3 Howls Distillery

About the distillery

3 Howls Distillery is a craft distillery in Battle Ground, Washington, founded in 2013. The distillery blends local ingredients from the Pacific Northwest with unexpected, global ingredients and an unconventional workshop consisting of a three-chamber still, a Carl pot still, and a roto‑evaporator. The range spans bold, malt-forward spirits and pot/column-blended bourbon to award-winning gin and exotic vodka varieties.

History

3 Howls began in 2013 with a clear focus on ingredients and experimentation. The name and visual universe reference the Scottish myth of Cù-Sìth, but the work takes place in the Pacific Northwest, where fruit, spices, herbs, and seaweed are sourced for the distillates. Over time, the equipment has been expanded; a 1300 gallon three-chamber still called Cù-Sìth was installed to create highly aromatic, malt-forward distillates, while La Lupa, a Carl pot still with a gin basket and a 26-plate column, has been central to gin, vodka and a 12-year sweet mash bourbon. The team includes founder Will Maschmeier, distillery owner Brandon Rush, and head distiller Wes Rhoe, who together continue the distillery's blend of traditional methods and modern techniques.

Raw materials and production

The raw materials at 3 Howls draw on the Pacific Northwest's land and coastlines, supplemented with selected international ingredients such as Madagascar vanilla and Ceylon cinnamon. Technically, the distillery is unusual: Cù-Sìth, a three-chamber still of 1300 gallons and 27 feet tall, is used for very malt-forward spirits and 100% molasses rum, while La Lupa (a Carl pot still with a gin basket and a 26-plate column) produces gin, specialty vodkas, and select bourbons. After primary distillation, a 50L Eco Dyst roto-evaporator is used for cold-distillation of delicate botanicals such as saffron, lavender and spruce tips, which preserves delicate aromas and binds them with the base distillate. For bourbon, 3 Howls uses a blend of pot- and column-distilled bourbons in their Backbeat Bourbon.

Maturation and barrel types

The distillery uses new American oak for their bourbon aging; Backbeat Bourbon is aged in new American oak for a period of 4 to 12 years. Work is also done with aging and blending of rum produced from 100% molasses, and the distillery also releases hand-numbered, limited bottles, where aging time and barrel selection can vary from release to release.

Whiskies

The selection at 3 Howls covers gin (including a Navy Strength Gin and Jinn Gin), several vodka varieties (e.g., Bananas Foster and Blood Orange), spiced and 100% molasses-based rum as well as bourbon (Backbeat Bourbon and limited 12-year sweet mash releases). There is also an herbal liqueur called Remedy. The core lineup is complemented by quarterly, hand-numbered special releases for Wolf Den members and the public on a first-come basis.

Whisky style and flavor profile

The documented flavor profiles range from bold spices and herbs ( Remedy mentions, among others, cloves, star anise and gentian) to sweeter, dessert-oriented notes such as caramelized bananas, brown sugar and Madagascar vanilla (Bananas Foster Vodka). Citrus elements and blood orange appear in some vodkas, while Navy Strength Gin introduces a soft maritime salinity via Oregon dulse seaweed. Together, this results in a range where spice, sweetness, citrus and maritime character recur.

Visit the distillery

3 Howls operates a tasting room in Vancouver, WA (2014 Main Street) with opening hours Wednesday–Sunday and fixed times when bottles can be purchased in smaller quantities. The distillery in Battle Ground (1315 Grace Avenue, Suite 118) is open by appointment; distillery visits require booking. Phone numbers and contact emails are provided for both the tasting room and the distillery, and for larger orders or retailers, refer directly to the specified contact point.

The stated hours are Tasting Room (Vancouver): Wed–Thu 12:00–21:00, Fri–Sat 12:00–22:00, Sun 12:00–21:00. Distillery (Battle Ground): open by appointment only.

Philosophy and craft

The distillery’s stated values focus on using excellent ingredients, stringent quality control, and the courage to experiment. The working method combines historically proven distillation techniques with modern processes such as cold distillation to highlight delicate aromas.

Prices and recognitions

• Navy Strength Gin - Double Gold (2025, Double Gold)

• Backbeat Bourbon - Silver (2025, Silver)

• Jinn Gin - Silver (2025, Silver)