Summer start for Montana's newest micro-distillery

MISSOULA, MT -- Montana's newest micro-distillery is targeted for a summer opening. Right now, Montogomery Distillery's fermenting equipment is being manufactured in Germany, the center of such production.

Ryan and Jenny Montgomery, husband-wife co-owners of the new enterprise, are beginning renovations on a former tire distributorship building on Main Street -- yes, it is Missoula's main street -- that will house a still and tasting room.

Their initial runs of whiskey will have to be aged for at least three years before being out on the market. Thus, their first commercial products will be vodka and gin, using as many local ingredients as are available.

Ryan attended distillery school in Spokane, WA, then studied at the Springbank Distillery in Scotland. The 183-year-old distillery is the only independent on the country.

Other distilleries in Montana's young and still-fledgling industry include RoughStock Distillery in Bozeman; Flathead Distillers in Eureka; Ridge Distiller in Kalispell; Vigilante Distilling in Helena, and Whistling Andy's, which just opened this year in Bigfork.

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