Bainbridge Organic Distilling

From the May/June 2011 issue

Keith Barnes and son Patrick are pretty much the sole workers at the still-young, but impressive Bainbridge Organic Distillers. Their strategy is to “re-envision the farm-distilled products of our agricultural heritage by creating spirits that have a tangible connection to the land on which our organic grains grow.”

Accordingly, Bainbridge sources their grain from small family farms in southern Washington and on the Olympic Peninsula that are certified organic and sustainably manage their crops. The distillers feel this gives them greater control and traceability, produces a much better product, and helps economically support family farms.

Currently, the distillery offers three products. The Legacy Organic Vodka uses Washington wheat and water from deep island aquifers to produce a pure and crisp vodka that is 100% organic. Their Heritage Organic Gin is also based on local wheat, as well as a profusion of Northwest-grown botanicals.

Battle Point Whiskey is the product that has caused the most stir. Using wheat grown amidst the salt air of the Olympic Peninsula, Battle Point Whiskey (named after an historic battle on the island) is aged in ten-gallon charred American oak barrels to impart color and subtle tones of vanilla and caramel. Batch No. 3 of this whiskey was just released in April, but with a production of only about 20 cases of hand-filled bottles, the whiskey is strictly limited.

www.bainbridgedistillers.com

—Cole Danehower

Clear Creek Distillery | Woodinville Whiskey Company | Edgefield Distillery | Bull Run Distilling

Koenig Distillers | Northwest Distillery | Dry Fly Distilling | Victoria Spirits | Bainbridge Island Distilling

House Spirits Distillery | Calisaya Liqueur | Cana’s Feast Chinato | Imbue Vermouth | Deco Distilling

Highball Distillery | Bendistillery | Stone Barn Brandyworks | New Deal Vodka