Brightwork Bitters

Originally a cure-all for what ailed you, bitters have evolved into a flavoring agent for cocktails and other beverages that contribute complexity, depth, and nuance with just a few dashes.

Brightwork Bitters are handcrafted in very small batches here in Southeast Alaska to highlight and enhance cocktails made with the Port Chilkoot Distillery line of spirits and can be used widely in any drink you make. Start exploring and add a dash of Alaska to your creations!

Try some of these recipes to create a taste of Southeast Alaska at home:

BITTERS & SODA: 5 of 6 strong dashes of Brightwork Bitters in ice-filled glass. Top with soda water for a healthy and refreshing tonic.

PORT CHILKOOT MANHATTAN:

1.5 oz. Wrack Line Rye Whiskey

.5 oz sweet vermouth

3 dashes CACAO BITTERS

Cherry garnish cured in bourbon

Shake all and strain in to a coupe glass

PINA DEL DIABLO

1.5 oz. Seaworthy Rum

1.5 oz pineapple juice

.75 oz. coconut milk

.75 oz orgeat

.25 oz lime juice

10 dashes HABANERO BITTERS

Shake all with ice and serve over ice. Garnish with a rum-soaked cherry

SPRUCED UP GIN

1.5 oz. 50 Fathoms Gin

.5 oz Lemon Juice

.5 oz Spruce Tip Syrup

3 dashes SPRUCE TIP BITTERS

Shake all with ice and serve over ice. Top with soda water and garnish with a lemon wedge.

10 Year Anniversary

It’s a big month for us at Port Chilkoot Distillery! This October, we’re turning ten years old. We are so grateful for everyone who has been on this journey with us, locals and travelers alike. It’s been a wild ride the last ten years, and we couldn’t have done it without our community here in Haines or our tenacious employees. Let’s take a journey through the past ten years!

2012: Port Chilkoot Distillery LLC was founded by Sean Copeland and Heather Shade. In July, we began the restoration of the historical Bakery building. Sean, co-owner and carpenter, fully restored the building and installed custom-made timber frame and wood features. We had our stills shipped in from Louisville, Kentucky, birthplace of the bourbon. Much of what you see today is Sean’s handiwork. 

2013: Our first batches of whiskey were produced and barrelled in October. While we waited patiently for these products to come to fruition, we released our Icy Strait Vodka and 12 Volts Moonshine in the month of November. We celebrated our first product release on November 2nd. 

2014: After HB309 was passed to allow Alaskan Distilleries to have tasting rooms, we jumped on the opportunity. On Halloween of 2014, we officially opened our tasting room and welcomed our very first employee, Macky Cassidy, into the mix. We also released our future award-winner, 50 Fathoms Gin.

2015: What a year for awards! We won the business competition ‘Path to Prosperity,’ sponsored by Spruce Root and The Nature Conservancy. And only a year after its release, 50 Fathoms Gin won a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Also in the year 2015, we released our Green Siren Absinthe and our first single-barrel batches of bourbon. 

2016: In this year, we were featured in the Nature Conservancy Magazine, a nonprofit organization that works to ‘create a world where people and nature can thrive.’

2018: Green Siren Absinthe won Best in Category at the American Distilling Institutes’ 10th Annual Craft Spirits Competition. Meanwhile, our gin was being featured in Sunset Magazine. 

2019: All this hype and award winning led to us needing a new production facility. It was built in 2019. 

2020: We continued to expand, adding more space to our tasting room and production area.

2021: Our latest release, Seaworthy Rum, makes its debut. 

Now, we celebrate our tenth year with full hearts! Join us on Friday October 14th for a celebration in our tasting room. From 4-8pm, there will be great food, signature cocktails made with spirits you know and love, classic Alaskan views, distillery tours, and a very limited-release single-barrel bourbon. Don’t miss out!

