Distinctly Montana Magazine

Spirit of Montana Distillery Microdistilleries seem who makes your barrels, answer finite details about the small batch distillation process…it brings more of an intimate connection to the brand." Husband and wife, Joe and Jules Legate, of Ridge Distillery west of Kalispell grow many of their botanicals and in the early stages discovered wormwood, a key ingre- dient in absinthe, in their own backyard. The distillers are just as unique as their products and distilleries. Whistling Andy distiller Brian Anderson is a geo- hydrologist and fellow distiller Michael Marchetti is an electrical engineer with microbrewing experience. John McFee at Headframes taps into his background in biodiesel distillation in designing custom distillery equipment and Ridge TO BE POPPING UP ACROSS MONTANA LIKE MUSHROOMS, ALIKE IN THAT THEY BOTH RELY ON THE GROUND AND WATER TO FLOURISH. Whistling Andy distiller Brian Anderson Distillery owner Joe Legate is a drama professor at Flathead Valley Commu- nity College. Many of the distilleries involve husband and wife teams like Ryan and Jenny Montgomery, who traveled to Scotland to visit distilleries and to attend whiskey school together. This diverse group has grown into a cohesive group through their shared efforts to make Montana laws friendlier to microdistilleries. The camaraderie doesn't end in Helena, they help each with set-up, problem solving, and sometimes consolidate displays and equipment orders. Courtney McFee of Headframes says, "Some of the other state distillers have offered to come over and help us finish the setup on our distillery. How fantastic is that?" BOZEMAN'S LARGEST DOWNTOWN PATIO LIVE MUSIC ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS, AND LOCAL MICRO- BREWS ON TAP Brian Anderson feels that they aren't really competing against each other; they are competing against the big distilleries that capture 99% of the market. And when Whistling Andy participated in the International Spirits International Prestige (SIP) in July they proved that they can compete with the big boys—they took home a plati- num award for their Hibiscus Coconut Rum. Publicity from the international award has helped raise the profile of Whistling Andy, but it is also attention that can be beneficial to all of the distilleries by helping increase awareness of the new microdistillery business in Montana. Nic Lee at Glacier Distilling says, "Hopefully, soon people traveling to a new area will not only ask, "What is your lo- cal beer?" but also, "What are your local spirits?" It was actually a request for a local spirit that inspired Whistling Andy Distillery. Anderson explains that he began tossing around the idea for a distillery after Russian visitors told Anderson that after touring local cherry orchards they were amazed that there was no local cherry kirsch. Ander- son began researching distilleries with his wife, Lisa Clout- ier, who owns the Raven Brew Pub & Grill in Woods Bay. His parents, Andy (hence the name) and Linda Anderson, became involved in the business along with Michael and Dana Marchetti, all working together to bring the idea to fruition. They are already producing nine different spirits, with one of the most recent—a cherry spirit. So now if the Russian visitors return and look for a local cherry spirit, they will find it! Kay Bjork lives on Swan Lake in northwest Montana within 100 miles of five different craft distilleries. She hopes to visit all of them when the spirit moves her. Visit us on Facebook@starkysauthenticamericana 44 DISTINCTLY MONTANA • WINTER 2011 KAY BJORK

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