Up North Distillery

Overview of the Distillery

Up North Distillery is located in Post Falls, Idaho, and is a small craft distillery founded by Randy and Hilary Mann. They work according to a 'farm to flask' principle with local honey, grain, and fruit resources from the Inland Northwest and distill in small batches on a copper pot still. In addition to producing honey spirits, apple brandy, and a single malt, they run a cocktail bar and offer tours and guided tastings on site.

History

The idea for Up North Distillery arose when Randy Mann took an advanced distillation course and, together with his partner Hilary, began building a small-batch distillery in Post Falls. Since its establishment in 2015, the couple has purposefully used local ingredients and established a profile as a craft distillery. As early as 2017, awards began to come in at competitions such as the Denver International Spirits Competition, and over the years they have received several medals from national organizations and competitions. In 2025 they marked ten years with a limited 10-Year Reserve Honey Spirit, and in 2026 the distillery was named Best Distillery in North Idaho, underscoring both local roots and broad recognition.

Raw Materials and Production

Production at Up North centers on small-batch processes and local ingredients. For honey-based spirits, mead made from 100% honey is produced first, which is then distilled after fermentation. Grain- and fruit-based products use traditional mash and fermentation methods, and all distillation takes place in a copper pot still in craft size. The distillery highlights the use of pristine water from the Inland Northwest and collects seasonal ingredients on site, including hand-foraged pinecones for their Pine Liqueur. The small-batch approach and handcrafting are reflected in both ingredient choices and distillation principles.

Maturation and Barrel Types

Up North uses barrel aging in several variants: barrel-aged and barrel-finished versions of their honey spirits as well as barrel-aged apple brandy, including a documented 3-Year Apple Brandy. A notable experiment was the long-term aging of a honey distillate that was released as the 10-Year Reserve Honey Spirit. The official descriptions do not mention details about the type of oak or previous cask contents, but aging constitutes a significant part of their product development.

Whiskies

The range includes several varieties of honey-based spirits (cask strength, barrel finished, barrel reserve), a North Idaho Single Malt Whiskey, several apple brandy versions (including 3-Year and Barrel-Aged), and an Idaho Pine Liqueur made from hand-foraged cones. There are both current core lines and limited anniversary releases, for example the 10-Year Reserve Honey Spirit from 2025. The products are sold in the distillery's bar, used in guided tastings, and form part of the on-site cocktail menu.

Whisky Style and Flavor Profile

The flavor directions in the distillery's range span several clear expressions: honey-based distillates are described as delicate and not sweet, apple brandy presents clear apple notes, the single malt builds on barley/malt character, and their Pine Liqueur draws on resinous, pine-like nuances from hand-foraged cones. The combination of honey, fruit, and malt bases provides a repertoire where both floral honey notes, fruity apple elements, and malt/resin tones are recurring.

Visiting the Distillery

The distillery is open to visitors Tuesday through Sunday. There is a cocktail bar open to the public, and guided tours with a tasting of three spirits led by the owner/distiller. Tours and tastings are offered most days until 5:00 pm and must be booked by phone or email. There is also the possibility of private events, cocktail classes, and purchasing gift cards and merchandise on site.

The stated opening hours are Tuesday–Sunday; the cocktail bar and tastings are open Tuesday–Sunday. Tours and tastings are offered most days until 5:00 pm; Saturday tours should be booked in advance.

Philosophy and Craftsmanship

The philosophy is based on highlighting terroir through local ingredients and small-batch craftsmanship. Up North practices the 'farm to flask' approach, uses 100% honey in certain mash processes, sources seasonal ingredients locally, and distills on a copper pot still to support their handmade signature.

Awards and Recognitions

• Best Distillery in North Idaho (2026, Best Distillery (Best of North Idaho))

• 10 Best Craft Specialty Spirits (2025, Featured)

• Silver Medal (2021, Silver Medal, North Idaho Single Malt Whiskey)

• Gold Medal (Barrel Finished Honey Spirits) (2020, Gold Medal, Barrel Finished Honey Spirits)

• Gold Medals (multiple categories) (2017, Gold Medal (Honey Spirits; Barrel Finished Honey Spirits; Apple Brandy))

Latest News

Best of North Idaho — Best Distillery – 2026-03-30

Inlander named Up North Distillery the Best Distillery in North Idaho and highlighted the distillery's lineup: five honey spirits, three apple brandies, barley whiskey, and Idaho pine liqueur, as well as their farm-to-flask approach.

Up North Distillery Celebrates 10 Years – 2025-11-20

Sip Magazine covered the distillery's ten-year celebration and the release of the limited 10-Year Reserve Honey Spirit, aged for ten years.

American Craft Spirits Magazine feature – 2024-11-01

Profiling in American Craft Spirits Magazine (Nov/Dec 2024) as part of coverage of the distillery's profile and awards.