Making Alaskan Rum

Making Alaskan Rum

Famous for snow and endless miles of untouched forest, Alaska is a far cry from the Caribbean, rum’s country of origin. However, Alaska and the West Indies share one thing in common: a life built around the sea. Alaska produces more seafood than all other US states combined and is home to many adventurous fishermen. Rum has a long history on the open ocean, dating back to 1655 when the British Royal Navy first instituted the famous rum ration. Water was not safe to drink at sea, as it quickly became rancid and was often taken from polluted rivers. When the beer ran out, rum was given to sailors as their drink. From pirates to fishermen, rum has been the spirit of choice for those who spend their days at sea for hundreds of years. At Port Chilkoot Distillery, we created our Seaworthy Rum to honor those who embark on the wild waters. 

Our Alaskan rum is made in the traditional fashion, with a few distinct modifications that make it unique to Port Chilkoot Distillery. Fermented from 100% organic Columbian Panela Cane sugar and yeast, Seaworthy is double distilled in small batches on site. Once off the still, we age Seaworthy in our old Boatwright Bourbon oak barrels to add extra rich and complex flavors, infusing the rum with the flavor of Alaska whiskey and softness of the wood. The resulting liquid is golden and smooth, with notes of toasted sugarcane and caramel. We chose to produce an aged rum specifically to capture these subtleties — with a lower proof than white rum and our meticulous aging process, Seaworthy rum is unlike any other. 

Made at our Haines distillery, Seaworthy Rum is currently only available in Alaska. Find a bottle at one of our retail partners, or stop by our Tasting Room to enjoy straight from the source! This limited release is one to savor, and our Alaskan rum can be enjoyed in a myriad of ways. Sip neat or on ice as you would a premium bourbon, or mix into one of our signature Port Chilkoot cocktails - recipes below! 

Seaworthy Mai Tai 

1.5 oz Seaworthy Rum

.75 oz fresh lime juice

.5 oz orange curacao

.5 oz orgeat

Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice and garnish with mint, orange and a cocktail cherry. 

Our version of the classic Piña Colada is shaken with a touch of orgeat for a rich, nutty flavor and an extra creamy texture.

Pina Colada

1.5 oz Seaworthy Rum

1 oz Coco Lopez

.75 pineapple juice

.5 lime juice

.25 orgeat

2 dash Angostura bitters

Add all ingredients to the cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a highball glass and garnish with a pineapple wedge, cocktail cherry, and pineapple leaf.

Canned Cocktails: Making Alaskan Spirits Portable

Ready-to-drink cocktails were born as a solution to the bar closures that swept the US in March 2020. Folks were stuck at home and thirsty! Bottle sales soared, but with bars closed, cocktail drinkers lacked access to the masterfully made drinks they loved most. Starting with the wildly successful cocktails-to-go trend, bars and distilleries ran with the pivot and started canning cocktails. Since then, canned cocktails have swept the nation and become a popular alternative to purchasing beer or hard seltzers. Cocktail lovers everywhere have been overjoyed at the convenience of ready to drink options. From your fridge to your cooler, canned cocktails are carving out their place in the beverage industry – the trend is here to stay! 

At Port Chilkoot Distillery, we created our line of canned cocktails for every drinker. Thoughtfully selected, each flavor is meant to be approachable and easy to love. We started at our Tasting Room, experimenting with our favorite classic cocktails with the help of our skilled bar team. After much sampling, tasting, and plenty of good times, we settled on four spins on beloved drinks that we stand behind proudly. Each canned cocktail offers its own unique taste –  from the sweet and sour balance of the Bee’s Knees to a crisp and refreshing G&T, there is something for everyone.

Have an expertly made cocktail in a snap anytime, with no mess or complicated recipes to follow.  Throw a Port Chilkoot Distillery Canned Cocktail  in your pack before you head out on your Alaska adventure, impress everyone at the party or simply crack one open and enjoy at home. 

Sample our entire line of Canned Cocktails, featuring our premium Alaskan spirits. 

Bee’s Knees: Inspired by the prohibition-era cocktail featuring lemon juice, honey, a splash of carbonated water and our Gin. We think you’ll find this one to be both refreshing and restoring. 

Moscow Mule: Featuring our clean, flavorful Icy Strait Vodka, lime juice, agave syrup, and light carbonation; perfectly balanced to be crisp & refreshing right out of the can. 

