Historie

Westslope Distillery is a community‑oriented distillery in Hamilton, Montana, that seeks to express the Montana experience through spirits distilled in small batches with ingredients from farms and fields in Montana. They offer a tasting room where spirit tastings, bottle sales, and seasonal cocktails take place. The owner and head distiller is Will Young. The endeavor is driven by a love for Montana's wild nature – the mountains, rivers, forests and fields – and the aim is to let some of that wild spirit seep into their products.

Produktion og tilgang

The distillery produces spirits in small batches and emphasizes high‑quality ingredients from Montana. In addition to whisky, they produce gin, vodka, apple brandy and honey‑spirit (Sweet Sting and Golden Sting). Lost Trail Rye Vodka is made from 100% Montana‑fermented rye. The gin (Merchants Dry Gin) uses ten botanicals and a floral nose. Sweet Sting is a honey‑spirit distilled twice from dark honey mead; Golden Sting is a sturdy honey‑spirit aged 6 months in American oak barrels. The range mentions flavor notes such as tropical fruits, floral aromas, vanilla, caramel, and notes of smoke in various products. Several products mention aging in oak and finishing in oak barrels, as well as different notes of sweetness and spices. The distillery also describes its production as small batches and inspiration from Montana's natural surroundings.

Produkter / Whisky-serien

• Timbercruiser Rye Whiskey — 100 proof / 50% ABV. Aged 9 months in No. 4 charred American oak. Nose: toffee, cocoa, vanilla, leather, peat, oak, and cherry; palate of coffee, caramel candies, and caramel; finish with chocolate, nutmeg and raisins.
• Timbercruiser Black Label Rye Whisky — 100 proof / 50% ABV. Aged 6 months in American oak barrels and finished for two months in the same barrels after Higherground’s Hurruh Scotch Ale. Aromas of stone fruit, smoke and hay; flavors of pepper, caramel and walnut; finish smoky and full-bodied.
• Timbercruiser Honey Blend Whiskey — limited edition honey whiskey blend. 100 proof / 50% ABV. A honey‑rye blended whiskey created as a honey‑blend in collaboration around the Star crossed lovers concept between Golden Sting and Timbercruiser Rye Whiskey.
• No. 2 Hopper — 80 proof / 40% ABV. Twice distilled from Bitter Root Brewing Company's Ginger Heffeweisen in the German Bierschnappstradition.

Additionally, it notes that there are other spirits in the lineup such as Cutthroat Brum (sugar spirit), Mending Wall Apple Brandy and Sweet Sting/Golden Sting honey‑spirits.

Besøg og oplevelser

The Tasting Room offers spirit tastings, bottle sales and seasonal craft cocktails. Contact information and address: 172 South 2nd Street, Hamilton, MT 59840. Phone: 406-375-5590; e‑mail: info@westslopedist.com. Opening hours are Tuesday–Friday 3:00–8:00 PM and Saturday 2:00–8:00 PM. Ongoing events and newsletters provide updates on upcoming events and spirit releases.

Filosofi

Westslope Distillery describes itself as a community‑minded distillery that seeks to convey the Montana experience through spirits produced in small batches with ingredients from local farms and fields. In the tasting room, a relaxed and convivial atmosphere is desired, where friends can gather, taste spirits and enjoy craft cocktails. The inspiration comes from Montana's wild places – the mountains, rivers, forests and fields – and the goal is to let some of the wildness they love seep into their products.