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!