What is Happening at Gulch Distillers
Amaro Land
Amaro, the digestif beloved in Bella Italia, has become hugely popular in local distilleries and liquor stores. Not sure what amaro is? We reveal all.
March 25, 2024
April 15, 2024
Citrus-Forward Gin
We are now past midway of the long journey from winter darkness to summer sun. To celebrate, we’re launching a new experimental series on Monday with a special citrus-forward gin. This latest of our Last Chance Experimental Series is a stellar companion for a negroni, a springtime gin and tonic, or a martini with a twist. This gin is the first original recipe from our distiller, Blake Eldridge, and we’re very proud of the bright balanced spirit he created. Public sales open with a release event on Monday, April 15. Join us for special cocktails and food from the new HeleBurger Food Truck from 4-8pm.
Introducing our Citrus-Forward Gin
In the spirit of the vernal equinox, when the duration of day and night equalize and the moment holds the promise of a fresh beginning, we indulged our creativity to craft a new, illuminating product. As the equinox marks the astronomical spring, we embraced the theme of renewal to celebrate the transition with an experimental, limited-batch spirit.
For this we developed a bright, citrus-forward gin in the character of spring. We embraced our love for the negroni cocktail in the distillation of a balanced gin to match. This zesty spirit is a stellar companion for a negroni, a springtime gin and tonic, or a martini with a twist.
Lean into the light and enjoy responsibly.
February 9, 2024
Join Our Team
We’re hiring!
Gulch Brand Representative
Gulch Distillers is looking for a charismatic individual to share the story of Gulch’s spirits to the bars and restaurants of Montana. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic about handcrafted products and have an interest in educating others about the terroir of locally produced spirits. We are most interested in someone who fits the Gulch ethos. Sales and industry experience is a plus. Strong candidates will have excellent communication skills, be a self-starter, be well-organized, and be energized by relationship building.
December 5, 2023
8th Anniversary Party
We have another year in the books, and with it an international gold medal, a new product (Ouzo!), and an ever-evolving cocktail program. We are thrilled to be here at 8 years old and excited for what’s ahead of us. Come join us on Tuesday, December 5th, the anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition, to celebrate our own anniversary. All of our bottles will be discounted by 10% all day long, and we will be releasing our 2024 Coin Club membership!
December 4, 2023
Brandy Release, a Coin Club Exclusive
Are you ready for a brandy bender? We are excited to announce the upcoming release of two highly limited spirits in our tasting room.
Kirshwasser: A rare Flathead cherry brandy with silky mouthfeel, nutty character, and big cherry flavor. This eau-de-vie was double distilled and conditioned for over a year. It takes about 15 pounds of cherries to produce one 375 mL bottle. No surprise then that we have extremely limited quantities!
Neighborhood Apple Eau-de-vie: Crafted from apples harvested in 2022, this Eau-de-vie is a collector’s item at only 68 bottles. A snapshot of the year’s harvest, bottled for your enjoyment.
These spirits won’t last long. Mark your calendars for December 4th to be the first to enjoy these one-of-a-kind brandies.
For the curious connoisseurs, we have added a third seating for our December Cocktail Class, “Brandy You’re A Fine Gill,” on December 9th.
August 31, 2023
2023 Coin Club Members Party
Join us August 31 in the Cocktail Corral for our member-appreciation party. We have a new spirit that we are excited to share with you before we release it to the general public.
Get ready for a Helena party and a Hellenic spirit. In other words, Free Gyros and Farangi Ouzo!
August 31
4pm – 8pm
Gulch Cocktail Corral
MEMBERS ONLY
Introducing Farangi Ouzo
After years of work, experimentation, and rebalancing, we have at last produced an ouzo worthy of the Gulch bottle. This anise-dominated spirit has been a labor of love in honor of our Greek roots. The name Farangi, meaning “gulch” or “gorge” in Greek, alludes to the depth and complexity of flavors that unfold with the addition of ice or a little water.
