Nestled in the small town of Ennis, Montana, with just 900 residents, Willie's Distillery was born in 2010 with a clear mission: to create spirits that capture the rugged, independent spirit of the American West. Founders Willie and Robin Blazer have built a brand that celebrates local pride, tradition, and craftsmanship, all while supporting their community and surrounding region.
A Legacy Rooted in Tradition
Willie Blazer, who hails from the Appalachian moonshine country in western North Carolina, brings a deep connection to the rich history of distilling. A veteran of the United States Armed Forces and the U.S. Forest Service, Willie has lived a life of adventure and service—working as an Army Ranger, Special Forces Medic, and even a Smokejumper. His roots and experiences are woven into the fabric of Willies Distillery, where authenticity and grit are reflected in every bottle.
Robin Blazer, born and raised on a grain farm in southwestern Montana, brings her Montana heritage and business expertise to the company. As the President of Willies Distillery, Robin continues the tradition of strong women leading Montana’s spirits industry—a nod to the region’s prohibition-era history, when women played a key role in the production of spirits.
Crafting the Spirit of the West
At Willies Distillery, everything starts with quality. Using locally sourced ingredients like corn, barley, and oats, the team mills, mashes, ferments, and distills their spirits right on site. They also import top-quality ingredients like molasses, cream, and Canadian whisky to craft a wide variety of products. Their custom Bavarian Holstein still—a finely tuned piece of equipment from a family-owned company in Germany—ensures precision and quality at every step of the process.
But what truly sets Willies Distillery apart is the people. The team includes veterans from multiple branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, and their dedication to service and hard work shines through in the distillery’s operations. Every bottle is milled, distilled, bottled, labeled, corked, and packed by hand—a true testament to their commitment to craft.
The Spirit of Community
Willies Distillery is more than just a business. It’s a reflection of the community it calls home. By using local ingredients and employing residents of Ennis and the surrounding area, Willie and Robin are helping to keep Montana’s economy thriving. Their passion for supporting the local community is evident in every aspect of the distillery’s operations.
Now, nearly a decade after its founding, Willies Distillery has grown into Montana’s premier destination for craft spirits, producing some of the state’s best-selling Montana-made brands. Whether you're sipping on their award-winning whiskey or trying one of their craft cocktails, you’ll taste the authenticity and care that go into every product.
Handcrafted Spirits, Authentic Stories
At Willies Distillery, the process of creating world-class spirits is about more than just ingredients. It’s about history, community, and a shared love for the American West. From Willie’s deep Appalachian roots to Robin’s Montana pride, the Blazers have built something truly special—a distillery that brings people together and celebrates the independent spirit of the West.
As Willies Distillery looks toward the future, they remain independently owned and operated, staying true to their roots and committed to producing spirits that reflect the values of hard work, authenticity, and quality. Whether you're a long-time fan or discovering their products for the first time, one thing is certain: at Willies Distillery, every bottle tells a story.
The Products
Willie's Distillery Devil's Brigade Whiskey
This Whiskey is a blend of American Bourbon and Canadian Whisky, just like the ratio of men assigned to the Unit. This is Willie's way of honoring the Bravery and Valor of this Joint American-Canadian Commando Unit who fought with distinction. The Legacy continues with current American and Canadian Special Operations Forces who trace their lineage and heritage to the “Forcemen.” A portion of each sale is donated to the Montana Special Forces Association “Devil’s Brigade Chapter” which is a Non-Profit Veterans Service Organization based in Montana.82 Proof ( ABV 44%)
Shop Devil's Brigade Whiskey here.
Willie's Distillery Bighorn Bourbon
The mighty Bighorn Ram is known for its toughness and strength. This bourbon pays homage to that spirit, with a smooth, mellow flavor that's perfect on the rocks or in your favorite whiskey cocktail. Named for the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Ram, this Kentucky bourbon is sure to become your go-to drink.
80 Proof ( ABV 40%)
Shop Bighorn Bourbon here.
Willie's Distillery Huckleberry Sweet Cream Liqueur
Montana is known for its native, sweet & juicy Huckleberries. Growing wild in sub-alpine regions and sought after by bears and birds alike, a bucket of huckleberries is always a hard-won prize for the not so faint of heart. We hope you love this sweet cream liqueur as much as we do.
35 Proof ( ABV 17.5%)
Shop Huckleberry Sweet Cream Liqueur here.
Willie's Distillery Snowcrest Huckleberry Vodka
The smoothest vodka you’ll ever taste! Distilled from corn, polished through charcoal filters, and blended with pure, clean mountain water, this vodka will take you to the mountain top with its smooth start, crisp body, and sweet finish. This time flavored with Huckleberry.
70 Proof ( ABV 35%)
Shop Snowcrest Huckleberry Vodka here.
Willie's Distillery CattleDog Whiskey
An instinctual herder, a loyal friend, a hand above the rest, we salute the CattleDog. His tenacious grit and bountiful heart forefronts him to the head of the pack. Unleash this new frontier in Canadian Whisky that honors the resilient spirit of the iconic working companion.
