MicroShiner: Alaska

Alaska craft spirits launch micro-distillery small batch tasting room

Christmas in October

Monday, October 27, 2014

As it turns out, Friday, October 31st, is actually Halloween, but it may feel like Christmas to craft spirit lovers in the small port town of Haines, Alaska.

That's because Port Chilkoot Distillery will be celebrating the Grand Opening of their new tasting room with special Halloween cocktails ($6 each), free snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks.

Following the launch, regular winter hours at the tasting room will be Thursday through Sat, 1-7 pm.

The drink menu will change weekly to highlight seasonal themes and incorporate fresh, quality ingredients into special cocktails and infusions from their Port Chilkoot Distillery Vodka, Gin, and Moonshine Whiskey.

Those who haven't tried Port Chilkoot's micro-distilled spirits can also order a sample, straight, to experience the full flavor of their small batch product. Alaska law allows micro-distillers to serve on-site a maximum of two drinks per person per day and sell up to 5 bottles per day for off-site consumption. It also says they can't have seats at the bar.

Look for announcements about special events: tasting parties, cocktail recipe classes,and other special events at Port Chilkoot Distillery, and factor a visit to their tasting room into your next heli-ski or fishing trip to Southeastern Alaska.

Alaska craft spirits micro-distilling

Alaska Distiller's Guild Forms

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Alaska is populated with some of the most independent-minded people in the world, so it is not surprising to find a vibrant craft culture thriving there, as evidenced by this series of videos. In fact, Alaska has one of the highest ratios of craft breweries per capita in the US, and likely the highest number of micro-distilleries per million as well.

To lend further support to this already heavily self-determinant bent, producers in Alaska have banded together to form the Distiller's Guild of Alaska, which will work to ensure that Alaskan spirits are well represented across the state and beyond.

Here is their recent press release:

Distiller’s Guild of Alaska Formed

Business organization will represent the burgeoning Distilling Industry in Alaska

The five distilleries in Alaska recently formed the Distillers Guild of Alaska, a 501(c)6 Non-Profit Corporation. The Guild will promote the common business interests of small distilleries in the state. This includes our major supporting industries, such as Agriculture and Tourism. Our primary goal is to form a common voice for distillers and enthusiasts of craft spirits for collaborative marketing purposes, regulatory interests, and to represent Alaskan spirits nationally and internationally. Many states have similar guilds representing local and regional craft distilleries.

The Guild is represented by a Board of Directors elected by voting members. Voting members can be federally licensed distillers producing spirits in Alaska, whose production does not exceed 100,000 proof gallons. Non-voting Enthusiast Members and Associate Members are welcome and will be an integral part of the Guild’s mission and activities.

Current Board of Directors are: President Heather Shade, Port Chilkoot Distillery, Vice President Rob Borland, Ursa Major Distilling, Secretary Jeremy Loyer, Bare Distillery, Treasurer Felicia Keith-Jones, High Mark Distillery.

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Contact

There are currently five operating distilleries in Alaska: Ursa Major Distilling, High Mark Distillery, Alaska Distillery, Bare Distillery, and Port Chilkoot Distillery. For information or to become a guild member, contact your local distillery or

Heather Shade. heather@portchilkootdistillery.com. 907-766-3434

Alaska craft spirits micro-distillery

Indie Alaska | Port Chilkoot Distillery

Monday, June 23, 2014

INDIE ALASKA is an original video series produced by Alaska Public Media in partnership with PBS Digital Studios. Weekly videos capture the diverse and colorful lifestyles of everyday Alaskans at work and at play to present a fresh and authentic look at living in Alaska.

Recently, Indie Alaska visited Heather and Sean at Port Chilkoot Distillery in the small port town of Haines to document what it means to be a micro-distiller in Alaska.

Alaska craft spirits daily pour micro-distillery moonshine

Daily Pour

Friday, December 20, 2013

Port Chilkoot Distillery - 12 Volts Moonshine

“We put a lot of care and time into making our Moonshine. We stay true to a traditional recipe of corn and barley, but we distill it carefully and let it rest long enough to make an interesting and drinkable spirit. It’s essentially an un-aged corn whiskey, so it really retains the flavors of the grain fermentation. We think folks will enjoy tasting a raw whiskey before it undergoes all the flavor changes that barrel-aging contributes.”

Technically, moonshine refers to an illicit alcohol that is made without a license and sold under the radar of tax enforcement. It also goes by the name of White Dog, White Lightning, New-Make and White Whiskey, among others. The rekindled interest in small-batch craft spirits in the United States has created an interest in legally-made Moonshine. Using the same techniques and recipes as traditional Moonshiners, distilleries are creating their own locally-made, but legal, Moonshine products. Port Chilkoot Distillery joins these growing ranks with the release of their Alaskan-made 12 Volts Moonshine

“We made 12 Volts in the spirit of true Moonshine, just a little smoother and without the running from the law part.”

Alaska craft spirits micro-distillery

Craft Comes to SE Alaska

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Southeast Alaska has joined the craft movement with the opening of the Port Chilkoot Distillery in Haines this weekend. Alaska law prevents the distillery from serving their spirits on site, however owners Heather Shade and Sean Copeland welcome visitors to their renovated space in the historic Fort Seward bakery. Bottles of their initial Icy Strait Vodka offering will be available in stores and watering holes throughout the region beginning this month.

Copeland and Shade have recently begun production of several small batches of bourbon, currently resting in charred oak barrels. Un-aged moonshine and a gin produced with locally grown herbs are also in the works.

To learn more, visit their site at www.portchilkootdistillery.com

Alaska craft spirits distillery travel

Travel Perks

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

One of the inherent advantages of the craft scene is the opportunity it fosters when traveling. Everywhere you turn, there are new flavors, venues and labels to explore. Here is Alaska Distillery's offering from the Land of the Midnight Sun.