Quick Answer: Bluewater Organic Distilling (1205 Craftsman Way Suite 109, Port of Everett waterfront) is one of fewer than 10 organic distilleries in Washington State. Founded 2008 by sailor-turned-distiller John Lundin. Craft vodka, gin, and aquavit from organic wheat. Bar, bistro, tasting room, retail on-site. Hours: Wed–Thu 2–9pm, Fri 2–10pm, Sat–Sun noon–10pm. Closed Mon–Tue.
The Port of Everett Has Had One of Washington’s Only Organic Distilleries on Its Waterfront for Years. Here’s Why It’s Worth Your Full Attention.
The Port of Everett waterfront has added a lot in the last three years. Tapped Public House opened its rooftop. Rustic Cork opened a panoramic wine bar. The Net Shed added a fish counter. Fisherman Jack’s brought dim sum. Marina Azul brought elevated Mexican. The list keeps growing, and it should — the Restaurant Row project has done what it set out to do.
In the middle of that wave of openings, it’s easy to overlook what’s been at 1205 Craftsman Way Suite 109 since well before any of it: Bluewater Organic Distilling, one of fewer than 10 certified organic distilleries in Washington State, anchored into the Port’s original Craftsman Way footprint.
Bluewater isn’t new. It isn’t a pop-up or a concept or a waterfront brand. It’s been distilling organic spirits on Puget Sound since 2008 — seventeen years — and it has earned its place in the Everett food-and-drink conversation it doesn’t always get included in.
The Story: A Sailor Names a Distillery After the Deep Ocean
John Lundin is the founder of Bluewater, and he’s also a sailor — the name isn’t marketing, it’s biography. In sailing, “blue water” means the deep ocean: open water that demands real seamanship and real commitment. Lundin chose it because he wanted the distillery to operate with the same seriousness of purpose.
The sustainability commitment came first. Before organic spirits became a marketing trend, Lundin built the entire operation around it: organic wheat from Pacific Northwest farms, copper-alembic stills, water from the Cascades. The result is a distillery where the origin of every ingredient is a decision, not an afterthought.
“In this day and age to have a place at the table, to have a purpose for existing, to have any meaning to the business, you have to choose a sustainable path,” Lundin told Visit Everett when the distillery launched. That framing has held up across seventeen years of production.
The Spirits: What Bluewater Makes and What to Try First
The core lineup is three spirits: organic vodka, organic gin, and aquavit. All three are distilled from organic wheat in hand-hammered copper-alembic stills.
Aquavit is the one to try first. We’ll say that plainly. Aquavit is a Scandinavian grain spirit flavored with caraway and other botanicals — it’s the category most American craft distilleries skip because it requires a customer who’s willing to try something unfamiliar. Bluewater doesn’t skip it, and their version is the thing most first-time visitors remember. If you’ve only ever had aquavit as a shot at a Scandinavian restaurant, the tasting room version here will change your sense of what it can be.
The gin is botanical-forward and clean — the way an organic gin that takes its botanicals seriously should taste. The baseline test: drink it in a proper G&T and see how much of the gin you can actually taste. In a well-made Bluewater G&T, the answer is: a lot.
The vodka is smooth in the way that organic wheat spirits tend to be smooth — not neutral to the point of flavorlessness, but clean enough that you can drink it neat without feeling like you’ve done something wrong. That’s the test for any vodka you’re considering buying a bottle of.
The Space: More Than a Tasting Room
The Bluewater location on Craftsman Way is a full hospitality operation, not just a production facility with a small pour counter. The space includes:
- The working distillery — the actual production facility
- A tasting room to pour through the lineup
- A craft cocktail bar built entirely on house spirits
- A fresh bistro with a rotating food menu
- A retail shop for bottles and cocktail supplies
- Private event space available for bookings
The bistro menu rotates seasonally. Check their Instagram or call ahead if a specific food item is the plan — the cocktail bar is the primary draw, and the food is calibrated to support an evening rather than anchor it. That’s the right balance for a distillery experience.
