Spirits

Find yourself with one of Montana’s largest collection of spirits. From the classic to the eclectic, our selection is diverse and comprehensive.

Scotch

The king of whiskys, Scotch is a famously complex topic that has been the subject of enough books to fill a few dozen libraries. Do not let that stop you from diving in and experiencing some of the most revered spirits in the world, though. There are only a few things that you need to keep in mind when looking at everything Scotland has to offer.

Rye

Rye whiskey is gaining a lot of attention again, so we are seeing more and more come to market with some exciting results. At its heart, rye whiskey must be made from at least 51% rye grain. Ryes typically have a drier, spicier, slightly grassier finish than their sweeter bourbon cousins.

Bourbon

Since the end of Prohibition, bourbon has dominated the American whiskey scene. Bourbon is a legally defined term and can have a lot of requirements. In short, to be a bourbon, a whiskey must be made in the US from at least 51% corn, aged in charred, virgin (or unused) oak barrels, contain no added coloring, and it no longer has a minimum age requirement.

American Whiskey

"American Whiskey" is a catch-all term for any whiskey produced in the US that does not meet the particular criteria for either bourbons or ryes.

Canadian Whisky

Canadian whisky (spelled without the "e") is quite simply whisky produced in Canada. They tend to be blends with fairly high corn and rye percentages which produce smooth, flavorful whiskys suitable to a broad range of palates.

Irish Whiskey

Irish whiskey (spelled with, or without, the "e") applies to any whiskey that is made in Ireland, has been aged in barrels for at least three years, and can only have water and plain caramel coloring as additives.

Brandy

Brandy denotes any spirit distilled from fruit juices (most often wine and other fruits) and typically aged in charred barrels. This is where to look for things like blackberry or apricot brandies or for Cognacs, Salignacs, and Armagnacs.

Rum

The classic tropical spirit, rum is made from either sugarcane or a byproduct like molasses. It can be either aged in oak barrels or bottled as-is. Most of the light, un-aged rums are designed for use in cocktails while the aged rums offer a complexity and depth of flavor that is best suited for drinking straight or on the rocks.

Vodka

Of all spirits, vodka is—if you'll pardon the pun—the clear winner when it comes to versatility. Deceptive in its apparent simplicity, vodka is a clear, neutral-flavored spirit that is deigned to be relatively tasteless and ordorless.

Gin

Gin starts out life much like vodka: it is distilled from grains or malt, it is clear and (with a certain few exceptions) colorless, and light-bodied. What sets it apart is the assortment of botanicals that flavor this spirit, all revolving around one key ingredient: juniper.

Tequila

Tequila remains a bit of a mystery to many people. At its core, tequila is a spirit distilled from blue agave and can be either barrel aged or not. Technically speaking, tequila is a specific subset of mezcal, since mezcal can be made from up to 30 different types of agave while tequila must be made from blue agave and has to come from certain regions of Mexico. Tequilas come in a few varieties, and you can always tell from the label.

Cream Liqueurs

The name says it all—these are all liqueurs that contain either dairy cream or a similar substitute along with other flavorings.

Cordials & Liqueurs

Don't be fooled by the name: a liqueur and a liquor are two distinctly different tipples. Whereas both are fermented and distilled, liqueurs have been sweetened and flavored with fruits, herbs, spices, or a combination of the three.

Schnapps

Schnapps traditionally referred to an unsweetened spirit distilled from fruit and sometimes flavored with herbs and spices.

SPIRITS