Willie’s Distillery donates a portion of the proceeds to Dog Tag Buddies.
80 Proof ( ABV 40%)
Shop CattleDog Whiskey here.
Willie's Distillery Montana Honey Moonshine
Montana Honey Moonshine is made with three Montana grains and a special kind of molasses – kind of a whiskey and rum hybrid. It is lightly barrel aged and sweetened with Montana honey made by the same bees that pollinate the crops, apple trees, and flowers sold at the Ennis Farmer’s Market.
70 Proof ( ABV 35%)
Shop Montana Honey Moonshine here.
Willie's Distillery Coffee Cream Liqueur
There’s a place in these parts high up in the mountains called Cowboy Heaven, which is known for clean air, beautiful sunrises and amazing coffee made over the campfire. Willie's Distillery Coffee Cream Liqueur cream liqueur brings forth the full flavor of cowboy coffee in this time honored tradition.
35 Proof ( ABV 17.5%)
Shop Coffee Cream Liqueur here.
Willie's Distillery Tobacco Root Mountain Rye Whiskey
A long awaited Montana Release! Willie's Distillery's Tobacco Root Rye Whiskey is finally available outside of our Tasting Room in Ennis, MT! The Tobacco Root Mountains lie between the Jefferson and the Madison Rivers in Southwest Montana. The neck illustration is of Hollowtop Mountain, the highest peak in the Tobacco Root Mountains at 10,604 ft.
100 Proof ( ABV 50%)
Shop Tobacco Root Mountain Rye Whiskey here.
Willie's Distillery Snowcrest Vodka
The smoothest vodka you’ll ever taste! Distilled from corn, polished through charcoal filters, and blended with pure, clean mountain water, this vodka will take you to the mountain top with its smooth start, crisp body, and sweet finish.
80 Proof ( ABV 40%)
Shop Snowcrest Vodka here.
Willie's Distillery Wild Montana Chokecherry Liqueur
Looking for something sweet and tart? Look no further than Willie's Distillery Wild Montana Chokecherry Liqueur. Made with Montana harvested chokecherries, this liqueur is perfect after a meal or on a hot summer day over ice.
25 Proof ( ABV 50%)
Shop Wild Montana Chokecherry Liqueur here.
Willie's Distillery Montana Moonshine
This crisp, clear spirit is named after the huge full moon that lights up the banks of the Madison River in Ennis, Montana. Montanans are hard workers by nature, and they appreciate the little things in life like clean rivers, fresh air, and great liquor. Whether you're sipping it straight or mixing it into your favorite cocktail, Willie's Distillery Montana Moonshine is sure to hit the spot.
90 Proof ( ABV 45%)
Shop Montana Moonshine here.
Willie's Distillery Willie's Genuine Canadian Whisky
Looking for a smooth ride? Willie's Distillery has you covered with their famous Canadian Whisky. This international spirit has been popular for generations, and with the addition of pristine mountain water, it's better than ever. Whether you're enjoying it in a cowboy camp or Chicago speakeasy, this whisky is sure to please.
80 Proof ( ABV 40%)
Shop Willie's Genuine Canadian Whisky here.
Willie's Distillery Stockman's Rye Whiskey
Men of the land, the Stockmen drove their herds through Montana’s towering peaks and along the banks of its winding rivers. In the 1860s, these rivers attracted Stockmen to the Madison Valley because of the lush grazing fields thriving in the aquifer. The clear, fresh waters drawn from the area are also attractive for distilling spirits.
Today at Willie’s Distillery, they use this pristine water source to craft a spicy rye with notes of smokey oak, vanilla and caramel. Their rye is combined with the sweetness of Canadian Whisky to make Stockman’s Rye Whiskey as a nod to the bootleggers who ran rye spirits to Stockmen in the American West during prohibition.
82 Proof ( ABV 41%)
Shop Stockman's Rye Whiskey here.
Cocktail Recipes
"Ram"ped Up Coffee
Ingredients
- 1 oz. Willie's Distillery Coffee Cream Liqueur
- 1 oz. Willie's Distillery Bighorn Bourbon
- Cold brew coffee
- Garnish: Whipped cream and chocolate chips
Add coffee cream liqueur and bourbon to a tall glass with ice. Top with cold brew coffee, whipped cream and chocolate chips.
Apple Dog
Ingredients
- 1 oz. Willie's Distillery CattleDog Whiskey
- 1 oz. Sour Apple Pucker Liqueur
- 1 oz. Cranberry Juice
- Garnish: Apple slice
Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Strain ingredients into a martini glass and garnish with an apple slice, or serve as a shot!
Huck & Blackberry Sparkler
Ingredients
- 1 oz. Willie's Distillery Snowcrest Huckleberry Vodka
- 3 oz. Blackberry LaCroix
- 0.5 oz. Simple syrup
- 4-5 Blackberries
- 4-5 Mint leaves
Muddle blackberries, mint leaves and simple syrup in a rocks glass. Add ice, huckleberry vodka and blackberry LaCroix to the rocks glass. Garnish with a skewered mint leaf and a blackberry.