#Spirit of the north big sky license#

In 2005, Montana Legislators lowered excise and license tax rates for in-state companies manufacturing and distilling less than 20,000 proof gallons of liquor (20,000 gallons at 50 percent alcohol by volume, or 100 proof). “It’s basic elementary chemistry and eighth grade algebra.” Behind its large tasting room windows, the operation resembles Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, with hoses running from the 400-gallon mash tun to fermenters, and dials and gauges measuring pressure and temperature.īut Robin says the process is simpler than it looks. They bottled their first batch of Montana Moonshine last December in the 3,500-square-foot building on Main Street in Ennis. With some cash in hand, and with the help of friends, family, associates, grant organizations, a small business loan from Ruby Valley National Bank, and local economic development councils, the Blazers opened Willie’s Distillery. “ it was a way to bring some money to the table.” “We were assessing different bases, their threat vulnerability and basically gathering all that data and relaying it to the military,” he said, a smile poking from under his red moustache, its corners twisted with wax.

government organizations that provided security and anti-terrorism details to the military. Special Forces, Willie returned to government contract work at age 36, spending three years in Afghanistan working for U.S. Army Ranger after high school, and later in the U.S. So, when Willie and Robin Blazer wanted to open a microdistillery in Ennis, Willie, 40, reverted to his previous training. Opening a distillery is an expensive proposition. government closely regulates distilled spirit production, because making liquor can be dangerous. O’Connor Explore Big Sky Senior EditorĮNNIS – The U.S.

Spirit of the north big sky