James Bay Distillers Celebrates 5th Anniversary

James Bay Distillers, Ltd. has announced their fifth anniversary distilling, serving and selling whiskies, gins and vodkas at Paine Field in Everett.   “We released our first whisky in late September 2019, timed to serve at the Flying Heritage Museum’s “Tanktober Fest,” said Ernest Troth, president of the company.  “We now offer seven whiskies, six gins, three vodkas and two specialty spirits.”

James Bay Distillers is located just 1/4 mile from the museum and is situated between Paine Field’s two runways. “Every day is an air show for us,” added Troth, "especially when Boeing's Dreamlifter or the Navy's jets fly through from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island."

The company now offers their own bourbon under the vintage Everett Liquor Co. brand, Canadian and Scotch whiskies (the latter produced under a special permit from the United Kingdom) as well as a 100-proof rye and an unaged corn bourbon whiskey.  James Bay’s gins include their Summer Gin No. 5 (rated 1 of the top 12 gins in America by Wine Enthusiast), a 114-proof Navy Gin (“dangerously smooth”) and other distinctive gins including a coriander-forward Seattle Dry Gin.  Their Strait Up Killer Vodka was rated one of the top 100 spirits in America in 2022 from among all spirits produced by all distilleries in the U.S.   The company has completed half a dozen private label projects for local companies and has a private label gin in production for export to Hong Kong.

James Bay’s spirits can be found at the distillery, at Total Wine and at a number of local restaurants.  The company ships nationally and sells online. The company is active in the Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce, the Engage Everett and Downtown Everett organizations, and other chambers of commerce from Kirkland, Kenmore, Bothell, Bellevue and Lynden.

The fifth anniversary celebration continues through early November.  Special cocktails are offered at the distillery’s tasting room to observe their achievements and feature their spirits.   Wholesale, on-premise, off-premise and export inquiries can be directed to the company via email or at their website's contact page, linked to this article.