Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
No documented production places are linked to this distillery yet.
Bainbridge Organic Distillers
Brief overview of the distillery
Bainbridge Organic Distillers is located on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, and is known for its consistent use of USDA Certified Organic grain and hyper-traditional production methods. Founded in 2009 by Keith Barnes, the distillery produces whiskey, gin, and vodka in-house and emphasizes heritage grains and cask experiments such as Mizunara and rum cask aging. The maritime air near Puget Sound is highlighted as an important factor in maturation.
History
Keith Barnes began experimenting in the garage to figure out whether high-quality organic whiskey could be produced. In 2009, he established Bainbridge Distillers as an independent, family-owned distillery and obtained the necessary license to produce and bottle his whiskeys. Since its founding, the distillery has consistently worked with heritage-style organic grains and marketed itself as USDA Certified Organic. In the following years, the product portfolio was expanded to include both grain-based single grain experiments and a range of cask experiments with imported Mizunara, rum casks, Islay casks, and Sakura casks. The location on Bainbridge Island and the short distance to saltwater make maritime influence a key part of the distillery's identity.
Raw Materials and Production
Bainbridge works with selected heritage and heirloom grains, where several products are based on 100% USDA Organic ingredients. The distillate is produced in-house; some releases are double-distilled (2x) and Yama is explicitly noted as 2X pot distilled. Fermentation can be specifically tailored: for example, Irish and Scottish whiskey yeasts are used in the Battle Point Wheat editions. The distillery describes its methods as hyper-traditional and emphasizes that they have distilled every drop of spirit they have bottled. The production includes both classic aging in 53-gallon No.3 char American oak barrels and further refinement in various special casks, underscoring a combination of craft and cask experimentation.
Aging and Cask Types
The majority of aging takes place in 53-gallon No.3 char American oak barrels, where several Battle Point releases have their primary maturation. The distillery also deliberately works with secondary casks: Japanese Mizunara in 66-gallon casks are used for finishing or full maturation, some whiskies have been finished in Barbados rum casks, and others have been in Islay or Sakura casks. These choices of cask and the combination of the local aging climate and salt air from Puget Sound are actively used to shape the individual releases.
Whiskies
The range includes a Battle Point series with wheat and rye releases in standard, bottled-in-bond, and barrel-proof versions; a Two Islands experimental series with finishes in Islay, Mizunara, Barbados rum and Sakura; as well as special releases such as Arrow Point Four Grain Blended Whiskey and Yama Mizunara Single Grain. There are both regular bottles and limited editions; several of the more experimental bottlings are released as limited editions or barrel-proof versions.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Cask & Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Point Organic Wheat Whiskey | Wheat Whiskey | 53-gallon No.3 char American white oak | Standard Battle Point edition in the distillery's organic Battle Point series. | Core range | ||
| Battle Point Organic Wheat Whiskey 100 Proof (Bottled-in-Bond) | Wheat Whiskey | 50 % | 7 Years | 53-gallon No.3 char American white oak (new) | Bottled-in-Bond edition of Battle Point with 100 proof / 50% ABV. Fermented with Irish and Scottish whiskey yeasts, double-distilled and aged in new No.3 char American oak casks.; Nose: Caramel, vanilla, orange peel, eucalyptus, sherry, baking spice, barrel char; Palate: Eucalyptus, sherry, baking spice, fresh barrel char; Finish: Lingering finish with a salt-air brine-like note | Core range |
| Battle Point Organic Wheat Whiskey Barrel Proof | Wheat Whiskey (Barrel Proof) | 67.3 % | 6+ Years | 53-gallon No.3 char American white oak (new) | Barrel-proof edition of Battle Point Wheat, 2x distilled and aged in new No.3 char 53-gallon American fades. Production is limited.; Nose: Caramel, vanilla, orange peel, eucalyptus, sherry, baking spice, barrel char; Palate: Eucalyptus, sherry, baking spice, barrel char; Finish: Long-lasting finish with salt-air brine-like note | Limited |
| Battle Point Organic Rye Whiskey 100 Proof | Rye Whiskey | 50 % | Just shy of 6 Years | 53-gallon No.3 char American oak (virgin) | 100% rye, 2x distilled, aged in virgin 53-gallon No.3 char American oak barrels and bottled-in-Bond at 100 proof. Production is very limited.; Nose: Rye, coffee, spice bin, grass; Palate: Sweet rye grain, red berries, vanilla caramels, tart citrus, baking spices; Finish: Medium, smooth with a hint of coffee and cooling eucalyptus | Limited; Core range |
| Battle Point Organic Rye Whiskey Barrel Proof | Rye Whiskey (Barrel Proof) | 53-gallon No.3 char American oak | Barrel-proof edition where aromas and flavors are more intense. Production is very limited.; Nose: Intensified notes of rye, ground coffee, flower notes and vintage grain bin; Palate: Rye grass, cocoa, savory oak, intense spice; Finish: Silkier mouthfeel with lingering spice and fruit | Limited | ||
