Pine Bluffs Distilling

Overview of the Distillery

Pine Bluffs Distilling makes whisky and other spirits in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, with a focus on control from grain to bottle. The distillery works with local grains, runs its own malting and mash processes, and forgoes chill filtration to preserve aroma and texture in the finished bottles. At the same time, they offer an open tasting room and a Barrel Pick program, where customers can taste directly from casks and receive personalized bottles.

History

Humble origins and growth from home setups

Pine Bluffs Distilling did not begin as an old family tradition, but as a series of home setups. Without a long whisky tradition, the team behind it built a distillery from initiative and craft, and the company has evolved into a local actor that supports the local area through employment and the use of local grain varieties.

Development of a full grain-to-glass process

Instead of purchasing pre-malted grains, the distillery has consciously chosen to follow the process from grain to bottle. This includes its own handling of malt and mash, and it marks a strategic difference from many other small distilleries.

Raw Materials and Production

Production rests on the desire for full control over the raw materials. Instead of buying pre-malted malts, the distillery brings the process under its own control, placing malting and mash steps at the center of the work. They work with a range of grain types, including rye, wheat, oats, and barley, and consistently use sweet mash. Another clear choice is to avoid chill filtration; this deliberate omission preserves fruity notes, rich aromas, and wood character in the bottle. The distillery also offers a Barrel Pick program, where visitors can sample casks directly from the warehouse and choose their own bottles and label customization.

Maturation and Cask Types

The description of aging highlights the possibility of tasting directly from casks in the barrel room and a customer-tailored Barrel Pick program, but does not specify specific cask types or aging periods. The Barrel Pick process is mentioned as a multi-month procedure, where customers choose and optionally bottle their own cask.

Whiskeys

The range spans several American whiskey styles: American Single Malt, Straight Rye, Ryed Bourbon, Wheated Bourbon, Oat Whiskey and a 5 Grain Whiskey. In addition to whiskeys, the distillery also produces gin and vodka. Straight Rye is noted particularly in connection with a Double Gold award, and the entire range is sold through the distillery's shop and retail partners with shipping to most U.S. states, with some exceptions.

Whiskey Style and Flavor Profile

The distillery's choice not to chill-filter and to use sweet mash supports a style that emphasizes three recurring elements: fruity notes, heavier aromas, and pronounced wood or barrel character. These directions are mentioned directly as qualities preserved through production choices and reflect the overall approach of letting the ingredients and the barrel work together.

Visit the Distillery

Tasting room is open during the following hours: Sunday and Monday 12-17; Tuesday-Thursday 13-20; Friday & Saturday 13-21. Guests are encouraged to drop in for a cocktail or tasting in the tasting room, and contact can be made via phone or email. The Barrel Pick program offers a more immersive experience in the barrel room, where you can taste from casks, select a barrel, and can have up to 250 bottles labeled with your own choice; the whole process takes a couple of months.

The stated opening hours are Sunday/Monday 12:00-17:00; Tuesday-Thursday 13:00-20:00; Friday & Saturday 13:00-21:00.

Philosophy and Craft

Pine Bluffs Distilling builds its practice on local rootedness and full process control: from using local grains to handling its own malting to sweet mash and the avoidance of chill filtration. The distillery also highlights values such as job creation in the local community, transparency in production, and the opportunity for customers to engage directly through the Barrel Pick program.

Awards and Recognitions

• Double Gold (Double Gold, Straight Rye Whiskey)