Distillery profile

Port Chilkoot Distillery

Explore the distillery's history, craft, production, and the distinctive character of its whiskies.

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Port Chilkoot Distillery

About the distillery

Port Chilkoot Distillery is located in Haines, Alaska, and is a small, craft-focused distillery that makes a wide range of spirits in small batches. The place combines traditional methods — such as London Dry gin distillation and pot still distillation of agave — with local ingredients like hand-harvested spruce tips and pure local water. The distillery is of interest to those who want to taste spirits with a clear local footprint and the opportunity to visit the tasting room.

History

The story behind Port Chilkoot Distillery is the tale of a small team building a local spirits house in Haines. Heather Shade and Sean Copeland lead as owners, with Heather drawing on her background as a national park biologist and a passion for botanical experimentation, while Sean brought carpentry tools and many years of craftsmanship to the build-out of the tasting room. In 2019, Sean built the distillery’s new production building from the ground up, and the distillery has since strengthened its local connections, including by employing staff with deep roots in the area. The team includes both a production team leader and personnel dedicated to guest services and tours. There is a clear emphasis on harvesting and using local materials while also combining them with selected imported ingredients when it makes sense for production.

Raw materials and production

Production takes place in small batches with a focus on craftsmanship and locality. Gin is produced in the London Dry style and gets its distinctive character from hand-harvested spruce tips, whole juniper berries, and spices such as cinnamon and coriander; a citrusy finish comes from tangerines grown on the owners’ plantation in California. The vodka is distilled from corn and blended with pure local water, bottled at a robust 90 proof. Agave de Alaska is made from 100% blue agave, cooked, fermented, and distilled in a pot still. The rum is made in small-batch, kettle-cooked panela sugar from the Caribbean, and after distillation aged in new Boatwright Bourbon barrels. On the whisky side, the distillery produces its own grain-to-barrel expressions for use in Boatwright Bourbon and Wrack Line Rye, as well as limited whiskey releases; Wrack Line Rye starts with a mash bill of 70% rye. Absinthe is produced without artificial coloring or sugar syrup and undergoes two herb macerations to draw out aromas from wormwood, lemon balm, and anise hyssop.

Aging and barrel types

The distillery uses its own bourbon barrels as a common element in aging. Boatwright Bourbon barrels function both as the aging profile for their bourbon blend and as empty casks that are re-filled for aging rum. Wrack Line Rye ages locally for at least three years in the distillery’s own barrels, and Old School Whiskey ages three years in Boatwright Bourbon barrels. There are also mentions of experiments with local aging conditions and blending their own casks with purchased straight whiskeys.

Whiskies

Port Chilkoot’s range covers several spirit types, but in the whiskies category there are three core offerings:

  • Boatwright Bourbon, which is a local bourbon blend; Wrack Line Rye, a rye with a mash bill of 70% rye and at least three years of aging; and the limited Old School Whiskey, where only two barrels are released annually after three years of aging in Boatwright Bourbon barrels. In addition to these whiskies, the distillery produces gin, vodka, absinthe, rum, and an agave-based spirit, providing a broad product range with a clear local identity.
Whisky Type / Series Age Barrel and Style Flavor Profile Status
Boatwright Bourbon Bourbon A handcrafted bourbon created as a blend of two Straight Bourbon Whiskeys: the distillery's own grain-to-barrel expression and a Straight Bourbon from Kentucky. The product is presented as local and characterful, highlighted by artisanal production in Southeast Alaska. Current; Core range; Available in Alaska
Wrack Line Rye Rye at least 3 years Wrack Line Rye starts as small-batch grain-to-barrel distillates on-site with a mash bill consisting of 70% rye. After at least three years of maturation at the distillery, they blend their rye barrels with a Straight Rye from external producers to create the finished bottle. Current; Core range; Available in Alaska
Old School Whiskey Whiskey; Limited Releases 3 years Boatwright Bourbon barrel A limited edition whiskey that ages in Boatwright Bourbon barrels for three years. The distillery releases only two barrels per year, making this release rare and locally distributed in Haines and occasionally in Anchorage. Limited; Local distribution in Alaska

The whiskies' style and flavor profile

The flavor directions are varied and documented across several products: the gin’s citrusy finish (tangerine) and juniper, the absinthe’s light licorice character, the rum’s notes of toasted sugar and toffee, and the spicy rye character in Wrack Line Rye. Together, it paints a picture of a distillery that works with clear, distinct flavor profiles rather than heavy industrial ones.

Visit the distillery

The tasting room in Haines is open to visitors with set hours: Thursday–Saturday 14:00–21:00, and Sunday–Wednesday open from 12:00 during the periods when ships are in port (the 'all aboard' time marks closing). The room has been renovated by the co-owner and is used for tastings, tours, and private events. Guided experiences and private reservations are offered; the distillery encourages booking for private events via their booking options.

The stated hours are Thursday–Saturday 14:00–21:00; Sunday–Wednesday 12:00–'all aboard' when ships are in port.

Philosophy and craft

The distillery’s stated values center on craftsmanship, local roots, and sustainable harvesting. The team emphasizes small-batch production, the use of hand-harvested botanicals from Southeast Alaska, and a practical, hands-on approach to both production facilities and the tasting room. There is also a focus on creating spirits that reflect the area's nature and ingredients.

Sustainability

The distillery reports sustainable harvesting of local ingredients and emphasizes the use of locally sourced botanicals.

Prizes and recognitions

  • Double Gold (Winner)

  • Gold (Winner)

  • Travel + Leisure Editor's Favorite (Featured / Favorite)