Cucumber Cooler: Enjoy the freshness of cucumbers and basil with our Gin, highlighting the subtle flavor notes in our hand-harvested botanicals. 

Gin and Tonic: Hints of hand-harvested botanicals From Port Chilkoot Distillery’s 50 Fathoms Gin sink in with every sip while notes of grapefruit, lemon, and lime zest surface and complement premium tonic for a premium G&T experience. 

Currently only available in Alaska, find our Canned Cocktails at AK liquor stores and other retailers throughout the state - list below. Stay tuned for updates on expanded availability in the future! 

Haines: 

Mountain Spirits

Alaskan Liquor

The Outfitter Liquor Store

Juneau: 

Safeway

Breeze In

Thibodeau’s 

Anchorage:

Gold Rush Liquor

Brown Jug

Three Bears Alaska

Midnight Sun Brewing Co (available on draft!)

The History of Haines, AK

You’ll never find another place quite like Haines, Alaska. Nestled between the mountains and sea, Haines boasts a tight knit community of independent, hardworking folks. The wondrous natural beauty and long winters spent indoors create the perfect conditions for creatives and makers to thrive. Our local economy is rich with the entrepreneurial spirit, creating a special draw for Alaska tourism. We’re proud to call Southeast Alaska home and draw constant inspiration from our surroundings at our Haines distillery. 

Home to the Tlingit, the indigenous peoples of Southeastern Alaska, the original name for Haines was Deishú, meaning ‘end of the trail’. Many Tlingits of the Chilkat Valley can trace their families back generations. Archeological research has shown evidence of fish traps in the Chilkoot River from 2,100 years ago. With a mild climate, abundant food and a thriving fur trade, the Chilkats thrived in Deishú. 

The first European settlers arrived in 1879, representing the North West Trading Company. Missionaries followed shortly after in 1881 and the Chilkat Mission was constructed. The Mission was renamed Haines in 1884 after Francina E. Haines, the chairwoman of the committee that raised money for its building. The Klondike Gold Rush boomed in 1896, drawing 100,000 miners to Alaska and changing Haines forever. After Skookum Jim discovered gold near the Klondike River, a frantic dash of men hoping to strike it rich caught boats from Seattle to seek their fortune. Bootleggers thrived making moonshine and the economy boomed. The rush ended as quickly as it began, dying down in 1899, but the growth of Haines stayed. 

Haines Mission became Fort William H. Seward in 1904, becoming the only US Army outpost in Alaska before World War II. After a busting stint, the fort deactivated in 1946 and became home to the Port Chilkoot Company — our Alaska distillery’s namesake! Port Chilkoot grew to become its own city, before merging with Haines in 1970. The fort was reintroduced with its original name and became a National Historic Landmark. Port Chilkoot Distillery now stands as part of Fort William H. Seward, with painstaking renovations done to preserve the history of our home. 

These days, Haines is a quiet but vibrant town full of life. When planning your Alaska travel, be sure to stop by for a visit! From stunning hikes to craft Alaskan spirits, Haines perfectly captures that ‘only in Alaska’ magic. 

At Port Chilkoot Distillery, we embrace the Alaskan way of life through producing delicious spirits. We’re a small team committed to harvesting sustainably from the land, creating our own quality goods, and following our dreams in a place that can be wild and unpredictable. We wouldn’t trade it for anything, and we’re proud to produce exceptional spirits we hope you'll savor. Visit our Haines distillery or order a bottle online today! 

5 Cocktails Made with Alaska Vodka

5 Cocktails Made with Alaska Vodka

The small batch vodka distillery is a rarity. As a category, vodka is often looked over by craft distillers in favor of liquids that are more obviously flavorful. Here at Port Chilkoot, we appreciate the subtlety of vodka and the skill required to produce an exceptional one. Vodka offers nowhere to hide — every ingredient must be of the highest quality and handled with care. Through careful experimentation and work, we created our very own Alaska vodka; Icy Strait. 

