled 100-proof vodka and a bracing aquavit with caraway, orange, and aniseed that’s inspired by the owner’s Scandinavian roots. But Bluewater Organic Distilling is also a full bar and bistro specializing in seasonally sourced Pacific Northwest produce and sustainable seafood. Try the firecracker shrimp and finish your meal with a scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled with house-made elderflower-cardamom liqueur. This is a popular stop during the summer months with those visiting nearby Jetty Island—the terminal for the short ferry ride is just a few steps away.
Chuckanut Bay Distillery, Bellingham
Good for: great food, informative tours, creative cocktails, classic spirits
Housed in a stately building in downtown Bellingham, this outstanding Washington State distillery has built a loyal following for its highly engaging one-hour tours (online reservations are advised) that include two mini cocktails. Bourbon, rye, vodka, and gin are among the top products, but also be sure to seek out more unusual offerings, like Washington hops-infused schnapps and Madame Richelieu absinthe. This handsome space also contains the two-story Penny Farthing Bar & Restaurant, which features several dishes that incorporate Chuckanut Bay Distillery’s flavorful spirits, including whiskey-queso dip, bourbon crab bisque, and tiramisu with coffee liqueur-soaked ladyfinger cookies.
Copperworks Distilling Company, Seattle
Good for: informative tours, innovative infusions, classic spirits, central location
This industrial-chic space near Seattle’s rapidly transforming waterfront makes a fun stop after visiting the many nearby attractions, such as The Seattle Great Wheel, Seattle Art Museum, and Pike Place Market. Admire the enormous copper still while on one of Copperworks Distilling Company’s engaging tours or during an interactive whiskey blending workshop. Favorites include a single-malt whiskey aged in barleywine casks and a plum gin with fruit sourced from Orcas Island. There’s also a newer location with a full cocktail bar just off the multi-use Burke-Gilman Trail in Kenmore, near the northeast tip of Lake Washington. This space has pet-friendly indoor and outdoor seating.
The Distillarium, Yakima
Good for: inviting outdoor seating, cool architecture, creative cocktails, innovative infusions
The Yakima Valley may be famous for growing most of the nation’s hops and producing world-class wines, but it also produces many of the ingredients that Distillarium uses in its exceptional spirits. This includes locally sourced corn for the cask-strength bourbon, riesling and chardonnay grapes in the smooth VSOP American brandy, and rhubarb in the slightly sweet flavored vodka. Located just over the Yakima River from downtown, this contemporary warehouse-style space has ample indoor and outdoor seating and an excellent restaurant serving cocktail-friendly fare like braised short ribs with a whiskey-infused demi-glace. Informative tours of the distillery are offered too.
Dry Fly Distilling, Spokane
Good for: cool architecture, classic spirits, central location
One of the state’s most celebrated spirits pioneers, the fishing-themed Dry Fly opened in 2007 as the first Washington distillery since the Prohibition era and has developed a loyal following for its rye whiskey and straight bourbon, plus an eye-catching pink gin aged in port barrels. Visit the convivial bar and restaurant in downtown Spokane, a short stroll from scenic Riverfront Park. The airy space serves craft cocktails (try the refreshing whiskey smash with strawberry, mint, and house lemonade) and tasty pub fare, including a delicious smoked trout dip. Be sure to check out the company’s line of canned cocktails, which include huckleberry lemonade and a bloody Mary.
Fremont Mischief Distillery, Seattle
Good for: central location, sustainability, unique infusions
Located in Seattle’s artistic Fremont neighborhood, this spirits producer has been going strong since Washington craft distilleries were legalized in 2008. Fremont Mischief is celebrated for its exceptional rye whiskey and its spirits with unique infusions, including aromatic botanical gins and “urban-foraged” pot-distilled brandies produced with grapes picked in Seattle. Mischief’s dedication to sustainability extends to using non-GMO grains and implementing energy-efficient distilling methods. The tasting room and restaurant feature a convivial rooftop cocktail garden that often presents live music, and the menu specializes in cocktail-friendly fare, like brioche bread pudding with a rye whiskey caramel sauce.
Hardware Distillery, Hoodsport
Good for: beautiful setting, mead, cool architecture
Vintage tools, photos and an antique chandelier fill the cozy interior of this craft distillery named for its location inside an old-fashioned former hardware store near the peaceful shore of Hood Canal on the peninsula. Stop by to sample the popular honey-fruit concoctions from Hardware Distillery’s Bee’s Knees line of meads—flavors include fig, peach, and bing cherry. The Crabby gin has been crafted to pair well with the shellfish and crabs caught in this picturesque part of Washington, while spicy Norwegian-influenced aquavits and Scottish-style whiskeys are offered as well.
Heritage Distilling Co., Gig Harbor, Roslyn, and Tumwater
Good for: cool architecture, informative tours, creative cocktails, fun infusions
The Pacific Northwest’s largest independent craft distiller earns raves for its infused vodkas (with flavors like blood orange, lavender, and huckleberry) and the signature Brown Sugar Bourbon. You can sample the spirits and enjoy light snacks at one of their three Washington locations, including the Roslyn tasting room located in a striking 1896 building, the Gig Harbor location steps from the scenic waterfront, and the inviting tasting room at their three-story production facility in the hip Tumwater Craft District just outside Olympia. Tours are offered on Saturdays at the Roslyn location. A majority women-owned business, Heritage Distilling Co. also partners with Native-owned Talking Cedar in Grand Mound.
