The Seas of Success: Whittie Cidermaker Sails Into a Thriving Business

It’s no coincidence that Zachary S.O. Lough ’08 named the cidery he co-founded—Channel Marker Cider—after a navigational aid that guides boaters safely through a waterway. After all, he discovered his passion for cidermaking during a three-year sailing adventure navigating across the Pacific Ocean.

Lough worked at wineries in New Zealand during the cyclone season, when it was too dangerous to sail. He was living next to an apple orchard one season when he read “The Botany of Desire” by Michael Pollan, which explores humanity’s relationship with plants. The book includes a lengthy chapter on apples and how Johnny Appleseed helped bring cider to the American frontier.

“Naturally, I tried making my own cider using apples from next door and asking some friends who worked in the winery lab for help,” Lough says. “The result was a cyser [apple-based mead] that everyone loved—and that same recipe is now one of our flagship products at Channel Marker Cider.”

Lough’s journey from a Rhetoric and Film Studies major at Whitman College to a cidermaker and entrepreneur in Seattle has been full of circuitous routes and occasional choppy waters. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Life can unfold in surprising and fulfilling ways,” he says. “Success comes in many forms, and it’s important to always lean into the hard work, dedication and grit that drives all Whitman students.”

Learning to Work Hard

A Seattle native, Lough was drawn to Whitman’s small size and flexibility.

“I wanted a place where I could really know my classmates and they could know me,” he says. “Also, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, and the range of classes meant I wouldn’t be pigeonholed into a single track.”

Lough jumped into the college experience, joining Sigma Chi and the swimming team as a first-year student. He also briefly played water polo and rugby, and he was involved with several theater productions. 

“At Whitman, juggling classes, sports, friends and fun is basically like having five jobs,” he says. “It teaches you how to work hard. I’m not the smartest person in any room I enter, but I know how to work hard thanks to my time at Whitman.”

Perhaps the most impactful experience of his college career was studying abroad. Lough spent a semester exploring the Caribbean aboard a 135-foot tall ship, learning nautical science and navigating by the stars.

“That was a pivotal moment because it opened my eyes to the ocean’s vastness—and its accessibility,” he says. “That experience definitely planted the seed for my future in sailing and my experience in the wine industry half a world away.”

Lough knew he wanted to travel before committing to a career, so he worked several jobs simultaneously following graduation to save up money and come up with a plan. He decided to explore the South Pacific, and after buying a 30-foot sloop named Panache, he set sail in October 2011.

“With sailing, you get a lot of confidence from small victories, like your first anchorage,” says Lough, who sailed 10,000 nautical miles and visited 13 countries during his trip. “There are always going to be hiccups along the way, but being able to overcome them and finding a way to move forward is extremely valuable, especially on the entrepreneurial front.”

Living the Dream

After returning to the United States and settling in Seattle, Lough had his heart set on opening a cidery. He got a job bartending at Schilling Cider House, where he became friends with fellow cider enthusiast Chris Irish and reconnected with Nicole Medina, whom he’d met on his sailing trip. The three shared a passion for cider and boating, and together they opened Channel Marker in 2016.  

The business originally operated out of Medina’s detached one-car garage. Lough returned to school the following year to study graphic design. He put his new skills to good use, creating the cidery’s marketing and branding materials. In 2024, Channel Marker opened a taproom and production facility in Seattle’s brewery district in Ballard.

“It’s amazing to finally serve our own cider directly to the customers who used to find it elsewhere,” says Lough. “The taproom in Ballard isn’t just a place to grab a pint—it’s become a true hub for our community. It’s a spot where people come together to share good times, discuss the next big idea, or simply unwind after a busy day. We love how cider acts as a connector, bringing people from all walks of life together under one roof.”

Lough dreams of expanding the business beyond the city as well.

“I’d love to plant an apple orchard of cider-specific varieties to support the cider house,” he says. “We currently make very New World ciders, but my original love for cider comes from the more traditional bottles you find in England and France. I have about 40 trees in pots, grafted with all sorts of apple varieties, waiting for a good piece of land. Once that happens, Channel Marker can start producing those traditional favorites.”

Lough says Whitman instilled in him a sense of curiosity and love for lifelong learning that prepared him for his future success.

“Whitman’s wide array of classes and unique location push students to be resourceful and ready to seize opportunities,” he says. “As a Whittie, you learn to dive headfirst into problems, and that translates perfectly to entrepreneurship.”