Bottled at a robust 90 proof, Icy Strait Vodka is smooth and crisp. We blend it with pure local water to create an exceptionally clean, delicious vodka with just a hint of sweetness imparted by the corn it’s distilled from. Enjoy it neat, ‘icy’ straight, or in one of our favorite signature cocktails listed below! 

Icy Strait Martini

2 oz Icy Strait Vodka

.5 oz Dry Vermouth

.25 Olive Juice (optional) 

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass and stir until well chilled. Strain into a Martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist or olive. 

Moscow Mule 

2 oz Icy Strait Vodka

.5 oz fresh lime Juice

Ginger Beer 

Build in a metal mule mug over ice and top with premium ginger beer. Stir gently. Garnish with a lime wedge and enjoy! 

Cosmo 

2 oz Icy Strait Vodka

1 oz orange liqueur

1 oz fresh lime juice

1 oz cranberry juice 

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake until chilled. Double strain into a Martini glass and garnish with a lime twist.

Razzle Dazzle 

1oz Strawberry Infused Icy Strait Vodka

.75 oz Raspberry liqueur

.5 oz fresh lemon juice

.25 oz simple syrup

3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters

Build ingredients  in a Collins glass over ice. Top with soda water. Garnish with 2 lemon wheels in glass and strawberry on rim. 

Watermelon Mint Lemonade 

1.5 oz Icy Strait Vodka

.5 oz Watermelon Mint Cordial*

.5 oz Lemon Juice

Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a rocks glass, add a splash of sparkling water, and garnish with a watermelon slice! 

Watermelon Mint Cordial

Cut up 1 medium size watermelon into cubes, removing all the rind.  Place cubed watermelon into a large bowl.  Add a few handfuls of fresh mint.  Add 5 cups of sugar to the bowl and stir to incorporate.  Stir occasionally over the next 24 hours to make sure sugar all dissolves.  Mash the ingredients to extract all the remaining juices from watermelon and strain before using. Will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. 

Lavender Fizz

1.5 oz Icy Strait Vodka

.5 oz Lavender Syrup

.5 oz Lemon Juice

Build in a highball glass over ice. Top off with sparkling water and stir. Garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel and enjoy!

Behind The Scenes at an Alaska Distillery

Behind The Scenes at an Alaska Distillery

Alaska has a wildness that calls to the entrepreneurs of the world. Pay a visit to our Haines distillery and you’ll find yourself drinking alongside makers of handcrafted food and goods — to create comes naturally to the people here. Inspired by the moonshine bootleggers of the Klondike Gold Rush, our team at Port Chilkoot Distillery embraces the Alaskan way of life. Located inside the historical Fort Seward, our small team is committed to harvesting sustainably from the land, producing high quality spirits, and chasing our dreams on the Last Frontier. Take a look behind the curtain at our Alaska distillery to discover what makes Port Chilkoot exceptional. 

Our founders, Heather Shade and Sean Copeland, did not start as craft distillers. Heather is a former National Park Service biologist, while Sean brought two decades of experience as a carpenter to the table. While neither provided formal training in alcohol making, their backgrounds melded well for distilling, a skill where science and art collide. Heather’s deep knowledge of Alaskan nature translates into our spirits through wild foraged, regional botanicals that make their way into the still, which is housed in our production building that Sean built from scratch. Together they patiently coax perfection out of our various liquors. 

Step through the door at our Alaska distillery and you’ll find our small yet mighty team collaborating on our next favorite batch. While we work year round on production, we shift our focus with the seasons. Winters are spent cooking mash for our Alaskan whiskeys before transferring our Boatwright Bourbon and Wrackline Rye to barrels for resting. Our small batch vodka, Icy Strait, also runs off the still in the first part of the year. As Spring comes to Alaska, we venture out to harvest locally grown herbs such as wormwood, lemon balm, anise hyssop, and fresh spruce tips. After processing, the aromas of unique botanicals and toasted sugarcane fill the air as we turn to making our award winning 50 Fathoms Gin, Green Siren Absinthe and Seaworthy Rum for the summer months. Many hands make light work, and our crew comes together to bring each bottle to life from raw ingredients to packing up and shipping out the final product. 

