Lakeside Distillery

Overview of the Distillery

Lakeside Distillery is located in Townsend, Montana, and is a small craft distillery that produces all spirits from locally grown grain. The place combines a low-key profile with a clear focus on quality and local roots. The distillery highlights support for the local community as one of its main aims, and the operation is run on a small-scale professional track rather than chasing flashy branding.

History

The history of Lakeside Distillery stems from one man's many years of experience in spirit production. The founder, referred to as Whiskey Jake, worked in various types of distilleries around the world, including grappa distilleries in Italy and rum distilleries in Nicaragua. A concrete incident where he helped a newer distiller diagnose an error in a whiskey mash and received the comment "you teach more than you learn anymore" became the catalyst to establish his own distillery. Since then, Lakeside has drawn on the founder's travels and expertise, and the company has positioned itself as a small, locally rooted distillery with an emphasis on raw materials and community.

Raw Materials and Production

The documented core method at Lakeside is consistently the choice of raw materials: all production takes place on 100% locally grown grain. This places the traceability of raw materials and the connection to local farming as central elements in the production. The website text indicates a small-scale, craft-oriented approach and highlights the founder's practical experience from both grappa distillation and rum distillation, but does not disclose technical specifications such as malting methods, fermentation times, distillation type, or the number of stills. For a visitor or curious whiskey enthusiast, this means that the artisanal focus and the local grain supply are the most evident product characteristics.

Whiskies

The distillery produces a range of artisanal spirits based on 100% locally grown grain. There are descriptions of a site-specific, small-scale range, but there is no public list of concrete bottle releases, age statements, or ABV. The range is presented overall as quality-oriented and locally rooted rather than as a broad, mass-distributed selection.

Visiting the Distillery

Visits are possible on weekends: Saturday and Sunday from 12 PM to 8 PM. Weekdays are closed. There is a section for 'Tours & Events', but no active events are listed. Practical inquiries, special visits, or private events are handled by direct contact via the provided email address or phone.

The stated opening hours are Mon–Fri: Closed; Sat: 12 PM–8 PM; Sun: 12 PM–8 PM.

Philosophy and Craft

The company's stated values rest on the use of local raw materials and support for the local community. Lakeside emphasizes the production of spirits from 100% locally grown grain, small-scale craftsmanship, and a desire to prioritize quality and community over a flashy image.