History

Headframe Spirits (Headframe) is described as Butte's first legal distillery and is based in Montana. They describe themselves as a company born in a boom period and that takes Butte's mining heritage seriously through its name, its products, and its approach. According to the site, Headframe was founded by John and Courtney McKee and has grown to include both whiskey production and the production of its own equipment (stills) for customers worldwide. Since inception, Headframe has focused on small-batch craftsmanship, Montana grain, and the use of Montana snowmelt water in the manufacturing process. Since 2016 they have been based in the Headframe environment in Butte and have developed their ecosystem to include a Tasting Room and a Headframe Stills and Manufacturing division that builds and sells equipment. Among the milestones is that Kelley American Single Malt Whiskey was honored as the 2024 Montana American Single Malt Distillery of the Year, and Headframe announced in 2025 its 10,000-barrel production of American single malt. Their products and stories are closely tied to the Headframe mine histories (Anselmo Mine, Kelley Mine, High Ore Mine, Oloroso finish, Cognac finish and similar) and to the community of Butte through initiatives such as support for breast cancer screening, the World Museum of Mining, and other charitable causes.

Production / Manufacturing

Headframe produces spirits using their own continuous-column stills for the entire process—from mash to final distillation—and claims to be one of the few micro-distilleries that produce spirits using a continuous-distillation process. They place great emphasis on 100% Montana ingredients and use Montana snowmelt water for mashing. They also highlight that their fabrication is in-house (stills built by Headframe) and that waste products (spent grain) are returned to local cattle operations as part of a sustainable circular process. Additionally, they have a portfolio of products ranging from American single malt whiskeys to bourbons and rye whiskeys, and they emphasize that their products are “100% made in Montana.”

Products / Whisky Series

• Kelley American Single Malt Whiskey: 100% malted barley from Montana, matured in new oak barrels and finished in Oloroso casks, 43% ABV, 750 ml. Tasting notes: floral bouquet on the nose; spicy on the palate with hints of pear, nutty, and apricot notes. Minimum aging 2 years (up to 5 years).
• Copper King: Part of Copper King Whisky Collection, 100% Montana-malted barley, finished in Cognac casks, 48% ABV, 750 ml. Nosing leads to honey- and orange blossom-notes; the palate describes honey with candied fruit. Labeled as 100% Montana-malted and “made in Montana.”
• Neversweat Straight Bourbon Whiskey: 40% ABV, 750 ml. Description of the bourbon profile with a blend of grains (small-batch) and notes of vanilla and caramel.
• Dispatch Cinnamon Rye Whiskey: 100% rye, 45% ABV, 750 ml. Described as a rye whiskey with warm spice and a cinnamon sensation, infused with cinnamon, red pepper flakes and clove. Produced from a blend of 7- and 9-year-old rye whiskey, aged in used Neversweat Bourbon barrels.
• Neversweat Bottled in Bond: Bottled in Bond version of Headframe's bourbon-style product with at least 4 years of aging and 100 proof (50% ABV). NABCA number and tasting notes include caramel and vanilla with a spicy, sweet finish.
• Kelley Distiller’s Select / Kelley Bottled in Bond / Kelley Distiller’s Select – Single Barrel (Town Pump Limited): different single-dram-barrel releases from Kelley line; described as expressions of Kelley, where each individual barrel is given unique character and is hand-selected by Headframe’s master distiller. These are primarily based on Headframe's American single malt concept and Montana sourcing, with a focus on the immediate experience of individual barrels.
• Orphan Girl Bourbon Cream Liqueur and Snowdrift/Quarter Moon/Anselmo liqueur- and cream-variants: not whiskey, but part of Headframe's broad spirits portfolio.

Visit / Experiences

• Tasting Room & Distillery: Headframe offers a visit in Butte’s Uptown, where customers can experience a street-level distillery and enjoy handcrafted cocktails as part of ‘Drink in the Spirit of Butte’. The Tasting Room lets you see the distillery science in practice and experience Headframe’s 100-year bar. Hours: 10:00–20:00, Monday to Sunday (excluding holidays). The address is 21 S. Montana Street, Butte, MT 59701. There is the option to receive 2 oz per person per day and 6 bottles per person per day – as well as to-go purchases.

Philosophy / Social Responsibility

• A Force for Good: Headframe emphasizes that business operation and social responsibility go hand in hand and that People and the Planet should come before profit. They state they will support the community through donations, sustainable practices, and partnerships.
• Local focus: They place great emphasis on Montana grain and Montana snowmelt water, and they return spent grain to local cattle operations. They also describe how they work with Montana farmers and a nearby malting facility to ensure high quality and sustainability.
• Orphan Girl Mine / Preservation of culture: Orphan Girl Mine and World Museum of Mining are mentioned as important cultural and historical references in Butte, which they include as part of their storytelling and philanthropy (e.g., donations via Orphan Girl Bourbon Cream Liqueur and other campaigns).
• Community projects: Headframe gives back through campaigns and donations (e.g., financial support for breast cancer screening and other community projects). Since 2010 Headframe has also engaged in regulatory matters and – in particular – work in the Montana Distiller’s Guild to improve rules for distilleries in the state.

Status Summary

• STATUS: 1 (Active) – Headframe is described as an actively producing whiskey distillery in Butte, Montana, with annual production and recognitions such as the 2024 Montana American Single Malt Distillery of the Year and 10,000 barrels of American single malt produced (2025).