Local honey is seen for sale at Hunni Company in Edmonds. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Local honey is seen for sale at Hunni Company in Edmonds. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Happy accident leads Edmonds couple to make Hunniwater drink

EDMONDS — The latest line of energy drinks by Karin and Eric Butler came about by accident.

Literally.

The couple’s 4-year-old with his stuffed monkey, Nibble, knocked over a half-gallon honey container on the carpet in the living room of their Edmonds home.

“That’s it, Hunniwater, write that down,” Eric Butler told his wife at the time.

He used the accident as inspiration to create a drink that mixes raw honey and juice-infused water.

From that, they launched Hunniwater line of beverages. Their current active line is the Hunniwater Detox drink. The Butlers tout the drinks as the perfect blend of sweetness and hydration.

The drinks comes in several flavors that can be purchased at PCC Markets, Safeway and QFC.

They’ve also started a honey-themed retail shop called Hunni Co. at 186 Sunset Ave. in Edmonds. At the shop, the couple sell art, apparel, honey bottles, candles and other products inspired by bees, honeycombs and honey. And of course, customers can pick up one of their signature drinks, and try new flavors as they come out.

The Butlers have been experimenting with speciality drinks for a while. Eric Butler, 44, had previously launched the mint-flavored-water Osmosis about a decade ago and Eric’s Famous Energy Drink between 2010 and 2012.

The couple have been through it all together, having met at a party on the UW campus in April 1999. They fell in love, and got married in May 2003.

None of the other of the drinks had taken off quite like Hunniwater.

As a matter of fact, the Butlers were struggling with his Eric’s Famous Energy Drink. “I felt like it was time to make a change,” says Eric. “It’s was kinda like it was always there, always the next big thing.”

While Karin was prepping her resume for real-world jobs at the time of the great honey spill, Eric Butler created his first sample of honey, water, and a hint of fruit and had his wife try as the first sample.

“I was sold,” she recalled.

Pre-production was 2012 for Hunniwater, and some of their first products were launched in Cafe Ladro and PCC Markets in 2013, adding their Detox line in 2014.

“We started working on the store in 2015,” said Karin of the soft launch of the storefront in Edmonds. The grand launch of Hunniwater location followed in February 2016. Hunniwater Detox flavors include matcha (think green tea), ginger cayenne, lemon and cinnamon.

“You have to give them all a good shake,” Karin Butler said, regarding the mixture’s tendency to settle at the bottom.

The couple continue to try to market their drink lines. The drinks are sold only in Washington state stores, but they’re hoping to get the drinks sold in Oregon and California.

They’re experimenting with more flavors. One of Karin Butler’s favorites is a charcoal cherry. As it hasn’t yet been launched in other locations, hardcore Hunniwater fans have to go straight to the Edmonds store to request it.

It’s really a collaborative process for the couple. The role of the Tastemaker is owned by Eric, where Karin’s experience in science has helped formula current and past drinks to scale.

She also runs the social media and storefront, where Eric manages some of the wholesale distribution aspects. “We kind of all work together until things go out,” Karin Butler described their tag-team process.

“It’s not ready until it’s ready. But we love it. As hard as it is, it’s definitely like another baby for us, and it’s so lucky that we get to do this.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

Lily Lamoureux stacks Weebly Funko toys in preparation for Funko Friday at Funko Field in Everett on July 12, 2019.  Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Everett-based Funko ousts its CEO after 14 months

The company, known for its toy figures based on pop culture, named Michael Lunsford as its interim CEO.

The livery on a Boeing plane. (Christopher Pike / Bloomberg)
Former Lockheed Martin CFO joins Boeing as top financial officer

Boeing’s Chief Financial Officer is being replaced by a former CFO at… Continue reading

Izaac Escalante-Alvarez unpacks a new milling machine at the new Boeing machinists union’s apprentice training center on Friday, June 6, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Boeing Machinists union training center opens in Everett

The new center aims to give workers an inside track at Boeing jobs.

Some SnoCo stores see shortages after cyberattack on grocery supplier

Some stores, such as Whole Foods and US Foods CHEF’STORE, informed customers that some items may be temporarily unavailable.

People take photos and videos as the first Frontier Arlines flight arrives at Paine Field Airport under a water cannon salute on Monday, June 2, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Water cannons salute Frontier on its first day at Paine Field

Frontier Airlines joins Alaska Airlines in offering service Snohomish County passengers.

Amit B. Singh, president of Edmonds Community College. 201008
Edmonds College and schools continue diversity programs

Educational diversity programs are alive and well in Snohomish County.

A standard jet fuel, left, burns with extensive smoke output while a 50 percent SAF drop-in jet fuel, right, puts off less smoke during a demonstration of the difference in fuel emissions on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sustainable aviation fuel center gets funding boost

A planned research and development center focused on sustainable aviation… Continue reading

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Britney Barber, owner of Everett Improv. Barber performs a shows based on cuttings from The Everett Herald. Photographed in Everett, Washington on May 16, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
August 9 will be the last comedy show at Everett Improv

Everett improv club closing after six years in business.

Pharmacist John Sontra and other employees work on calling customers to get their prescriptions transferred to other stores from the Bartell Drugs Pharmacy on Hoyt Avenue on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bartell Drugs location shutters doors in Everett

John Sontra, a pharmacist at the Hoyt Avenue address for 46 years, said Monday’s closure was emotional.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.