Gulch Distillers Strikes Gold
Gulch Distillers, Helena’s craft microdistillery, is thrilled to announce that their product Burrone Fernet has been awarded a Gold Medal at the esteemed San Francisco World Spirits Competition. This recognition solidifies Gulch Distillers’ position as a producer of exceptional spirits, and the award highlights the brand’s commitment to excellence and innovation in the industry.
May 18, 2023
Purple Prairie Barley, a Coin Club Exclusive
Purple Prairie Barley Whisky Back on the Shelf!
We released our first whisky in 2018, but that whisky was not our Flying Anvil Single Malt. Rather, it was from an experimental mashbill using malted barley, wheat, and purple prairie barley grown by our friends at Timeless Seeds.
It was a fun product that showcased a unique heritage grain from the mountains of Tibet that is now grown on Montana prairie. We liked the promise of that whisky, so we made more with the help of Timeless Seeds.
Our second and long-awaited batch of Purple Prairie Barley Whisky is now bottled and available to Coin Club members! As typical with our small batch spirits we have only 29 cases of this product. For this next week, Purple Prairie Barley Whisky will only be available to club members.
This fun whisky is bottled at 90 proof and displays notes of apricot, toffee, honeysuckle, almond extract, and leather. Come on down and have a taste!
November 28, 2022
Anniversary Party
We’re 7!
Over the past seven years, our little distillery has endured through a rebrand, a season-long closure of Front Street, a global pandemic, and a flood. We’ve also garnered national attention for our products, released a four-year-aged single malt whisky (five-year coming soon!), and brought a number of new spirits into our lineup. This past year we revived our monthly cocktail classes at the tasting room and added additional Coin Club benefits. We are thrilled to be here at 7 years old and excited for what’s ahead of us. Come join us on Monday, November 28. All of our bottles will be discounted by 10% all day long, and we will be releasing our 2023 Coin Club membership!
August 3, 2022 - August 31, 2022
Craft a Better Community: Continental Divide Trail Coalition
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition is the beneficiary of our August “Craft a Better Community” Nights on Wednesdays.
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) is the national non-profit working in partnership with the US Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management to complete, promote and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Founded in 2012 by a passionate group of volunteers and recreationists, CDTC is a membership organization working to build a strong community of supporters who want to see the CDT protected not just for today’s users, but for generations to come.
August 17, 2022
Big Sky Farmer’s Market
Come find Gulch Distillers at the Big Sky Farmer’s Market from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. We will be sampling products and offering free cocktail tastings.
September 8, 2022
Spirits in the Sky
Come sample the range of unique spirits from Montana Distilleries at Spirits in the Sky from 4-7pm at the Big Sky Town Center.
July 7, 2022
Coin Club Party
Calling all 2022 Gulch Coin Club Members! It’s time to party! Join us for a special tiki-themed evening in the Gulch Cocktail Coral. Enjoy music, cocktail specials and tasty treats. You’ll also receive early access to the newest exclusive Gulch release.
Coin Club Party!
July 7, 2022
5:00 – 8:00 PM
Outside in the Gulch Cocktail Corral
Not a member? You can still join the club and enjoy half-priced cocktails and 10% savings on all bottle purchases year-round!
Montana Restaurants, Brewpubs, and Bakeries: A Culinary Guide for Your Winter Trip
The winter snowscapes of Montana are magical. There’s a whole lot of outdoor fun to be had in Big Sky Country once the days shorten and the temperatures drop. But for those in the know, there are plenty of winter treasures to be found indoors as well — namely, in Montana’s restaurants, coffee shops, pubs, diners, and more.
February 28, 2022
February 2, 2022 - February 23, 2022
Last Chance Curling Club
The Last Chance Curling Club’s purpose is to promote the sport of curling in the Helena community through education, outreach, and by providing a safe, fun, inclusive and friendly environment to foster public participation in the sport.
