Artisan Distilling

Artisan Distilling

The Northwest Agriculture Business Center (NABC) and WSU's Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Natural Resources at the Northwestern Research and Extension Center in Mount Vernon will host an educational workshop for producers interested in micro-distilling.  The workshop will run from Friday June 20th to Saturday 21st at the WSU-Northwestern Research and Extension Center in Mount Vernon, WA.

The State of Washington is one of the largest producers of tree fruits, berries and potatoes in the United States. Apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, and berries rank high in Washington’s $6.8 billion dollar agricultural production list. WSU Extension and the Northwest Agriculture Business Center would like to work with producers who are interested in valued-added distilled products. Legislative change to state regulations relating to ‘small batch’ distilling at on-farm locations (House Bill 2959/SB 6496) made it possible for Washington growers to join the craft distillery movement that is going on throughout the United States. 

The new annual distilling license defines craft distilling as an agricultural practice and will drop the licensing fee from $2,000 to $100, allow for on-site tastings, sales of up to two liters per person per day, and allow production of up to 20,000 gallons of spirits per year.

Washington is the latest state to deregulate a part of its liquor industry. There are currently about 100 distilleries throughout the United States today, including Washington’s first distillery, Dry Fly Distilling in Spokane.

The NABC is bringing nationally recognized distilling experts to Washington to teach the basics of small-scale artisan distilling. Nicolas Haase, CARL Distilleries, Director of Technical Sales, B&D Technologies and Alexander Plank, Director of Operations at CARL Distilleries, Germany will be joined by Professor Kris Berglund from Michigan State University where he teaches in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science.

For more information about the June workshop or artisan distilling, please follow the links below:

Artisan Distilling Workshop
Artisan Distilling Registration Form

Distilling Fact Sheet
House Bill 2959-S