No trip to our Alaska distillery is complete without a visit to our Tasting Room. Enjoy the full range of our spirits, neat or in a masterfully made cocktail by our hospitable bar team. Time at the Tasting Room is all about connecting with our local community - folks from all over Haines swing by for a quick drink, to meet with friends and family, and toast to the splendor of the place we call home. We wouldn’t trade it for anything, and we’re proud to make exceptional spirits we hope you'll savor. Come say hello or order a bottle online today! 

Made In Alaska

MADE IN ALASKA 

Alaska is home to a bold bunch. Creative, independent and just a little bit wild, many of our residents embrace the entrepreneurial spirit. Businesses born out of our community all make premium goods that celebrate the bounty of the Last Frontier. From wild caught Salmon to Kelp Hot Sauce, here are a few of our favorite items made in Alaska! 

Barnacle Foods Bullwhip Kelp Hot Sauce

Barnacle Foods was founded by our friends Matt and Lia, two lifelong residents of Juneau, Alaska. Their innovative preserves are pure Alaskan innovation, capturing the flavors of our wild Northern seas while supporting sustainability and eco friendly business practices. 

Their Bullwhip Kelp Hot Sauce is a must try on any trip to Alaska. ‘Bullwhip’ is local name for bull kelp, the base of this zippy sauce. With a unique and savory flavor, Kelp is the perfect canvas to build upon. By blending in piri piri pepper, Bullwhip Kelp Hot Sauce is warming and fiery without being overwhelming. 

Check out Barnacle’s full line of products, including Kelp Pickles and Spruce Tip Jelly! 

Haines Packing Co Wild Salmon

Haines Packing Co supports local food. Haines fishermen bring fresh fish directly back to the cannery, where they also have a small gift store featuring other handmade goods, regional produce and gelato. 

You won’t regret picking up a can of their Wild Salmon, caught just off shore. Haines Packing Co processes all 5 species of salmon found in the area and is an Alaskan snack worth writing home about. 

Captain Cook’s Spruce Tip Ale from Haines Brewing Company 

Established in 1999, Haines Brewing Company started with a curiosity for homebrewing from Paul Wheeler and Jeanne Kitayama. Now featuring eight meticulously made beers on tap, no trip to Haines is complete without stoping by the brewery for a couple pints. 

Captain Cook’s Spruce Tip Ale is a seasonal showstopper, made with wild foraged Spruce Tips. Refreshing, piney and a little fruity, sip one on the back patio while taking in the mountain views for an unforgettable Alaskan Summer experience. 

Ripinsky Roasters Coffee 

Mountain Market is home to Ripinsky Roasters, makers of the best coffee in town. Since 2002, Ripinsky Roasters have been creating their own roasts and signature blends. Using primarily organic coffee, choose Ripinsky Roasters when you need to face a brisk Alaskan morning. 

Port Chilkoot Distillery Spirits 

At Port Chilkoot Distillery, we embrace the Alaskan way of life through creating fine spirits. Putting up hand-crafted food and goods comes naturally to people here, and during the Klondike Gold Rush, bootleggers made moonshine. 

All of our spirits are exceptional, but we find our Alaska made whiskeys are often fan favorites. Choose Boatwright Bourbon or Wrack Line Rye for easy drinking, delicious whiskeys made from grain to barrel at our Haines, Alaska distillery. 

We’re a small team committed to harvesting sustainably from the land and following our dreams in a place that can be wild and unpredictable. We wouldn’t trade it for anything, and we’re proud to produce exceptional spirits we hope you'll savor. Visit us in Haines, AK or order a bottle online today! 

Drinking Alaska Whiskey

Drinking Alaska Whiskey

Alaska may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of whiskey making. Bourbon country is classically deep in the heart of the Southern US, where the spirit first took root. In the past few decades, local whiskey distilleries have sought to put their own mark on the category, creating unique blends in regions around the globe. 