January 6, 2022 - January 14, 2022
Fruition Apple Brandy Back in Stock
Among the many lessons we have learned over the past six years is the patience required at every stage of production for apple brandy.
First, collecting and pressing apples. Then a four-week ferment, slower than any other spirit requires. Next, a slow and gentle distillation in order to preserve the delicate apple aromatics. Then, like our whiskies and rum, we store the brandy in oak casks and let it age for several years. Finally, as we have learned the hard way, patiently bringing the brandy to bottle proof over several months to avoid disrupting the fragile flavors and temperamental structure that we have painstakingly cultivated.
Our greatest challenge to maintaining apple brandy on our shelf is this slow proofing period. Well that period is now over, for the time being. We have a very limited supply of our Fruition Apple Brandy, distilled from Bitterroot Valley-grown Macintosh apples, back in stock. These bottles are available only for Coin Club members for the next week!
Not only are these bottles available exclusively to our Coin Club, but they are available at the Coin Club price of $33.50 ($37 retail) for 750mL.
We will release the remaining bottles to the public on January 15.
January 5, 2022 - January 26, 2022
Craft a Better Community: The Myrna Loy Center
The Myrna Loy inspires our spirits by presenting culturally enriching arts experiences of all disciplines; supporting local and regional artists in their work; and fostering a lifelong love of the arts through educational projects and experiences.
Wherever you are–at school, in business, at an eldercare home, on a date, in a mid-evening slump by yourself–you can find something here to inspire your spirit.
Concerts, films, art exhibits, arts education experiences, community events, collaborations–it’s all here, at your community-fired culture center.
November 3, 2021 - November 24, 2021
Craft a Better Community: Great Divide Ski Team
The Great Divide Ski Team brings over 40 years of tradition and history to our community and our kids. We have a quality coaching staff with many years of experience, and we welcome all kids who love the sport of skiing!
October 1, 2021 - October 31, 2021
Craft A Better Community: Montana Free Press
Montana Free Press is an innovative, nonpartisan, public-powered news organization dedicated to delivering the information needs of all Montanans.
Gulch Distillers Turns Local Apples Into Alcohol
One distillery is turning local apples into alcohol. Our Bliss Zechman explains how Gulch Distillers in Helena is relying on the community and not a company to make one of their popular products.
by Bliss Zechman
September 27, 2018
What Is Amaro? Learn All About These Delicious Herbal Liqueurs
Small producers in the U.S. have been trying their hand at blending complex fernets: Montana-based Gulch Distillers uses mountain herbs and Montana grain for their Fernet Burrone
by Anna Kovel
July 13, 2021
Helena Businesses Team Up To Make Hand Sanitizer From 30 Kegs of Beer
Helena’s Gulch Distillers is making hand sanitizer out of 30 kegs of unused beer provided by George’s Distributing.
by Tyler Manning
April 2, 2020
Helena’s Gulch Distillers Take Top Prize at National Spirits Competition
Gulch Distillers brought home a few medals from the 2019 American Craft Spirits Association’s competition. The competition welcomed nearly 500 entries from 38 states and the District of Columbia in six categories: whiskey, gin, rum, vodka and grain spirits, brandy and specialty spirits.
by Maria L. Kirkpatrick
February 15, 2019
American Craft Spirits Association Announces 2019 Craft Spirit Award Winners
During the event, which was sponsored by Total Wine & More, ACSA proudly bestowed the evening’s ultimate honor, the Best of Show Award, to Gulch Distillers of Helena, MT, for their Burrone Fernet. Eli Aguilera, Total Wine’s Senior Vice-President of Merchandising, provided remarks to the crowd to kick-off the dinner, and Maggie Campbell of Privateer Rum (MA) emceed the event, having served as the Judging Chair.
