The Whiskey that Set a Land Speed Record: Montgomery Distilling

The Whiskey that Set a Land Speed Record: Montgomery Distilling

Author: BLISTER November 19, 2025 Duration: 1:15:48

Not every distillery owner has a land speed record to their name, but Ryan Montgomery of Montgomery Distilling does. So Eli talked with him about all things spirits, from the Montana-grown grain that helped power that land speed record, to the world’s first bourbon-based amaro. They also discuss the similarities between aquavit and gin; the labor of love known as kirschwasser; and the inspirational effect of Merle Haggard and the Grateful Dead. 

We Want to Hear from You!

Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED.

RELATED LINKS:

Heaven 11

Blister Craft Collective

Become a BLISTER+ Member

Montgomery Distilling

Lords of Dirt

Spirits and Spokes

TOPICS & TIMES:

Farm to Bottle (3:49)

Farming & Ranching (5:07)

From Home Brewing to Distilling (6:39)

Whiskey School & Stills (9:23)

Starting a Whiskey Business (12:55)

Single Malt & Special Releases (16:06)

What Does He Like to Drink (20:43)

“Mama Tried” Bourbon (24:12)

Aquavit (26:01)

Aged Aquavit (33:19)

Aging in Montana (37:10)

State of Distilling in the US & Montana (49:41)

Liquor Licensing (57:30)

B'Amaro (1:02:39)

Motorcycle Fuel, Lords of Dirt, Spirit in the Spokes (1:09:25)

SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:

Blister Cinematic

Bikes & Big Ideas

GEAR:30

Blister Podcast

BLISTER NEWSLETTER:

Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


There's a particular kind of conversation that happens when someone has dedicated their life to making something tangible, driven by obsession over details most of us overlook. CRAFTED, from BLISTER, is built on those conversations. Each episode moves beyond a simple product review to explore the entire ecosystem of creation, whether the subject is a meticulously roasted coffee, a complex whiskey, a precision timepiece, or a bold new wine. You'll hear directly from the individuals who define these fields-brewers, distillers, founders, and artisans who started their ventures not because it was easy, but because they couldn't imagine doing anything else. This podcast digs into the raw materials, the failed experiments, the business risks taken on a principle, and the quiet triumphs that happen long before a product reaches a shelf. It’s about the philosophy embedded in the process as much as the technical skill. Tuning in feels less like listening to an interview and more like pulling up a stool in a workshop or a tasting room, offering an intimate look at the patience, setbacks, and unwavering standards that transform a simple idea into a crafted object. The stories are specific, but the themes of creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit are universal, connecting anyone who appreciates the depth behind a well-made thing.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 109

CRAFTED
Podcast Episodes
A Unified Theory of Cocktails with Dr. Kevin Peterson, Part 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:48
The neighborhood bar is one of the last places untouched by AI, big tech, and all their algorithms. But what if that’s actually holding each us back from finding our “perfect” drink?In Part 1 and 2 of this series, we exp…
Wildflour: The Most Beloved Bakery in the Ski World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:07
Located at the base of Palisades Tahoe, Wildflour Baking Company is probably the most beloved bakery in skiing, and it definitely has the most accomplished customer base in the ski world. So Jonathan sat down with Wildfl…
A Unified Theory of Cocktails with Dr. Kevin Peterson (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:27
What if everything you thought you knew about taste was wrong? Although we like to think flavor lives on the tongue, the truth is far more interesting; more than 80 percent of what we taste is actually smell. That revela…
Bitters, Ghost Towns, & Botanical Sodas w/ Shae Whitney of Dram [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:33
How do you grow a national beverage brand without investors, trend-chasing, or artificial ingredients? Dram began as an all natural cocktail bitters producer, and (unintentionally) went on to become the leader in the ‘fu…
A Unified Theory of Cocktails with Dr. Kevin Peterson (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:22
For years, the “Mr. Potato Head” theory of drinks was accepted by bartenders to create new cocktails and memorize recipes. But until the release of Cocktail Theory, by Dr. Kevin Petersen, no one had taken the time to pro…
In Pursuit of the Perfect Coffee Grinder: Zerno founder, Vel Genov [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:01
ACASTZerno is one of the hottest brands in the world of specialty coffee, and for good reasons. So Jonathan recently met up with Zerno’s founder, Vel Genov, at their brand-new manufacturing center in Chicago, and today,…