MONTGOMERY DISTILLERY WRITTEN BY CHRIS LOZIER
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMANDA JOY CHRISTENSEN
ounded in 2012 by Ryan
are spirits geeks and cocktail
and Jennifer Montgomery,
nerds, and we do a lot of
Montgomery Missoula,
Distillery Montana’s
is first
research and experimentation, which
is
great
fun,”
she
craft distillery. Housed in a
explains. Jennifer’s study at a
massive
brick
local herbal school also informs
building originally built as a
many of their cocktail recipes
liquor warehouse and saloon,
as well as their gin, which is
Montgomery is bringing the
infused with classic botanicals
block full circle, making spirits
as well as some local herbs like
in the back and hosting one
bee balm, yarrow and elder
of the liveliest cocktail bars
flower.
123-year-old
Coming
downtown in front. “We did not expect our
families,
from the
agricultural Montgomerys
tasting room to be as popular
aimed to produce top-shelf
as it was,” says Jennifer. “We
spirits using Montana talents
envisioned giving out samples
and
ingredients.
In
their
and making a few drinks, but as soon as we opened there Christian Carl pot-column artisan still, the crew makes vodka, were lines out the door for our cocktails.” Talented mixologists gin and whiskey using Montana grain as well as cherry brandy turn Montgomery spirits, liqueurs, syrups, shrubs, and bitters using Flathead Montana cherries. into impressive, innovative cocktails sourced from Montana
Prior to opening the distillery, Ryan and Jennifer travelled
ingredients, some of which have gained national recognition in extensively around the globe for their consulting jobs where they publications like New York and Redbook magazines.
shared their love of quality whiskies. “I came from the consumer
Jennifer credits their success in spirits and cocktails to a side,” Ryan explains. “I just enjoyed whiskey a lot. About 10 staff that is hardworking, diverse, and fun loving. “Many of us years ago I got really into Scotch whiskey and all the different
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