At Port Chilkoot Distillery, we know that whiskey and the Last Frontier go hand in hand. Alaska’s arctic winters demand a spirit that warms you to the core. That is why we make our very own line of Alaska whiskeys — produced grain to barrel on site at our Haines distillery and blended with premium whiskeys sourced from Kentucky. The resulting bottles are bold and bracing with a distinct sense of place, transporting you to the rugged beauty of Alaska with a single sip. 

Boatwright Bourbon 

Meticulously made with the same attention a boat maker brings to his trade, our Boatwright Bourbon is a blend of two Straight Bourbon Whiskeys. One is made entirely on site at our Alaska distillery, while the other is a high quality expression from our friends in Kentucky. When melded together, we create a sum that is greater than its individual parts, a Bourbon that is truly Alaskan. 

Boatwright has a deep amber hue and woody aroma. The initial sip is  lightly sweet with hints of spice and good heat. As the bourbon blooms on the palate, it finishes with notes of vanilla and stone fruit. We consider Boatwright an easy drinking whiskey, approachable and enjoyable by all. 

Delicious neat, on ice, or as the base of your favorite whiskey cocktail, Boatwright Bourbon is incredibly versatile. We reach for it often in our Tasting Room when making craft cocktails — try one of our most popular recipes below! 

Suckerpunch

1.5 Boatwright Bourbon

.5 Blackberry Syrup

.5 Fresh Lime Juice

.25 Ginger Syrup

Add all ingredients to shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a Collins glass. Top with seltzer and garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel and ginger. 

Wrack Line Rye

Wrack Line Rye is full of character, inspired by the abundant marine life found along the shoreline of Haines. With a mash bill of 70 percent rye, Wrack Line is sharp yet balanced. Distilled at Port Chilkoot in small batches, we then barrel age our rye for at least three years. Once matured to perfection, we combine Wrack Line with a Straight Rye Whiskey made in Kentucky. 

Smooth and dry, Wrack Line Rye tastes of oak and spice. Appreciate the subtle undertones of white pepper and caramel as you sip. We like to pour a hearty amount over fresh ice and savor. Wrack Line Rye stands up well  mixed with ginger beer and lime, or in a classic Manhattan - recipe below! 

Wrack Line Manhattan

2 oz Wrack Line Rye

1 oz Sweet Vermouth

3 dash angostura bitters 

Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir until chilled and properly diluted. Strain into a frozen coupe glass  and garnish with a cherry. 

The 10 Best Things To Do in Haines, AK

Welcome to Haines, AK! Tucked away in Southeast Alaska, Haines is the gateway to adventure in the Last Frontier. Our tiny town offers plenty of activities for all, from breathtaking hiking to appreciating local art. 

Here at Port Chilkoot Distillery, we embrace the Alaskan way of life through producing high quality, hand-crafted liquors. Our spirits are made with distinct sense of place, embracing the flavors of the region and celebrating our home. We’ve compiled this list of The 10 Best Things To Do in Haines with the help of our team. Dive in and experience Haines like a local. 

Take a self-guided walking tour of the historical Fort William H. Seward

Built between 1902 - 1904, explore this landmark to take a journey back in time. You can book a guided tour but we enjoy a more laidback vibe — self guided audio tours are available online! 

Check out the small boat harbor to see the local boating and fishing scene

Stroll down to the docks to witness the flurry of the fishermen preparing their boats and bringing in the day’s catch. During high season it can be a lively scene! The colorful boats filling the harbor make for a beautiful view. 

Visit The Wild Iris Gallery to appreciate local art

The Wild Iris can be found on Portage Street just up from the Cruise Ship Dock. Featuring a collection of fine jewelry and Northwest coastal art, there are countless treasures to be found inside. Be sure the strike up a conversation with the owner, Fred, who was once the Mayor of Haines! 

Pick berries around town

Foraging is one of our favorite activities! In the summer, you can find Blueberries, Salmonberries and Raspberries growing all around town. If you’re visiting in the later months, you might even luck out and find Highbush Cranberries or Lingonberries! Be sure to study up on identification before consuming any berries you may come across. 

Do some beach combing by the cruise ship dock and find some treasures when the tide is low

Search for shells, unique rocks and sea glass — you never know what you may find! 

