Gold Miner

Apple Brandy

Gold Miner

Apple Brandy

Proof: 40% Alc. by Vol. (80 Proof)

During the Montana Gold Rush, miners hoped to find gold in the mountains along the Continental Divide, land that would later become part of Glacier National Park. The area didn’t yield a productive mine, but we found our own treasure—apples growing on the shores of Flathead Lake which we distilled and laid to mellow in oak barrels. The result is a golden-hued brandy with light fruit flavors and a subtly sweet finish.

Sizes: 375ml

Glacier Distilling Gold Miner bottle in a studio setting, showcasing handcrafted Montana Apple brandy spirits.

Distillers Notes

We start by pressing Honeycrisp apples from Moss Farm in Rollins, Montana, then ferment the juice into a crisp, dry cider before carefully distilling it on our still “Belle.” The spirit rests in oak barrels—primarily those previously used for our Wheatfish whiskey—for at least three years, developing layered flavors and a smooth, mellow character. Expect subtle notes of baked apple, caramel, and gentle spice, with an unexpected yet welcome hint of whiskey on the finish.

Gold Miner Cocktails

A few cocktail suggestions that we can’t get enough of.

In a shaker:

1 oz Gold Miner

2 oz Orange juice

2 oz Pineapple juice

Ice

Shake and dump into juice mason

Top with Dry Lemongrass Soda

Garnish with fresh lime

Sundance

In a rocks glass:

2 oz Gold Miner

Ice

Fill with ginger ale

Add a few drops of aromatic bitters

Garnish with fresh lime

The Prospector

In a mug:

2 oz Gold Miner

1oz Brown sugar, cinnamon simple

Fresh lemon wedge, squeezed

Hot water

Garnish with lemon twist and cinnamon stick

Gold Miner Toddy

In a juice mason:

1 oz Gold Miner

Ice

Top with rosemary lemonade

Add a float of spiced cranberry simple

Top with 5 drops aromatic bitters

Garnish with spanked rosemary and “heads on a spike” (fresh cranberries & candied ginger on a cocktail skewer)

To make rosemary lemonade:

In a pot dissolve 4 cups sugar with 4 cups water. Bring to a boil. Turn off heat and add about 3 oz fresh rosemary. Let steep for 30 minutes. Strain rosemary out of simple. Put simple into one-gallon container. Add 1 quart of lemon juice. Top container with water. Shake/stir well before serving. (Yields one gallon.)

To make spiced cranberry simple:

In a pot, heat 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1 cup raw sugar, 1 cup cranberries (fresh or frozen), 1.5 cups water, 5 cinnamon sticks, and two star anise. Simmer for 20 minutes. Strain and cool for serving. (Yields about 16 oz)

Winter is Coming

In a mug:

2 oz Gold Miner

Top with house made cider

Garnish with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)

To make cider:

Heat one gallon jug of apple juice with 10 cinnamon sticks, sprinkle of nutmeg, teaspoon of clove, teaspoon of allspice, .5 cup packed brown sugar and the slices of one orange. Bring to a boil. Strain ingredients. Keep heated for serving.

Hot Spiked Cider

In a shaker:

Muddle lemon wedge

Add 1 oz Gold Miner

.25 oz Little Cottonwood

.5 oz Honey simple

Ice

Shake and strain into martini glass

Garnish with orange twist

Sidecar

In a shaker:

1.5 oz Gold Miner

¾ oz Lemon concentrate

¾ oz Ginger simple

Orange wedge squeezed

Ice

Shake and strain into martini glass

Top with a quick squeeze of blueberry simple and 2 dashes of cardamom bitters

Garnish with spanked sage

Ginger simple:

Peel and chop fresh ginger into small pieces (we use a chunk about 5 inches long). In a pot, heat and dissolve 2 cups sugar with 2 cups water. Bring to a boil and add ginger. Turn down heat to low and let simmer for about 30 minutes. Strain and cool to serve.

The Braavosi