Ballard man opens Seattle’s first legal distillery since Prohibition

After living in Seattle for more than a decade, I did something yesterday that seemed a bit odd. I bought hard alcohol from a place other than a state liquor store.

In a building along busy 15th Ave West in Interbay, Steven Stone is making vodka. But he’s also making a little history. Stone did some research and found out that his new distillery named Sound Spirits holds an interesting distinction.

“I did a public records request with the state and they have no record of any distillery in Seattle since Prohibition.”

Stone shows off his first creation in the Sound Spirits tasting room

A legal distillery that is. Stone’s first creation is Ebb and Flow, a slightly sweet and incredibly smooth vodka made from Washington barley. He takes a lot pride making it one batch at a time.

“Most vodkas come out of huge plants. There’s nothing special about them because they are pretty much just pure alcohol. It’s kind of a tough nut to crack being a craft vodka distillery.”

Ebb and Flow will soon show up in bars and restaurants now that Stone landed his first purchase order with the state. And yes, you can sip it and buy it right at the distillery, as long as you stick to Washington’s limit of a two ounce sip and a 2 bottle purchase limit per customer. A few weeks into the new venture, the tasting room is already filling up.

“People have been hearing about us by word of mouth so hopefully that will continue to grow exponentially.”

Making it one batch at a time

Stone, who lives in Ballard, still has a day job at Boeing. But on nights and weekends, he’s throwing all his efforts into making his small business a success.

“The joke is rocket science by day and rocket fuel by night.”

Now that he’s tried his hand at vodka, Stone is already thinking about different spirits for the future.

“Gin will be next. And being from Ballard, after that we’re thinking about doing an aquavit. And of course we need to get whiskey in a barrel.”

Sound Spirits is located at 1630 15th Ave W. The tasting room is open most evenings and weekends, but call ahead. Their grand opening celebration is all day September 18 followed by an evening party that you’re asked to RSVP for on their Facebook page.