The Farm at Brush Creek & Brush Creek Distillery
Written By: Sarah Reish
Visiting this farm was an amazing experience and it offered a look into how farm to table really works and can be successful. It is also home to Brush Creek Distillery. Special thanks to Juli, of Libations, for sponsoring this content. The farm and distillery are located not far outside of Saratoga on a beautiful 30,000 acre property. I quickly realized that each part of the “farm” worked closely with the others. With that in mind I wanted to keep the information together in a single article.
We were unable to tour the Saddle Barn as it was being decorated for a wedding. But be sure to explore the space online! They have information, photos, and videos.
Start with a Sip
We began our time here at Brush Creek with a tour and tasting at the distillery. The tasting room is both rustic and impressive with high ceilings and shelving to display the bottles and decor. Behind the tasting bar is a large window allowing guests a view of the distillery. We did a tasting of all of the spirits and the staff did a great job explaining each along the way. Brush Creek Distillery is available in select stores throughout Wyoming, including Libations.
Vodka - The vodka is crisp and made with granite filtered water from the Snowy Range.
Gin - The gin is New American style and delicious. The botanicals are grown onsite in the hydroponic greenhouse. The juniper is hand foraged from the property.
Bourbon & Whiskey - While not quite ready, we were able to taste some blends of bourbons and whiskeys while the barrels age. Their blends are in partnership with Chimney Rock and Honig. Both were complex on the pallet and unique, we highly recommend them. These can be found at select liquor stores.
Railroad Rye - This straight rye whiskey is smooth and the story is just as great. The barrels are put on a rail car in Chicago, Illinois and take the 1,776 mile transcontinental rail journey to Saratoga, Wyoming. It is the first liquor since pre-prohibition to be transported to travel the rails.
Straight Rye - This whiskey offer distinct flavors with notes of fall and harvest - cinnamon, vanilla, apple, and caramel. Rye barrels are sourced from the Midwest and brought to the distillery to blend, age, and bottle.
Bourbon - Working with partnerships in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana, Brush Creek was able to offer blends and their own bottled bourbons while waiting for their young barrels to age. This bourbon offered notes of leather and botanicals and just a hint of spice on the pallet.
The Vendome copper still is large and in charge. While in the tasting room there is a clear view of the still responsible for the amazing spirits being sampled. Brush Creek uses granite filtered water from snowmelt coming off of the Snowy Range. It is collected from underground streams that flow below and throughout the property.
Most of the ingredients either come from the Farm at Brush Creek or Wyoming. Only when necessary are ingredients brought in from other locations.
Taking the tour
After wrapping up our tasting we stepped behind the glass to get a closer look at the still. The copper shown against the white back walls making the still front and center in this part of the tour. Many of our tours cover the same process of making spirits, however what makes this one unique is the underground water source and the ability to truly source the needed ingredients from the property. The gin quickly captures the flavors at their freshest. And the spirits seem to celebrate the ingredients. The distilling area is organized with a system for efficiency. Once barreled, they move the barrels to the barrel barn which is a short distance from the distillery. There is is monitored and left to refine with time.
Cheyenne Club
The Cheyenne Club is a nod to the historic Cheyenne Club located in its namesake, Cheyenne, Wyoming. It was home to the elite and where deals where struck. In honor of this history, this fusion of rustic elegance and fine dining are brought to life once again. Guest can experience elevated dishes featuring the freshest ingredients, most of which come from the right there on the farm. The elegant decor and open concept kitchen allow guest to experience farm to table up close and personal. Guest can also have an epicurean experience with cooking lessons.
The large flag framed in the entry by the staircase is a historic 1890’s flag.
Going underground
Yes, you read that correctly. We went underground. We took the staircase from the Cheyenne Club underground and we could not have imagined what we were about to experience. Once down we turned to the left and saw a full on bakery and confections kitchen.
Bakery & Confections
This is where the baked good are made. The large space features windows allowing guests to watch the magic. While we were here the chefs were baking a wedding cake!
Brush Creek Cellars
There are multiple wine cellars and aging rooms and barrel rooms. The cellars are like Fort Knox. While we could access the private dining rooms outside each of these cellars, they were locked and controlled environments. Each bottle is tracked with an RFD tag and can easily be found through a system set up by the sommelier. Let’s say I order a bottle, the system will tell them where they can find it. There are 30,000 bottles RFD tagged.
Medicine Bow Creamery
Probably, one of the most amazing experiences. This creamery works with the goats onsite to process the goats milk into amazing delicious foods and treat. We were able to taste cheese that was only ten minutes old. Matt was a fantastic host and cheese maker.
Chèvre - this cheese was still warm but so full of flavor. Creamy and the perfect consistency.
Ricotta - absolutely fantastic in every way. This cheese offer depth and just the right balance.
Goat milk Caramel - this was absolutely fantastic. Made in the creamery are these little caramels that are delicious!
Milk barn
The barn was not open, but you could see inside. The modern facility offers both a sanitary milking environment and ease for the goats. It is located between the creamery and the goat barn, the goats cross a small path from their barn to be milked.
Goat farm
The goats originated in the French Alps and are alpine goats known for the dairy they produce. Their barn was beautiful and comfortable. It offered access indoors and outside. There were even young kids only a few days old!
The greenhouses
While we did not make it to the greenhouses on this trip, we hope to someday. The greenhouse offers hydroponic growing among other types of growing. There are 30 different types of vegetable grown and they produce 100,000 lbs of food annually.
Special thanks
Thank you to Danny for organizing this visit for us and to Alex and Sandy for welcoming us and showing us around.
Hit the road!
While staying at the lodge was out of our price range, we loved visiting the farm and learning more about their spirits and food. Their farm to table approach should be celebrated. Be sure to share your experience with us! Tag us on social media @LiveWYldMag and use #LiveWYld