Alaskan Spirits Distillery sits on King Street in south Anchorage, making it Alaska’s first full-scale distillery since Prohibition. Founded in 2014 by Robert Dahl, a former mining engineer who traded his hard hat for a copper still after years of home brewing and distilling as a hobby. The 5,000-square-foot facility houses custom copper pot stills and serves as both production space and tasting room, where visitors can sample spirits made from Alaskan ingredients. Dahl’s journey into commercial distilling started with a simple question: why wasn’t anyone making spirits in Alaska? After researching the legal landscape and convincing state regulators that craft distilling could work here, he invested his mining career savings into equipment and permits. The distillery focuses on vodka, gin, and rum, using Alaskan water and locally-sourced ingredients when possible. Head distiller Sarah Johnson, who joined in 2016 after studying at the American Distilling Institute, oversees production on the 500-liter copper pot still. The space doubles as an event venue, hosting everything from corporate parties to wedding receptions in the industrial-chic setting. You’ll find exposed brick walls, polished concrete floors, and the gleaming copper stills as backdrop. It’s become a popular spot for locals who want to show off something uniquely Alaskan to visiting friends and family.