Grab some fresh seafood from the fish stand

Haines is famous for our exceptional seafood, caught right off shore by crews of local fishermen. Pick up some fish, likely caught just a few hours prior, and prepare for an ideal Alaskan dinner. 

Check out our award-winning community library

Bury your nose in a book! Haines Borough Public Library not only offers an outstanding selection but features a beautiful interior with huge windows. Peruse the shelves and find a page turner! 

Stop by Winter Greens to try out regionally-grown cannabis offerings

Alaska has always been famous for its greenery! Recreational cannabis is legal in Haines, and Winter Greens is our favorite dispensary. Select a few of their locally cultivated buds for true relaxation. 

Hike up Mount Ripinski for a breathtaking view of town

Mount Ripinski is a peak in the Takshanuk Mountains just northwest of Haines. The trail up takes about 3 to 4 hours one way, winding through lush forests and alpine meadows filled with wildflowers. Once you reach the summit, there’s a log book to record your climb as you take in the stunning views from all directions. 

Sample Alaskan craft spirits and drink exceptional cocktails at Port Chilkoot Distillery 

Wind up your day in Haines with a nightcap at our Tasting Room. From neat pours of our Alaska bourbon to creative cocktails, our skilled bar team has a drink for every taste. Pick up a bottle to commemorate your visit and sneak a behind the scenes peek at our Haines distillery! 

How To Drink Absinthe

When people think of absinthe, it often brings to mind fanciful tales of visual hallucinations, out of body experiences and chasing the elusive Green Fairy. Originally rising to popularity in the 1840s in France, the herbaceous liqueur quickly gained notoriety and was banned in several countries. The lore around absinthe spread like wildfire, resulting in a near total disappearance of the green drink for generations. 

The reality of absinthe mania is much less menacing — it is thought today that many of the ‘hallucinations’ caused by absinthe were a result of poisoning from poor quality control and not wormwood. Distillers cut corners with inferior alcohol, which could lead to impaired vision, and some bottles contained copper sulfate, antimony and chloride. But the most likely culprit of absinthe’s fabled reputation? Plain old ethanol. 

100 years later, absinthe has reemerged and regained popularity, with several distilleries producing their own versions worldwide. Here at Port Chilkoot, we’ve created our own spin on the famed spirit in our Green Siren Absinthe! Made with hand harvested herbs that grow beautifully in southeast Alaska, Green Siren is rich with flavors of wormwood, lemon balm, and anise hyssop. You won’t find any artificial coloring in our bottle; the natural jade hue comes from soaking fresh botanicals in the spirit after distillation.

Green Siren Absinthe can be enjoyed in a myriad of ways to highlight its unique flavors. With a high proof and bold botanicals, we first recommend trying Green Siren poured over ice with a splash of very cold water. With a natural sweetness of its own, many find that Port Chilkoot absinthe does not need additional sugar. 

Curious to try absinthe in the traditional manner? Try what is known as an ‘absinthe ritual’ by utilizing an absinthe fountain or slotted spoon. We prefer the spoon method - it is less fussy but equally beautiful. Absinthe spoons are flat so they can rest on the rim of a glass. Fill a glass with a pour of Green Siren Absinthe and place the absinthe spoon over the top. Balance a sugar cube in the center of the absinthe spoon as you slowly pour ice cold water over the cube, just enough to saturate the cube. As it begins to dissolve, pour more water over the cube, until it is fully dissolved and the desired dilution is achieved. We recommend a ratio of 3 - 5 parts water to 1 part absinthe. Stir together and watch the absinthe change from a clear to opaque green. 

If a straight pour is too bold for your tastes, try one of our signature cocktails featuring Green Siren Absinthe! Mix one up at home or stop by our Haines distillery and sip one in our tasting room.  The Queen Bee is an herbaceous riff on a Bees Knees, featuring Port Chilkoot 50 Fathoms Gin and Green Siren Absinthe. Follow the recipe below to add the flavors of wormwood to a classic gin sour! 

