Sandstone Distillery: A Family-Owned Craft Distillery in the Heart of Washington State
TL;DR: Sandstone Distillery, a family-owned and operated craft distillery in Washington State, offers a unique experience for visitors. Whether it's cocktails by the pond or a tour of the operation, visitors are sure to leave with fond memories and perhaps a few bottles of their exceptional spirits.
Nestled in the rolling countryside, at the end of a quiet dead-end road, lies Sandstone Distillery. A family-owned and operated distillery, run by the father and son team of John and Justin, this is truly a craft distillery where everything is made from scratch, grain to glass. From the equipment used to the process itself, Sandstone Distillery is unique in every way.
The equipment used at Sandstone Distillery is unusual, and every piece has been transformed into distilling devices. From soup kettles from an old US Navy ship to their 101-year-old, 2,000-gallon solid copper milk condenser that now distills their bourbon, Sandstone Distillery is unlike any other.
The Sandstone Distillery began as a dream of John and Justin’s over 20 years ago. Today, Sandstone Distillery is ranked among the top 20 out of over 100 distilleries in Washington State.
Sandstone Distillery became a Host a couple of years ago after John saw an ad on Facebook. "99% of Harvest Hosts members are awesome folks. We have even made some long-term friends," he adds.
For visitors to Sandstone Distillery, John and Justin want them to know that if they can come earlier in the day, they can check out the quaint town of Tenino, which is about 15 minutes away from the distillery. Tenino is a historic town with an old sandstone quarry that is now the town swimming hole. The town also has a museum, antique shops, and restaurants that visitors can explore. The spots at Sandstone Distillery are quiet, and the view of the wildlife pond is quite peaceful, especially if you time it right to hear the frogs.
One funny story that John recalls from hosting Harvest Hosts Members is on a day that John had just cleared out the front pond, which had only an inch of water at the time, a family with kids came to stay. They spent an hour casting a line, trying to catch some fish!
Stay at Sandstone Distillery
Harvest Hosts Members rave about their experience at Sandstone Distillery and remark on how friendly and accommodating they are. Gayle says, “This was the last-minute stay that we were so glad we did! ... Even though they weren't officially open that day, he picked up my message and agreed. The spot was grassy and level, and had a little pond. It was great to let our dog run a bit. The owner brought us cocktails that evening after hours. The next morning, he spent an hour and a half with us sharing stories and showing us his entire operation. We left with four nice bottles of liquor, and a very warm belly at 10:00 in the morning. What a cute spot, and great family!”
Chantal also enjoyed her stay at Sandstone Distillery. “The only difficulty encountered was choosing which of their many fine products to take home. We went with the whiskey and a cocktail mix but the tasting along with snacks was a top-notch experience. The parking was level and near a lovely pond with frogs to sing us to sleep. We’re keeping this gem in our favourites list.”
For anyone looking for a unique experience in the Washington State countryside, Sandstone Distillery is a must-visit. With a warm welcome from John and Justin, visitors can experience the craft of distilling in a way that is unlike any other.
