Helena’s micro-distillery has unveiled a new name and a unique new spirit.

“We’re pleased to debut our new name and new brand, Gulch Distillers,” said Steffen Rasile, one of the partners of Gulch Distillers, formerly Triple Divide Spirits. “This brand reflects our passion for Montana history and the Helena community.”

The new name acknowledges the tradition of spirits manufacturing in Last Chance Gulch. “We are proudly located in the former Montana Distillery and Bottling Warehouse,” said Rasile. Tyrrell Hibbard, partner, continued, “We renamed to Gulch Distillers to better reflect the rich history of agriculture and industry in Montana’s landscape, and the distillery’s place within the community.”

Gulch Distillers uses only Montana-grown grains in their grain-based spirits. “We are committed to this place,” said Rasile. “Since the beginning our aim has been to produce quality Montana spirits from Montana grains.” Each Wednesday the distillery hosts a “Community Cocktails” night to benefit a different local organization. “It’s been a great program for us,” said Hibbard. “It allows us to work with dozens of great organizations in this community and build awareness for all the important work being done here.”

The new brand also features Helena’s firetower on their “Guardian Gin” label, firmly rooting the new brand to Helena.

Along with the new name the distilling duo has released a new spirit, Burrone Fernet, a semi-bitter, herbal liqueur inspired by classic Italian amari. “Not many Montanans are familiar with Fernet,” said Rasile, “though the spirit has a long and worldly history.” The digestif is Italian by origin and the national spirit of Argentina. Distilled from a base of Montana grains, Burrone Fernet incorporates a unique blend of herbs and spices including chamomile, myrrh, rhubarb, saffron, and mint.

“We found an old recipe–one of the original Fernet recipes–and worked with it through countless iterations to develop Burrone,” said Hibbard. “We were able to build off of that original recipe and create a bright, cool liqueur with a long, lingering finish.”

To celebrate their new name and new spirit, Gulch Distillers invites spirit enthusiasts to a “Brand Re-Opening” party on Tuesday, November 15 from 4-8pm. Enjoy discounted cocktails, giveaways, and special refreshments.

Gulch Distillers is a microdistillery, located at 790 Front Street. Originally named Triple Divide Spirits, Steffen Rasile and Tyrrell Hibbard purchased the distillery in 2015. Their handcrafted spirits include Triple Divide Vodka, Guardian Gin, Flintlock Spiced Rum, and Burrone Fernet. The distillery tasting room is open Monday-Friday from 4pm-8pm and Saturday from 2pm-8pm.