Queen Bee 

1 oz 50 Fathoms Gin

.5 oz Green Siren Absinthe

.75 oz Honey Syrup

.5 oz Lemon Juice

Add all ingredients to a shaker. Shake and double strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with an orange twist. 

At Port Chilkoot Distillery, we embrace the Alaskan way of life through creating fine spirits. Putting up hand-crafted food and goods comes naturally to people here, and during the Klondike Gold Rush, bootleggers made moonshine. We’re a small team committed to harvesting sustainably from the land, creating our own quality goods, and following our dreams in a place that can be wild and unpredictable. We wouldn’t trade it for anything, and we’re proud to produce exceptional spirits we hope you'll savor. Visit our Haines distillery or order a bottle online today! 

5 Cocktail Recipes Featuring Alaskan Gin

Here at Port Chilkoot, we pride ourselves on producing craft Alaskan spirits that celebrate our home. At our Haines distillery, we produce 50 Fathoms Gin in the London Dry style with hand-harvested local spruce tips, whole juniper berries, cinnamon, and coriander. Add a bottle of 50 Fathoms Gin to your home bar arsenal and discover it’s versatility by shaking up one of our signature cocktail recipes, created by Port Chilkoot Tasting Room Manager, Garrett Montgomery. 

Queen Bee 

Craving something with a boozy bite that’s still crushable? Look no further than the Queen Bee. Featuring 50 Fathoms Gin and our Green Siren Absinthe, this little number packs an herbaceous punch that is ideal for lovers of classic cocktails such as a Bee Knees or the Last Word. 

1 oz 50 Fathoms Gin

.5 oz Green Siren Absinthe

.75 oz Honey Syrup

.5 oz Lemon Juice

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.  

Shake and double strain into a coupe. 

Garnish with an orange twist.

Lavender Lady

Eye-catching and floral, the Lavender Lady is a crowd pleaser! With blueberry-infused 50 Fathoms Gin and a Lavender Syrup, this fancy sipper is worth the extra effort. 

1.5 oz Blueberry Infused 50 Fathom Gin

.5 oz Lavender Syrup

.5 oz Lemon Juice

1 Egg White

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and dry shake until egg is emulsified. 

Add ice and shake again.  

Double strain into a coupe.

• Lavender Syrup Recipe

  2 cups water

  2 cups sugar

  1 cup dried lavender

  Add ingredients to a sauce pan and bring to a simmer.  Remove from heat and allow to steep overnight. Strain and bottle. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. 

• Blueberry Infused 50 Fathoms Gin Recipe

  Take 3-4 ounces of frozen blueberries and add to a large vessel. Once thawed, pour in a full bottle of 50 Fathoms Gin and steep overnight. Strain and store at room temperature. 

Red Sunrise

You know what they say —  red sky in the morning, sailors take warning! The Red Sunrise goes down easy with a split base of 50 Fathoms Gin and Green Siren Absinthe and a crisp, fruity flavor that is dangerously delicious. 

1 oz 50 Fathoms Gin

.5 oz Green Siren Absinthe

.5 oz Strawberry Syrup

.5 oz Lemon Juice

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.

Shake and double strain into a coupe.

Though the Grapevine

Take a simple cocktail but add a bit of spice! Our Through The Grapevine allows 50 Fathoms Gin to shine with citrus flavors from lemon juice, grapefruit syrup and just a splash of ginger. 

1.5 oz 50 Fathoms Gin

.75 oz Grapefruit Syrup

.5 oz Lemon Juice

1/2 tsp Ginger Syrup

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. 

Shake and double strain into a rocks glass. 

Garnish with a dehydrated grapefruit slice.

The Highbush Gimlet

The Highbush Gimlet is one of our most popular drinks year round! A riff on the 90’s classic Cosmopolitan, we put a Southeastern Alaska spin on it with our house made Highbush Cranberry syrup.

1.5 oz 50 Fathoms Gin

.75 oz Cranberry Juice

.5 oz Highbush Cranberry Syrup

.25 oz Lime Juice

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. 

Shake and double strain into a martini glass. 

Garnish with a lime twist.