Helena-based Gulch Distillers to Open Downtown Tasting Room, Expand Production

Gulch Distillers plans to expand into a new downtown location at 4 W. Lawrence St., between Queen City Ballet and the Gold Bar. The proposal, disclosed Jan. 15, 2026, envisions a tasting room and bottle shop on the main floor with a bottling and production space in the lower level. The business said it will shift public access away from its production site at 790 Front St. once the new space is completed and concentrate production there.

The move places Gulch Distillers more squarely on Helena’s downtown retail corridor, giving the distillery a street-level presence in a block frequented by arts patrons and bar-goers. Locating the tasting room near established businesses should increase walk-in visibility and complement existing foot traffic along Lawrence Street and nearby Last Chance Gulch. For residents, the change means an accessible downtown venue to purchase bottles and sample local spirits without visiting the production floor on Front Street.

Operationally, the plan aims to separate the retail and visitor-facing functions from the heavier production work. The company will maintain production activity at 790 Front St. while offering a more visitor-friendly tasting environment downtown. The addition of a lower-level bottling area at 4 W. Lawrence St. suggests increased capacity and flexibility in packaging and direct sales, which can improve efficiency for local distribution and retail operations.

Local economic impacts are likely to include a stronger downtown retail mix and incremental sales tax revenue from on-site bottle sales. The downtown tasting room could draw both Helena residents and visitors, supporting neighboring businesses such as the Queen City Ballet and the Gold Bar through cross-traffic. For the craft-distilling sector in Lewis and Clark County, an expanded retail footprint signals continued local demand for artisanal beverages and greater integration of production and hospitality functions within urban commercial districts.

Gulch Distillers’ transition also raises practical considerations for residents: the relocation of public access away from a production site may change where tastings, tours, and direct sales occur. Customers who have visited 790 Front St. should expect the downtown location to become the primary public-facing space once it opens.

For downtown Helena, the arrival of a dedicated tasting room and bottle shop reinforces the area’s role as a social and commercial hub. As Gulch Distillers completes its build-out, residents can anticipate a new retail stop on Lawrence Street and potential increases in downtown evening and weekend activity; the next steps will be visible as the space is prepared for customers and the company announces an opening timeline.