Lolo Creek Distillery

Overview of the Distillery

Lolo Creek Distillery is a family-owned distillery in Lolo, Montana, which opened its tasting room in April 2018. The place is known for its large, handmade 500-gallon hybrid pot-still and for working with local Montana ingredients in small batches. The distillery blends craft, family heritage, and a distinctive machine as part of its identity.

History

The Grunow family has long roots in Lolo, and in April 2018 Matt and Kasie Grunow opened the distillery and tasting room as a new phase in the family's business. Ryan Arthur is described as Head Distiller in connection with the startup. Prior to the opening, the distillery established an approximately 20-year collaboration with a 7th-generation farmer in Montana's Golden Triangle, who supplies grain. The distillery sits next to the family's restaurant, Lolo Creek Steakhouse, and offers shuttle transport between the two locations as part of the guest experience.

Ingredients and Production

Production builds on craftsmanship, local ingredients, and a simple but powerful production setup. The core asset is a 500-gallon hybrid pot-still, handmade in Boise, Idaho, standing over 16 feet tall, which in practice is the distillery's central equipment and can produce several types of spirits. The distillery operates in small batches and states that they use as many local Montana ingredients as possible; a long-standing relationship with a local grain supplier in the Golden Triangle ensures access to local grain varieties. Bottle design and packaging are actively part of the company's expression.

Whiskeys

Lolo Creek produces a range of handcrafted spirits in small batches, including vodka, gin, whiskey, rum and brandy. The website mentions product lines and a few names in their webshop, and gift cards can be used in the tasting room to purchase spirits, tastings and merchandise.

General Flavor Profile

Visit the Distillery

Visitors can come to the tasting room in Lolo, where tastings and tours are offered. The distillery sells merchandise in the tasting room and offers a shuttle to the nearby Lolo Creek Steakhouse for a complete experience. For orders and contact inquiries, phone numbers and a contact section can be found on the website.

Philosophy and Craft

The company prioritizes local roots, family-owned ownership, and craftsmanship. They use local Montana ingredients wherever possible, highlight a long-running collaboration with a local farmer, and integrate family and local history into packaging and branding.