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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.
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.
History
editChuckanut 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 Chuckanut Bay name was registered as a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 2022 (Reg. No. 6662549), with first commercial use documented as December 7, 2013.[1]
The vodka was produced using a bicycle-powered milling system used to process locally sourced potatoes.[2] 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.[3]
Building and redevelopment
editThe distillery occupies a commercial building constructed in 1905, originally known as the Chamber of Commerce Building.[4] 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.[5]
Following the relocation of J.C. Penney to Bellis Fair Mall in 1988, the building fell into disuse.[6]
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.[7]
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.[8]
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.[9]
Operations
editThe 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.[10] The product has also been described by industry publications as "the Pacific Northwest's newest holiday tradition."[11]
The distillery has expanded to include a second location at the Portal Container Village on Bellingham's waterfront.[12]
Recognition
editIn 2023, Mayor Seth Fleetwood presented Chuckanut Bay Distillery with a Mayor's City Center Award, recognizing the project's outstanding restoration of a historic building and its contributions to revitalizing Bellingham's city center.[13][14][15]
In 2025, the distillery was named Washington Distillery of the Year by the New York International Spirits Competition.[16]
External links
editCategory:Distilleries in Washington (state) Category:Bellingham, Washington Category:Food and drink companies established in 2011
- ↑ "CHUCKANUT BAY – Registration No. 6662549". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ↑ "Matt Howell, co-founder of Chuckanut Bay Distillery". My Bellingham Now.
- ↑ "2013 Winners". New York International Spirits Competition.
- ↑ "Chuckanut Bay Distillery: A Bellingham Adaptive Reuse Success Story" (PDF). Preserve WA.
- ↑ "Chuckanut Bay Distillery: A Bellingham Adaptive Reuse Success Story" (PDF). Preserve WA.
- ↑ "Chuckanut Bay Distillery: A Bellingham Adaptive Reuse Success Story" (PDF). Preserve WA.
- ↑ "A presidential visit planned and celebrated, then forgotten". Salish Current.
- ↑ "Race's history traces back to early 20th century". Cascadia Daily News. May 27, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- ↑ "Long-awaited rooftop bar opens in downtown Bellingham". Cascadia Daily News.
- ↑ "Krampus Herbal Liqueur – USA Spirits Ratings 2022". USA Spirits Ratings.
- ↑ "The New World of Botanical Spirits". Bartender Spirits Awards.
- ↑ "Bellingham distillery to open location at Portal Container Village". Cascadia Daily News.
- ↑ "Mayor Announces 2023 City Center Awards". City of Bellingham. August 1, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ↑ "Mayor's City Center Awards". City of Bellingham. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ↑ "Several downtown businesses honored in City Center Awards". KAFE. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- ↑ "2025 Winners". New York International Spirits Competition.