Location: The Craftsman Way Anchor of the Waterfront
Bluewater shares the Craftsman Way address with Scuttlebutt Brewing’s original Craftsman Way pub — two different operations at 1205 Craftsman Way doing two different things. Scuttlebutt pours their own beer. Bluewater pours their own spirits. They’re complementary, not competing.
The Craftsman Way end of the waterfront gets less foot traffic than the newer Restaurant Row buildings, and parking is proportionally easier. If you’re planning a full waterfront evening — starting with dinner at Tapped Public House’s rooftop on the restaurant row end, then walking the marina esplanade — finish at Bluewater for cocktails. That’s a very good evening out.
You can also anchor an afternoon around the Craftsman Way end: Sound to Summit’s Marina Taproom at 1710 W Marine View Drive is a short walk from Bluewater if beer is the other item on your agenda. The brewery trail and the distillery are increasingly telling the same story: Everett has become a serious craft spirits and beer destination, and the waterfront is where that story lives.
The Organic Credential: Why It’s Not Just a Label
Fewer than 10 organic distilleries operate in Washington State — that’s Lundin’s own count, and it tracks with the available data on certified organic producers in the state. Being organic from day one in 2008, before organic spirits became a trend category, means the certification reflects a genuine foundational decision rather than a marketing retrofit.
In a wheat-based spirit, organic grain quality shows up in the final product. The base ingredient in vodka, gin, and aquavit is the same — organic Pacific Northwest wheat — and the consistency of that source material is part of why all three spirits have a similar cleanness to them, a through-line you don’t always find at distilleries working from commodity grain.
Visit Everett has featured Bluewater as a standout local maker, and the Tripadvisor rating of 4.1 out of 5 places it in the top tier of Everett dining and drink experiences by review volume.
What to Order
Aquavit neat or in a cocktail — Try it neat first to understand what it is, then in whatever the bar suggests. This is the thing to order.
Organic gin and tonic — Clean, botanical, meaningfully better than a mass-market G&T.
The house cocktail list — Changes seasonally; ask what’s new.
A bottle to take home — The retail shop stocks the full lineup.
The Logistics
- Address: 1205 Craftsman Way Suite 109, Everett WA 98201 (Port of Everett waterfront)
- Hours: Wednesday–Thursday 2pm–9pm | Friday 2pm–10pm | Saturday–Sunday noon–10pm | Closed Monday–Tuesday
- Phone: (425) 404-1408
- Website: bluewaterdistilling.com
- Instagram: @bluewaterdistilling
- Parking: Craftsman Way lot, free
- Tripadvisor: 4.1/5 — top-ranked among Everett drink destinations
- Price range: $$ — craft cocktails, tasting flights, retail bottles
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bluewater Organic Distilling make?
Organic vodka, gin, and aquavit — all distilled from organic Pacific Northwest wheat in hand-hammered copper-alembic stills with water from the Cascades.
Is Bluewater really an organic distillery?
Yes — certified organic since opening in 2008. Fewer than 10 organic distilleries operate in Washington State. The organic commitment predates the trend.
What is aquavit and should I try it at Bluewater?
Aquavit is a Scandinavian grain spirit flavored with caraway and other botanicals. Bluewater’s is particularly good and is the spirit most visitors remember. Try it neat first, then in a cocktail.
What are Bluewater’s hours?
Wednesday–Thursday 2–9pm, Friday 2–10pm, Saturday–Sunday noon–10pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Can I buy Bluewater spirits to take home?
Yes — there’s a retail shop on-site with their full lineup of organic vodka, gin, and aquavit available by the bottle.
Is there food at Bluewater Organic Distilling?
Yes — a fresh bistro with a rotating menu. Food accompanies drinks rather than serving as a full dinner service. Call ahead or check Instagram for current offerings.
When did Bluewater Organic Distilling open?
Founded in 2008. One of the original craft spirits producers in the Pacific Northwest and one of fewer than 10 organic distilleries in Washington State.
Who founded Bluewater Organic Distilling?
John Lundin, who is also a sailor. The name “blue water” refers to the deep ocean in sailing terminology — a deliberate tribute to the water and to the commitment required to cross it.
