I have been excited to visit Headframe for awhile. This particular distiller is headquartered in Butte, America, by far the most interesting and historic city in Montana, if not the entire West. Seattle and San Francisco are certainly more prominent, but the evidence of their significance has been muted and buried beneath their growth. Butte, on the other hand, still wears its legacy on its sleeve.
I love Butte. It is absolutely without pretense and utterly authentic. I imagine Headframe to be the same.
Whether it is or not is a question to be answered another time. For the moment, all of its substantial possibility was relegated to a small folding table in a section of the well stocked liquor store that comprises a third of the Edge Restaurant and Sports Bar footprint. Bottles were arrayed in ranks, backed by Headframe Spirits' marketing intern superforce, Eric Johnston.
Eric is everything you want in a rep. Outgoing, loyal, and fearless, he did nothing but pay tribute to the brand and its founders, John and Courtney McKee. Knowledgeable, or at least versed, in every aspect of Headframe, he got me started in the right direction with a taste of their High Ore vodka while he told me about Headframe, explained how he came to be involved with the company, and wooed everyone who came within arms reach of a free sample.
I will never claim to be a spirits connoisseur, but as one visitor described it, their vodka came across a little "hot". It struck me as having what always turned me sour on vodka, the aroma of rubbing alcohol. The gin, on the other hand, was incredible.
I don't know gin, but Headframe's Anselmo is a life altering experience. It has none of the characteristics I associate with gin, namely pine needles. Everyone who tried it was amazed.
Next up was the Neversweat bourbon. I heard Eric mention several times as I stood there sipping mine, listening to him pitch the brand, product, and company fervently to each and every patron, that it had won silver at a recent whiskey competition. It was easily as good as most bourbon's I've tried, but it wasn't Red Breast or The Balvanie. Again, its the process I appreciate, not the outcome. I recommend you try it for yourself and then decide.
Last up was dessert. Eric, maestro that he is, had precisely orchestrated my tasting experience, building to the crux and providing a smooth and tasty denouement, which took the form of Orphan Girl bourbon cream liqueur. I would define it as Bailey's with style, and it drinks even better than that sounds. Over ice cream, I hear, its divine.
All in all, I would consider the tasting a success, as I left even more curious about Headframe than when I arrived. Given the depth of Butte's heritage, the brand has as much marketing leverage as a hill full of copper and, from what I gathered, the technical expertise, personality, and passion to bring it to the surface. Of course, I would expect nothing less from the spirit of Butte.
