Custom-made Distillery A Piece of Work
Deception Distilling, a family-run distillery, is located on former Prohibition-era moonshiner’s land in Anacortes. Entrepreneurs Harold and Ronelle Christenson opened Deception Distilling in 2013. Ronelle had always been interested in spirits, perhaps a hereditary interest passed along from relatives who worked as bootleggers during Prohibition.
After taking an intensive distilling course, the Christensons carved out space in a business they already were running, Creative Surfaces, and ordered a distillery. The 500-liter, custom-made, Arnold Holstein distillery arrived from Germany in pieces, so the couple’s first project was assembling the impressive copper contraption. Amanda Van Deuren, the distillery’s sales representative, said the project was as easy as following a set of Ikea instructions.
In the last five years they’ve perfected their distilling process. Deception Distilling uses locally grown grains and some of the purest water they can find. In fact, fans attribute the great taste to their water, among other things. The spirits are filtered through charcoal made with coconut shells. The result is smooth, five-times-distilled vodka, a lovely gin made with lavender and wild orange, and the wildly popular Apple Pie Moonshine. If you visit for a tasting, you’ll catch a whiff of aging bourbon in barrels, a soon-to-be bottled addition to their inventory.
Can’t make it to the distillery? They distribute all over Skagit and San Juan counties, and are the well gin at The Wheelhouse in Anacortes and the well vodka at Secret Cove in Anacortes. Just look for the clear bottle and mirrored label.
GIN
WHERE TO FIND IT
Wheelhouse in Anacortes, Pioneer Market in La Conner, Market at Anacortes
BEST USE
Refreshing drink to enjoy on a sunny afternoon.
PAIR WITH
Sweet berry or lemon dessert
RECIPE
LAVENDER AND LACE
1.5 oz. Deception Distilling Gin
3 oz. soda Sprig of lavender
Stir gin with soda. Garnish with lavender. Enjoy.
GRAIN VODKA
WHERE TO FIND IT
Sedro-Woolley Liquor, Secret Cove in Anacortes
BEST USE
Sipped alongside a celebratory dinner, or even on an ordinary Tuesday. Or, sipped while wrapped in a cozy blanket watching an autumn bonfire.
PAIR WITH
Grilled or baked fish. Warm apple pie or vanilla ice cream.
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