Draft:Chuckanut Bay Distillery
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Chuckanut Bay Distillery is a grain-to-glass craft distillery located in Bellingham, Washington. Founded in 2011 by Matt Howell and Kelly Andrews, the distillery produces whiskey, gin, vodka, and liqueurs and operates within a restored historic downtown building.
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Comment: Note: The creator of this article has a conflict of interest as a co-owner of Chuckanut Bay Distillery. All claims are supported by independent, third-party sources.
History
Chuckanut Bay Distillery was established in 2011 in Bellingham. Its first product, a potato vodka made from Skagit Valley-grown Yukon Gold potatoes, was released in 2013.
The vodka was produced using a bicycle-powered milling system used to process locally sourced potatoes.[1] It received a double gold medal at the New York International Spirits Competition, and in the same year the distillery was named Washington State Distillery of the Year by the competition.[2]
Building and redevelopment
The distillery occupies a commercial building constructed in 1905, originally known as the Chamber of Commerce Building.[3] The structure housed a range of commercial uses, including a meat market, restaurant, and cigar store, before becoming Bellingham's original J.C. Penney department store in the 1920s.[4]
Following the relocation of J.C. Penney to Bellis Fair Mall in 1988, the building fell into disuse.[5]
The site is also the location of a breakfast attended by U.S. President William Howard Taft during his visit to Bellingham on October 9, 1911.[6]
The building also served as the starting point for the Mount Baker Marathon of 1911–1913, a predecessor to the modern Ski to Sea race, from which competitors departed by train or automobile toward the summit of Mount Baker.[7]
Howell and Andrews identified the vacant building in 2016 and purchased it in 2017. They completed a multi-year adaptive reuse project, restoring architectural features and converting the approximately 18,000-square-foot structure into a distillery, restaurant, event venue, and rooftop bar, including a ballroom with a capacity of approximately 300 guests.[8]
Operations
The distillery produces a range of spirits using locally sourced ingredients where possible. Its lineup includes bourbon, rye whiskey, gin, vodka, and herbal liqueurs.
Among its products is a Krampus-branded herbal liqueur, which received a gold medal at the USA Spirits Ratings.[9] The product has also been described by industry publications as "the Pacific Northwest's newest holiday tradition."[10]
The distillery has expanded to include a second location at the Portal Container Village on Bellingham's waterfront.[11]
Recognition
In 2023, Chuckanut Bay Distillery received the Mayor's City Center Award from the City of Bellingham for its role in the restoration and activation of a historic downtown property.[12]
In 2025, the distillery was named Washington Distillery of the Year by the New York International Spirits Competition.[13]