The new tasting room from Heritage Distilling is located at Angel of the Winds Casino Resort in Arlington, Washington.

Heritage Distilling Company (HDC) has partnered with the Stillaguamish Tribe to open the first tasting room in a tribally-owned casino in the Pacific Northwest.

Located within the Angel of the Winds Casino Resort, the tasting room opened last week with grand opening events on 24 and 25 October.

“The partnership between the Stillaguamish Tribe and Heritage provides a unique opportunity to share our passion for crafting exceptional spirits with a broader audience while creating a vibrant destination within the Angel of the Winds Casino,” HDC CEO Justin Stiefel said.

The tasting room will feature a curated selection of Heritage’s whiskeys, vodkas, gins, and rums; mixologist-guided tastings; and specialty cocktails. The space will also serve as the home for the brand’s Cask Club programme, which will allow members to create personalised spirits and enjoy special benefits.

“This venture reflects our commitment to providing unique local experiences and allows us to share our passion for quality spirits with the wider community,” Stillaguamish Tribal chairman Eric White said. “We look forward to welcoming locals and visitors to experience the exceptional craftsmanship and unforgettable tastes that define this new partnership. Together, we celebrate this new chapter and the opportunities it brings for our Tribe and our community.”

Heritage was co-founded by Justin and Jennifer Stiefel in 2011. Together, they established the Tribal Beverage Network (TBN), partnership with Native American Tribes to develop Heritage-branded distilleries, brands, and tasting rooms to serve patrons of tribal casinos and entertainment venues.

“Spirits production and sales represent the next major avenue for financial growth among tribes,” Justin said. “With tribes already operating more than 500 casinos, entertainment and retail venues across the United States selling adult beverages, distilling is the logical next step in development.

“For more than 180 years, antiquated legislation excluded tribes from the spirits industry. Now, the Stillaguamish are primed to seize this opportunity.”

In August 2023, HDC teamed up with the Tonto Apache Tribe to create a distillery and tasting room next to the Mazatzal Hotel and Casino in Arizona, US.

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