Distillery tours
Distillery Tours in Washington
Plan a distillery tour in Washington: 9 distilleries to visit, with tastings and experiences you can book directly. Expect Gin, Craft Spirits, Single Malt and more. Highlights include Highside Distilling, Liberty Pole Spirits, Bellewood Distilling.
9distilleries
Bainbridge Organic Distillers
Washington's pioneering organic island distillery
About distillery tours in Washington
Washington has one of the most dynamic craft-spirits scenes in the United States, and much of it traces back to legislation in the late 2000s that opened the door to small distilleries. Dry Fly Distilling in the Spokane area, which began in 2007, is often described as the state's first grain-to-glass craft operation and a pioneer of the farm-to-bottle approach, while Bainbridge Organic Distillers became an early standard-bearer for certified-organic spirits. The result today is a scene defined by local grain, sustainability and experimentation, spread across two broad zones: the greater Seattle and Puget Sound area on the west side, and the agricultural east around Spokane. The featured producers reflect that spread, from Fremont Mischief in Seattle's Fremont neighbourhood to Dry Fly in the Spokane Valley, with Bainbridge Organic Distillers, 2 Loons Distillery, Bellewood Distilling, Chuckanut Bay Distillery, Golden Distillery and Highside Distilling adding island, coastal and northern flavour. For visitors, this means a trail that can be built around ferries and waterfront towns on one side of the state or wheat-country drives on the other, with strong local food and drink at every turn. It is a region where provenance genuinely matters, and the distilleries are happy to talk about it.
Following the Washington trail
Washington effectively offers two trails in one. On the west side, the greater Seattle and Puget Sound area is the easiest place to start, with Fremont Mischief set in Seattle's Fremont neighbourhood and Bainbridge Organic Distillers a short ferry ride across the sound. From there the islands and northern coast open up, with producers like 2 Loons, Golden Distillery and Highside Distilling rewarding those willing to combine tastings with ferry hops and waterfront scenery, and Bellewood Distilling and Chuckanut Bay Distillery anchoring the Bellingham and northern Puget Sound area. On the east side, the Spokane region centres on Dry Fly Distilling, a pioneer of the state's grain-to-glass movement, set among the wheat country that supplies so many local producers. Because the two zones are separated by a long drive across the Cascades, most visitors choose one side per trip. Ferry schedules shape the western itinerary as much as opening hours, so it pays to plan around sailings.
Distilleries worth prioritising
For a sense of where Washington's craft movement began, Dry Fly Distilling near Spokane is a natural pilgrimage, known for its farm-to-bottle ethos and locally sourced grain. On the west side, Fremont Mischief is an easy and rewarding city stop, recognised for its rye and unusual infusions and foraged-fruit spirits, while Bainbridge Organic Distillers offers a contrasting story as an early certified-organic producer working with local organic grain. Travellers drawn to scenery and a slower pace should weigh the island and northern coast options — 2 Loons, Golden Distillery and Highside Distilling — which pair tastings with some of Puget Sound's best views. Bellewood Distilling and Chuckanut Bay Distillery round out the northern cluster well. If you only have a weekend, a Seattle-plus-Bainbridge pairing gives you an urban distillery, a ferry crossing and an organic pioneer without ever needing to cross the mountains.
Where to stay & eat nearby
On the west side, Seattle is the obvious base, with Fremont Mischief close to the city's restaurants and bars and Bainbridge Island reachable by a scenic ferry that doubles as part of the experience. Heading north, Bellingham makes a good hub for Bellewood and Chuckanut Bay, with the San Juan and northern Puget Sound towns offering waterfront inns and seafood for those venturing to the island distilleries. On the east side, Spokane is a comfortable base for Dry Fly, with a growing food and drink scene and easy access to the surrounding wheat country. Across the state, Washington's strong emphasis on local sourcing carries into its kitchens, so it is straightforward to build meals around regional seafood, produce and wine that echo the distilleries' own provenance-driven approach. Book ferries and summer lodging early.
Frequently asked
- Which Washington distillery is considered the pioneer?
- Dry Fly Distilling, founded near Spokane in 2007, is widely regarded as Washington's first grain-to-glass craft distillery and a pioneer of the farm-to-bottle approach that now defines much of the state's scene.
- Should I focus on the Seattle side or the Spokane side?
- Most visitors pick one, since the two zones are separated by a long drive across the Cascades. The Seattle and Puget Sound side suits ferry-based, scenic trips, while the Spokane area centres on Dry Fly and wheat-country sourcing.
- Do ferries really matter for planning a trip?
- On the west side, yes. Reaching Bainbridge Organic Distillers and several island producers depends on ferry sailings, so building your itinerary around the schedule is as important as checking distillery hours.
- What makes Washington spirits distinctive?
- A strong commitment to local grain, sustainability and experimentation. You'll find an early certified-organic producer in Bainbridge Organic Distillers and inventive infusions and foraged-fruit spirits at Fremont Mischief, alongside grain-to-glass whiskey.
- Can I visit a distillery within Seattle itself?
- Yes. Fremont Mischief sits in Seattle's Fremont neighbourhood, making it an easy city-based stop that you can combine with the surrounding restaurants and bars before heading further afield.
- When is the best time to visit?
- Summer offers the longest days, best ferry conditions and most reliable tasting-room hours, especially for the island producers. Autumn is quieter and scenic, while winter trips are workable on the Spokane side if you confirm hours in advance.