Tucked into a light industrial area off A Street in Anchorage, Alaska, Anchorage Distillery opened its doors in 2012 as Alaska’s first legal distillery since statehood. Founded by Frank Brayton, a former software engineer who traded coding for copper stills, the operation started in a modest 2,500-square-foot facility with a mission to create spirits using Alaskan ingredients and water. Brayton’s background in technology shows in his methodical approach to distillation, treating each batch like a precisely coded program. The distillery produces vodka, gin, and whiskey, sourcing glacier water and incorporating local botanicals like Alaskan spruce tips and wild roses into their recipes. What began as Brayton’s retirement project has evolved into a legitimate craft spirits producer that’s helped establish Alaska’s distilling scene. The facility houses custom-built copper stills and fermentation tanks, with every piece of equipment chosen for its ability to handle the unique challenges of distilling in Alaska’s extreme climate. You’ll find this isn’t just another craft distillery story—it’s about someone who saw Alaska’s natural resources and decided to bottle them.