NORTHERN SPIRITS
ALASKA DISTILLERIES ARE OPENING A WILD NEW FRONTIER.
THEIR 50 FATHOMS GIN WAS AWARDED DOUBLE GOLD IN THE SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION.
Spirits are not new to the Last Frontier. Alaska has a long history of bootleggers dating back to the early days of prospecting. Thankfully the distilling industry has matured since then, but some things haven’t changed. The distillers in Alaska are still overcoming a harsh and remote climate while creating dynamic products sourced from the wilderness of Alaska.
The modern spirits scene is still relatively new in Alaska with gin and vodka production leading the industry. But it is an exciting time in the state with awardwinning spirits, and an era of refined whiskeys and bourbons is emerging.
LOCAL ASSETS
Heather Shade and Sean Copeland are the husband and wife duo behind Port Chilkoot Distillery in Haines. Their 50 Fathoms Gin was awarded double gold in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Their Boatwright Bourbon,
a product of
Southeast Alaska’s moody weather, is nothing to dismiss either. Once the bourbon goes into barrels made from charred Kentucky white oak, the swings in barometric pressure common to the area add nuance, depth and bold flavors not found anywhere else in the world.
Many enterprising distillers are capitalizing on Alaska’s unique climate and ingredients. Anchorage Distillery is the first distillery to source all their grain from local farms throughout the state. They continue to set the bar high, with Aurora Gin crafted from barley sourced from the fertile alluvial deposits from the Tanana and Delta rivers. Add water sourced from glacial-fed Eklutna Lake and you have a gin bursting with local flavor.
MOTHER OF INVENTION
Alaska’s location often presents challenges the distillery community comes together to solve. The state is home to the northernmost outdoor fermenting vessels, found at Denali Spirits, which means the distillers have to roll up their sleeves and experiment with recipes — and sometimes failing before they get it right. It also means that we won’t be seeing 15-year-aged whiskeys coming out of the area any time soon. Even with temperature control, most Alaskan whiskeys are aged around three year years and crated in small and uniqu unique batches.
The log logistics of being in a remote location can mean limited a access to certain supplies m many distilleries and crafters take for granted. Denali Brewpub has an innovative cocktail menu, spearheaded by Shawn Standley, featuring Denali Spirits. Spi The bartenders have learned to get creative with their mixing ingredients. Instead of finding a way to ship in crème de violette for their aviation cocktail, they simply make their own.
This can-do, do-it-yourself attitude has ironically brought the community together. Many of the distillers in Alaska admit to picking up the phone to problem-solve, share ideas deas and ultimately collaborate. They’ve come together to form Alaska’s Distillery y Guild, founded by Port Chilkoot’s Heather er Shade.
The collaborative e spirit continues beyond the distillery. Denali Spirits Coffee Whiskey is the child of small-batch whiskey, coffee from local coffee-roaster Kaladi Brothers, and the Sawbucks — a traveling speakeasy group based out of Anchorage. After sampling five coffees and five batches of whiskey in a tasting facilitated by Anchorage’s best mixologists, one finds the result is smooth and easy to drink: a single-origin Ethiopian cold brew mixed with whiskey and vanilla bean.
PROUD HERITAGE
Alaska’s first and only rum may seem to go against the grain, but it has a piece of Alaskan history right in its recipe. Fairbanks Sourdough Rum by Ursa Major Distilling is fermented using a strain of Alaskan sourdough yeast more than 60 years old! Sourdough is an integral part of Alaskan history, and sipping this rum is a must for anyone looking for a truly unique spirit.
Many other distilleries across the state incorporate Alaskan history. Fairbanks Distilling Company recently acquired the Old City Hall in historic downtown Fairbanks. The National Register of Historic Places recognized the building as dating back to 1935. Owner Patrick Levy invites you in to try his Yukon Gold potato vodka created with Alaskan spring water. At the same time, walk the halls of Interior Alaskan government during WWII and the Cold War.
Back in Haines, the old
Army outpost of Fort Seward was renovated to house the stills for
Port Chilkoot.
MANY ENTERPRISING DISTILLERS ARE CAPITALIZING ON ALASKA’S UNIQUE CLIMATE AND INGREDIENTS.
At the same time, family-owned Skagway Spirits finds inspiration from the waters outside its door that feed Lynn Canal, the longest fjord in North America and the launching point of the Klondike Gold Rush.
Locals tend to take these spirits home as fast as the distilleries can produce them, which makes supplies outside of distilleries limited. Your best bet at finding these all-Alaskan spirits is to visit the taprooms on site. Many locations offer free tours and in-house cocktails. At Amalga Distillery in Juneau, you can even sip one of their in-house craft cocktails next to the still where the magic happens.
Gone are the days of harsh moonshine to keep you warm against the elements. Alaska is ushering in a new era of smooth spirits, curated for easy drinking with bold flavors.
SWINGS IN BAROMETRIC PRESSURE COMMON TO THE AREA ADD NUANCE, DEPTH AND BOLD FLAVORS NOT FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.