American Craft Spirits Association
February 15, 2019
11 Great American Amari To Try Now
Minnesota fernet? Pineapple amaro? Our collective thirst for the Italian liqueur amaro is no bitter pill. So fully have we embraced the low-alcohol, bark and botanical-based digestif that it was only a matter of time before American-made versions began to blossom.
by Amy Zavatto
January 21, 2019
Keeping the Supply Chain Local–Purple Prairie Barley Whisky
Like most good ideas, Gulch Distillers’ Purple Prairie Barley Whiskey started with a conversation and the question, “What if…?”
In late 2016, Tyrrell Hibbard (co-founder of Gulch Distillers) and I sat down to talk about the newly-renamed company. It had been called Triple Divide Spirits when Tyrrell and his partner Steffen Rasile bought it in 2015 and then re-branded it a year later.
by Gail Nickel-Kailing
October 5, 2018
Montana Made: Gulch Distillers
Agriculture is Montana’s leading industry and in Helena, two guys are using their ag roots to distill a product from soil and sunshine.
Montana is a beer drinking state with new breweries popping up in every corner. But two guys, Steffen Rasile and Tyrrell Hibbard, are trying to change the game.
by Mikenzie Frost
June 26, 2018
Craft Cocktails: Gulch Distillers
I dare you to find a place more “local” than Gulch Distillers. Owned by two heartful Helena natives, Tyrrell Hibbard and Steffen Rasile, every batch of grain-based spirits are made using only Montana-grown grains in a facility that was once the Montana Distillery and Bottling Warehouse. The names of the spirits are locally inspired. Every cocktail contains locally grown produce whenever possible as well as house-made syrups and shrubs. The artwork is local, the website is local, the locals are local. Okay, you get it. LOCAL. What’s more? It’s all really, really good.
by Claire Bachofner
April 30, 2018
Guardian Reserve Gin Wins National Recognition
Locally produced Guardian Reserve Gin was recently recognized on the national stage. Gulch Distillers received acclaim for their barrel-aged gin by winning a bronze medal in the American Distilling Institute’s (ADI) Judging of Craft Spirits competition in Portland, OR. ADI is the oldest and largest organization of small-batch, independently owned distilleries in the US with a mission to promote and defend the art and enterprise of craft distilling. This year marks the 12th annual Judging of Craft Spirits, making the event one of the longest running, largest, and most respected spirits competitions in the US.
Distilleries Celebrate Easments
A pair of Montana distilleries produced special runs in honor of Montana Land Reliance’s millionth acre under conservation easement.
by Tom Kuglin
August 11, 2017
Helena Product Wins National Award
Helena’s distillery is getting noticed on the national scale for its product and process. Last week, Gulch Distillers earned national recognition by winning a silver medal in the American Distilling Institute’s (ADI) Judging of Craft Spirits competition. ADI is the oldest and largest organization of small-batch, independently owned distilleries in the US with a mission to promote and defend the art and enterprise of craft distilling. This year marks the 11th annual Judging of Craft Spirits, making the event one of the longest running, largest, and most respected spirits competitions in the United States.
The Cellar Mistress’s Wine Blog
There’s a hidden gem, tucked away in the side streets of Helena. No, it isn’t an undiscovered gold mine, but it’s close. Gulch Distillers is one of the most fascinating businesses I’ve visited here in Helena.
Starting its life as Triple Divide Spirits in 2012, the distillery was purchased in 2015, and rebranded as the Gulch Distillers in 2016. Distillers Steffen Rasile and Tyrrell Hibbard pursued their dream of distilling in college, and even studied abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Cellar Mistress's Wine Blog
by Katherine Northup
April 10, 2017
Gulch Distillers: Beyond Bread and Beer
What happens when two friends start dreaming about opening a distillery and making whisky in central Montana? Mix in shared childhood memories, inherited Helena red hair, and a love for single malt whisky, and you get Gulch Distillers.
by GAIL NICKEL-KAILING
December 31, 2016
New Name, New Products for Helena’s Microdistillery
Helena’s micro-distillery has unveiled a new name and a unique new spirit.