Letterpress Distilling sits in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood at 85 S Atlantic St, housed in a converted industrial building that fits right into this gritty, artistic area south of downtown. Founded in 2012 by Karen Hofmann and her business partner Alan Davis, this craft distillery started as a labor of love after Karen transitioned from a career in printing—hence the name Letterpress, which pays homage to her background in the traditional printing trade. The distillery officially opened its doors to the public in 2014, focusing on American whiskey, gin, and seasonal spirits made in small batches with locally sourced ingredients when possible. Karen and Alan didn’t stumble into distilling by accident. Both had been home distillers and spirits enthusiasts for years before deciding to turn their passion into a business. They spent considerable time researching equipment, perfecting recipes, and navigating Seattle’s complex zoning and permitting process to establish their operation in Georgetown. Karen serves as head distiller, bringing a methodical, craft-focused approach that mirrors the precision required in letterpress printing. The distillery operates with a 500-gallon still and focuses on quality over quantity, producing around 1,000 cases annually across their core lineup. Visiting Letterpress feels like stepping into a working distillery rather than a polished tourist attraction. The space maintains its industrial character with exposed brick, concrete floors, and the kind of authentic, unpretentious atmosphere that Georgetown is known for. You’ll see the actual production happening during tours, smell the mash fermenting, and get a real sense of how small-batch spirits are made. The tasting room doubles as retail space where you can sample their current offerings and purchase bottles to take home.