On a sunny St. Patrick’s Day in downtown Helena, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte visited Gulch Distillers to spotlight the state’s Growth Through Agriculture grant and loan program. March marks National Agriculture Month, and Montana’s program, initiated in 1987, offers grants up to $50,000 and loans up to $100,000 for projects that enhance the value of local agricultural products.
The distillery in Helena utilized this program to transition from a small tasting room to a larger venue near Downtown Helena’s heart. They secured a $25,000 grant, requiring matching funds, part of an announcement last March alongside 24 other Montana businesses. “Montana is a tremendously entrepreneurial state, and we love celebrating entrepreneurs wherever they are,” Gianforte stated post-tour. “Small businesses like this are the backbone of our economy, and it’s National Ag month, we wanted to celebrate someone who’s using Montana ag products to serve the public.”
Gulch Distillers crafts spirits using Montana products—barley, wheat, and rye—except for sugarcane in their rum. Steffen Rasile, co-owner with Tyrrell Hibbard, emphasized the importance of local ingredients. The distillery, initially a side project, has grown into a full-fledged business. “Tyrell and I were just cocktail enthusiasts and we thought we could make spirits,” Rasile remarked. “We went down that path and we’ve developed a number of products that we’re really proud of.”
Their award-winning creations include a Burrone Fernet, recognized at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2023. The tasting room, located at 4 W. Lawrence Street, operates from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It shares a wall with popular spots like Old Salt Co-op, Gold Bar, and the Western. The relocation has increased visibility and foot traffic, with many other attractions like Last Chance Gulch walking mall nearby. “It’s made us more visible and we get more traffic in the tasting room,” Hibbard shared, crediting the state program for advancing their business.
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