OOLA Distillery, Seattle
Good for: informative tours, classic spirits, central location
This craft spirits producer delighted its many fans by opening a stylish new restaurant, bar, and bottle shop in Seattle’s trendy Capitol Hill neighborhood in 2023. This smartly decorated spot with a gorgeous patio is a lovely place to get acquainted with OOLA Distillery’s outstanding spirits—you can even sign up for a craft cocktail class on the second Wednesday of each month. Order a flight or buy bottles of the company’s most popular offerings, such as the zippy chili pepper vodka, the fragrant barrel-finished gin, and the heady cask-strength (116 proof) Waitsburg bourbon. The restaurant turns out Pacific Northwest bites—consider the gin-cured steelhead trout with fresh horseradish. For a deeper dive into the production process at this Washington State distillery, book a tour of OOLA’s 12,000-square-foot facility in Georgetown.
Sandstone Distillery, Tenino
Good for: beautiful setting, creative cocktails, innovative infusions
Set in the verdant countryside outside Tenino, Sandstone Distillery offers tasting flights and tours of its casual operation named for the area’s history as a quarry and sandstone producer. The team here has come up with an inventive lineup of bold spirits, like the Stone Carver black gin infused with licorice and a bacon whiskey that features bacon “from the hogs that ate the spent grains that went into making the White Whiskey.” The company also produces “ready to pour” raspberry lemonade and other pre-mixed cocktails as well as artisan shrubs and drinking vinegar in flavors using local produce—think boysenberry-basil or blueberry-thyme.
Skip Rock Distillers, Snohomish
Good for: cool architecture, innovative infusions, classic spirits, central location
Take a break a break from browsing for treasures in historic downtown Snohomish, aka “the antiques capital of the Northwest,” with a tasting at this warmly lighted spot set in a vintage redbrick storefront. It’s known for producing an exceptional potato vodka infused with black peppercorns as well as a smooth white whiskey, a few different rums, and several flavorful, field-to-bottle liqueurs—the nocino (walnut) variety is a standout. The team here produces spirits that are meant to pair well with food. Fun fact: although vodka has a reputation for being produced with potatoes, according to Skip Rock, less than 1 percent of the vodka in the world is derived from this ubiquitous tuber. It’s apparently a lot of work, but the folks here swear by using potatoes because of the smooth product that results.
Skunk Brothers Spirits, Stevenson
Good for: beautiful setting, innovative infusions, classic spirits
This small-batch Washington State distillery is in the scenic Columbia River Gorge town of Stevenson and was started by a family of disabled veterans, It’s well-regarded for its potent, grain-to-glass spirits, including a buttery moonshine corn whiskey that’s especially tasty in Bloody Marys and mojitos, and a blueberry-cinnamon cordial that’s delicious on its own or drizzled over ice cream. Drop by the laid-back Skunk Brothers tasting room to sample these creative sips, which also include a tasty sweet apple pie brandy and a bright and refreshing cherry cordial. Located on the riverfront near East Point Kite Beach, the distillery is a short walk from several excellent local taverns and craft breweries.
Talking Cedar, Grand Mound
Good For: beer fans, supporting Indiginous communities
Talking Cedar made history when it opened its doors in 2020, becoming the country’s first distillery on tribal land. Operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, the massive gastropub with its own brewery and distillery can be found south of Olympia near the family friendly Great Wolf Lodge. In 2023, it released its first product, Kayak Gin, a piney spirit made with local Douglas fir and juniper along with mountain yarrow and nootka rose. Talking Cedar plans to release other spirits, including a line of flavored whiskeys, in 2024.
Terramar Brewstillery, Edison
Good for: quiet setting, beer fans, speakeasy vibes
Opened in 2020 in the heart of tiny Bow-Edison in Skagit County, Terramar Brewstillery produces more than one kind of craft beverage. Here you can sample flavorful beers, ciders, and spirits produced on-site and sourced as much as possible using seasonal ingredients from the immediate region. In this artfully designed space that holds both a cozy speakeasy and a larger dog- and kid-friendly taproom, try the single-malt vodka, gin, and whiskey in one of the creative cocktails, like the Barker Boulevard with whiskey, raspberry liqueur, and house-made chocolate amaro. The kitchen turns out bountiful salads, tapas, and artisan pizzas.
Whidbey Island Distillery, Langley
Good for: island setting, informative tours, innovative infusions
It’s hard to imagine a more alluring setting for making spirits than this 9-acre wilderness on the southern end of tranquil Whidbey Island. Visiting here on a warm day means relaxing on the dog-friendly outdoor patio, breathing in the brisk sea air, and sipping the critically acclaimed blackberry liqueur, made with locally sourced fruit. On cooler days, these free tastings are held in the property’s former bunker. Other liqueurs also feature Washington fruit, including boysenberries, raspberries, and loganberries. Whidbey Island Distillery‘s rye whiskey also has a tremendously popular following.
Woodinville Whiskey Company, Woodinville
Good for: cool architecture, great food, informative tours, classic spirits
Here in the heart of one of Washington’s most famous wine towns you’ll find this award-winning small-batch distiller that makes its bourbon using a recipe that’s more than a century old. Sourcing grains from the town of Quincy, Woodinville Whiskey is acclaimed for its toasty and mellow straight bourbon, smokey rye whiskey, and port-finished bourbon. There’s also a barrel-aged maple syrup that may forever change how you serve pancakes and French toast. The striking, contemporary distillery with giant windows and a soaring grain silo offers tastings and, by reservation, full distillery tours. After your visit, stroll next door to the convivial Hollywood Tavern, which serves up creative gastropub dishes.
About the Author
Freelance editor and writer Andrew Collins is based in Mexico City but returns frequently to the Pacific Northwest, where he is the editor of both the official Washington State Visitors’ Guide and the Visit Seattle Official Visitors’ Guide. He regularly updates several Washington chapters of the Fodor’s Pacific Northwest guidebook and is the author of Ultimate Road Trips US and Canada. Collins writes about travel for The Points Guy and several other publications. You can read his work at AndrewsTraveling.com.