Distillery tours
Distillery Tours in Montana
Plan a distillery tour in Montana: 7 distilleries to visit, with tastings and experiences you can book directly. Expect Craft Spirits, Gin, Bourbon and more. Highlights include Willie's Distillery, Whistling Andy Distillery, Spotted Bear Spirits.
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About distillery tours in Montana
Montana's distillery trail is one of the most scenic in the country, threading between mining-town tasting rooms, college-town craft bars and gateways to the national parks. The state's distillers lean heavily on Montana-grown grain, and many tell stories rooted firmly in local history and landscape. Headframe Spirits in Butte takes its name from the headframes that once lowered miners deep beneath the city, and every spirit it makes nods to a specific mine and the people who worked it, distilled from Montana wheat, rye, corn and barley. In Missoula, Montgomery Distillery works exclusively with Montana-grown grain, some from the family ranch, and has earned national notice for its tasting room. Up near Glacier National Park, Glacier Distilling Company and Spotted Bear Spirits give park-bound travellers a reason to linger, while Whistling Andy Distillery and Willie's Distillery serve the Flathead and southwest corners. With Lolo Creek Distillery rounding out the western cluster, the Montana trail rewards visitors who treat distillery-hopping as part of a bigger road trip through big-sky country.
Following the Montana trail
Montana is vast, so the trail naturally breaks into regional clusters rather than one tidy loop. The western corridor is the most practical, linking Missoula's Montgomery Distillery and nearby Lolo Creek Distillery with the Flathead Lake area, where Whistling Andy Distillery sits, and on toward Glacier country, home to Glacier Distilling Company and Spotted Bear Spirits. Butte, in the southwest, anchors its own stop with Headframe Spirits, and Willie's Distillery serves the south. Rather than racing between them, build the trail around where you're already heading, whether that's Glacier National Park or a drive along the western valleys, and pick up distilleries as natural breaks in a larger journey.
Distilleries worth prioritising
Headframe Spirits in Butte is a standout for its sense of place, with spirits named for the mines and a tasting room set in a historic building; it's the trail's most distinctive story. Montgomery Distillery in Missoula is the pick for grain-to-glass enthusiasts, working with Montana-grown wheat and rye and known for a polished tasting room. For travellers near the parks, Glacier Distilling Company is a convenient and characterful stop, with Spotted Bear Spirits adding variety in the same region. Whistling Andy Distillery near Flathead Lake and Willie's Distillery in the south are worth folding in if your route passes nearby. Tasting Montana grain across two or three of these makes the local style click into focus.
Where to stay and eat nearby
Missoula is the most convenient base for the western cluster, with a lively downtown, plenty of restaurants and easy access to Montgomery and Lolo Creek. Whitefish and Kalispell make natural hubs for the Glacier-area distilleries, putting Glacier Distilling and Spotted Bear within reach alongside park lodging and dining. Butte offers its own historic character for a Headframe-centred stop. Throughout the state, plan accommodation ahead in peak season, especially near Glacier National Park, where rooms fill fast. Eat a proper meal before tastings, and keep snacks and water in the car for long drives.
Getting there and around
This is a road trip first and foremost. Distances in Montana are long and the scenery is the point, so allow generous driving time between clusters and don't overpack your itinerary. Missoula, Bozeman and Kalispell have airports that work as entry points depending on which part of the trail you're targeting. Within towns, rideshare availability varies, so in smaller places plan a designated driver. Mountain weather can change quickly and some routes are seasonal, particularly around Glacier, so check road and opening conditions before setting out, especially outside summer.
Frequently asked
- What makes Montana distilleries distinctive?
- A strong commitment to Montana-grown grain and a deep sense of local history. Headframe Spirits in Butte names its spirits after the mines and distils from Montana wheat, rye, corn and barley, while Montgomery Distillery in Missoula works with grain including some from the family ranch.
- Can I combine the distillery trail with Glacier National Park?
- Absolutely. Glacier Distilling Company and Spotted Bear Spirits sit near the park, making them an easy add to a Glacier trip. Base yourself in Whitefish or Kalispell to reach both the park and the distilleries comfortably.
- How spread out are Montana's distilleries?
- Quite spread out. The state is large, so the trail works best as regional clusters: the western corridor around Missoula and the Flathead, the Glacier-area stops, and Butte in the southwest. Plan around long but scenic drives rather than tight loops.
- Which Montana distillery is best for a first visit?
- Headframe Spirits in Butte offers the most memorable story and setting, and Montgomery Distillery in Missoula is ideal for grain-to-glass fans. Either makes an excellent introduction to the state's style.
- Do I need to book tours ahead in Montana?
- For tasting rooms you can often walk in, but production tours and smaller distilleries may run on set times or by appointment. Booking ahead is wise, particularly in peak summer when park-area towns are busy.
- When is the best time to do the Montana trail?
- Summer and early autumn offer the easiest driving and the most reliable access, especially around Glacier where some routes are seasonal. Winter visits to town tasting rooms are doable, but long mountain drives are best saved for fair weather.