Spirits Of The Last Frontier

 

, Spirits Of The Last Frontier

 

American Craft Beer was recently invited up to Alaska for an “in-depth” tour of their fast-growing craft beer and distilling scene. Being a craft beer daily, we knew we’d learn a lot about the beer biz up that way – but given that we seldom take on spirits and whiskies here at ACB – we didn’t expect that we’d be writing much at all about the craft distilling side of things.

But that was before we delved into Absinthe with Heather Shade at the Port Chilkoot Distillery in Haines, or drank Smoked Salmon Vodka with Toby Foster at Alaska Distillery in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley.

First things first, ACB knows beer – and we cover the industry 24/7…But we’re clueless about the spirits biz and we’re not going to pretend to have anything more than a pedestrian understanding of distilling. That said we do understand CRAFT here at American Craft Beer and so do both of these amazing Alaskan distilleries.

And although these two craft distilleries both share in the immense benefits that comes with the use of Alaska’s pure glacial waters, they couldn’t be more different from one another in other ways….

, Spirits Of The Last FrontierHeather Shade and Sean Copeland’s Port Chilkoot Distillery is super-boutique. It’s almost a cabin-sized micro-operation based in scenic southeast Alaska. 

Alaska Distillery is in Wasilla, located on the northern point of Cook Inlet in the foothills of the powerful Alaska Range. It’s a much larger distillery than Port Chilkoot, and housed in a building more the size of an airplane hangar. And given that Alaska Distillery’s founder Toby Foster used to be a bush pilot, I guess we shouldn’t have been surprised.

, Spirits Of The Last FrontierThe Alaska Distillery handcrafts spirits in small batches using grains potatoes and ingredients grown under the midnight sun. They produce a wide-ranging list of offerings including their award-winning Permafrost Vodka, a sophisticated collection of Vodka variants, and their popular Bristol Bay Glacier Gin.

Port Chilkoot’s family of whiskies and spirits is far less extensive by comparison, but just as acclaimed and accomplished.

, Spirits Of The Last FrontierThey currently offer a Gin, a Vodka, a Bourbon and a Rye whiskey. They’ve also just introduced an exotic Absinthe that we sampled while we were there – and it was pretty incredible. Their 50 Fathoms Gin has already taken several national awards (including a Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition) and they’ve been showcased in magazines like Travel + Leisure.

The Alaska Distillery is no stranger to media and national attention either…In fact the Animal Planet Network has built an entertaining reality series called Alaska Proof around the distillery and all the interesting players involved – that’s now in its second season.

These two fascinating distilleries, though different in many ways, are both bonded by a deep and abiding commitment to crafting artisan spirits and whiskey – and an undeniable love for the land where they do it. 

Like we said, we’re not experts when it comes to spirits and whiskies…but we do know craft. And both these fine distilleries own that in spades…

 

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