Everson's Probably Shouldn't Distillery: A Whatcom County Tale of Defiance and Craft Spirits

When Mariah and Shawn Butenschoen kept hearing they "probably shouldn't" certify their Everson blueberry farm as organic, they didn't just ignore the advice—they embraced it.

That spirit of defiance became the name of their passion project: Probably Shouldn't Distillery.

It’s a name that perfectly captures the couple's journey from blueberry farmers to becoming one of only a handful of craft distilleries in Whatcom County.

The story begins not in a bar, but in the fields of Breckenridge Blueberries, where the Butenschoens faced a classic farmer's dilemma: what to do with perfectly good fruit that couldn't be sold.

The solution was audacious.

Inspired by a local hobbyist, Shawn, a heavy equipment mechanic, and Mariah, a high school English teacher, decided to turn their excess fruit into small-batch spirits.

This was no weekend project.

The path from idea to reality was a grueling, five-year marathon of paperwork and permitting.

Juggling full-time jobs and raising a family, the couple poured their evenings and weekends into navigating a maze of county, state, and federal regulations.

Shawn even built the distillery's custom stills himself, a testament to their hands-on, independent approach.

Finally, in 2017, Probably Shouldn't Distillery opened its doors, armed with an 80-gallon still and a mission to create spirits with a true sense of place.

Their lineup is a celebration of Washington agriculture.

It takes nearly 20 pounds of their own organic blueberries to make a single bottle of their signature blueberry brandy.

Raspberries are sourced from nearby Lynden, apples from Prosser, and the barley for their American single malt whiskey comes directly from Skagit County.

The distillery also produces a unique Old Tom-style gin, a less dry, more botanical spirit that was popular before Prohibition, offering a smoother, more complex flavor than typical London Dry gins.

But launching a distillery is one thing; surviving is another.

The Butenschoens face immense competition from massive corporations like Jack Daniels and Jim Beam, whose market dominance and distribution power make it tough for small producers to get shelf space.

Mariah notes the challenge of competing against brands with colossal budgets that can control what local retailers stock.

Despite these hurdles, their products have found a loyal following and are available in local stores like Haggen.

The couple takes immense pride in what they've built, entirely on their own terms.

This wasn't just about starting a business; it was a declaration of independence.

They have no investors and no debt—just the satisfaction of transforming a problem into a product that reflects the hard work and agricultural richness of Everson.

Their tasting room, nestled among acres of blueberry fields and decorated with Prohibition-era flair, is open by appointment and on the second Saturday of each month.

It’s a place where you can taste the defiance, the hard work, and the very best of Whatcom County in every glass.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the main distilleries in Whatcom County?

A: Whatcom County is home to a small but growing craft spirits scene. The primary distilleries are Probably Shouldn't Distillery in Everson, Bellewood Farms Distillery in Lynden, and Chuckanut Bay Distillery in Bellingham. Doc Swinson's, a whiskey blender, also recently opened a tasting room in Ferndale.

Q: What makes Probably Shouldn't Distillery's spirits unique?

A: Their spirits are deeply rooted in local agriculture. They use their own organic blueberries from Breckenridge Blueberries for their brandies and liqueurs, along with other Washington-grown ingredients like Skagit County malted barley. Everything is small-batch and handcrafted on their Everson farm.

Q: How can I visit Probably Shouldn't Distillery?

A: The tasting room at Probably Shouldn't Distillery is open on the second Saturday of each month from noon to 5 p.m., with more frequent openings during the holiday season. Visits can also be scheduled by appointment.