| Arrow Point Four Grain Blended Whiskey | Blended Whiskey | 45 % | Youngest 5 Years; Oldest 9 Years (in blend) | Blend of own 5–9 year-old barrels | A modern blended whiskey designed by Master Distiller Keith Barnes with a base of our own 6-year-old light whiskey and a blend of 5–9 year-old own whiskies. The blend was allowed to 'marry up' in stainless tanks before bottling at 90 proof.; Nose: Orange peel and oil, 4-grain biscuit, rye bread, vanilla, baking spice, toasted cedar, pie crust, lemon meringue; Palate: Citrus, spicy rye and wheat, vanilla caramel, eucalyptus, barley, baking spice, orchard fruits, corn crib, spicy oak; Finish: Medium-length; citrus, eucalyptus and soft oak grip | Core range |
| Whiskey Forty Saloon Wheated Bourbon (Bottled-in-Bond) | Wheated Bourbon | 6+ Years | 53-gallon No.3 char American oak | Bottled-in-Bond wheated bourbon made from USDA Organic heirloom grains, double-distilled and placed into 53-gallon No.3 char barrels. Has won multiple Double Gold/Gold medals in competition years.; Nose: Spicy sweet notes of rye, corn, cherry cola and vanilla; Palate: Toasted grain, vanilla caramels, baking spice, citrus, menthol, oak; Finish: Warm finish with rye, oak and baking spices | Core range | |
| Yama Mizunara Cask Single Grain Whiskey | Single Grain Whiskey | At least 5 Years | 66 gallon virgin Mizunara oak | Single grain whiskey made from 100% Washington-grown organic unmalted barley (Barley and Full Pint), 2X pot distilled and aged at least 5 years exclusively in Japanese Mizunara casks.; Nose: Sandalwood, tropical flowers, star anise, joss incense; Palate: Nutmeg, clove, pear, marzipan, toasted coconut, yuzu; Finish: Fading spice, honey and oak | ||
| Two Islands Hokkaido Mizunara Cask Whiskey | Wheat Whiskey (Finished in Mizunara) | 66 gallon single-use Mizunara oak (finish 8–12 months); finish: 8–12 months finish after primary maturation | Selected fully mature Battle Point finishes receive extra finish in Mizunara casks to add Oriental oak character; available in both standard and barrel-proof variants.; Nose: Baking spice, honey and Mizunara oak (stated for barrel-proof edition); Palate: Exotic fruits, cinnamon, nutmeg, toasted coconut, marshmallow; Finish: Rich and long with exotic fruit and joss incense (stated) | |||
| Two Islands Barbados Cask Whiskey 100 Proof | Wheat Whiskey (Rum Cask Finish) | 50 % | Barbados rum casks (secondary aging); finish: ~11 months finish in Barbados rum casks after primary aging | Selected Battle Point finishes were distilled in 2017, placed into American casks on 7/11/2017 and transferred to Barbados rum casks 2/3/2024 before a further ~11 months of aging; bottled at 100 proof.; Nose: Baking spice, Demerara and exotic fruits (stated); Taste: Rich and full with notes from rum-wood interaction; Finish: Pleasant and lingering warmth | ||
| Two Islands Islay Cask Whiskey (Barrel Proof) | Whiskey with Islay Cask Finish (Barrel Proof) | Islay whisky casks (secondary aging); finish: Secondary aging in Islay casks; bottled at barrel proof | Experimental expression in the Two Islands line, secondarily aged in Islay casks and bottled at barrel proof to highlight fruit and sherry notes together with a discreet smoke profile.; Nose: Magnified fruit and sherry-like attributes with subtly rich smoke | |||
| Two Islands Sakura Cask Whiskey (Barrel Proof) | Cask Finished Whiskey (Sakura cask) - Barrel Proof | Sakura casks; finish: Secondary aging in Sakura casks; released as limited edition | Sakura-cask edition in the Two Islands line; the barrel-proof variant highlights fruit and heavier wood notes. Labeled as limited edition.; Nose: Fig, port, tobacco leaf and cherry liqueur (stated for barrel proof); Palate: Orange preserves, baking spice, cedar; Finish: Warming with deep red fruits and spicy oak | Limited | ||
| Battle Point French Oak Whiskey | Whiskey (French Oak finish) | French oak casks | Battle Point edition with French oak barrels listed in the lineup. |
The style and flavor profile of the whiskies
From the documented tasting notes, a common thread runs through citrus and fruit notes (orange peel, lemon, orchard/exotic fruits), spicy notes and bakery character (baking spice, rye spice, nutmeg) as well as pronounced wood and oak notes (toasted cedar, Mizunara oak, vanilla/oak). Several Battle Point releases also mention a salt-air or brine character from the aging location near Puget Sound. These directions recur across both standard and finish-aged releases.
Visiting the Distillery
The distillery is located on Bainbridge Island, about a 35-minute ferry ride from Seattle and roughly a quarter mile from the saltwater of Puget Sound, providing a maritime aging environment. The webshop delivers to your door, and customers can choose pickup at the distillery via the order function on the site. The site does not provide fixed information on guided tours or hours, but offers direct purchase and pickup options.
Philosophy and Craft
Bainbridge emphasizes ecology and authentic craftsmanship: the entire production is based on USDA Certified Organic grains and heritage or heirloom varieties. The distillery's stated working principle is: "If we can’t do it the right way, we don’t do it." Combined with in-house distillation of all bottles and a range of cask experiments, the focus is on both quality and consistent control over ingredients and processes.
Awards and Recognitions
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Craft Whiskey of the Year (Winner, Yama Mizunara Cask Single Grain Whiskey)
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Best American Wheat Whiskey (2019, Winner — related to Battle Point Two Islands Barbados/Best American Wheat Whiskey), Battle Point Two Islands Barbados Cask (related)