Bardenay sits along West Chinden Boulevard in Boise, claiming the distinction of being Idaho’s first distillery since Prohibition ended. Founded by brothers-in-law Kevin Settles and George Benoit in 2000, this operation started when the two decided Idaho needed its own craft spirits after years of discussing the idea over drinks. Settles, who had a background in finance, and Benoit, with restaurant experience, spent three years navigating Idaho’s liquor laws to make their vision reality. They produce vodka, gin, rum, and whiskey from their 15,000-square-foot facility that houses both the distillery and restaurant operations. The building combines industrial distilling equipment with a full-service restaurant and bar, creating what they call the first distillery-restaurant in the country. Their approach centers on using local ingredients when possible, including Idaho potatoes for their vodka and regional grains for other spirits. The operation runs at a scale that allows them to control quality while meeting demand across their tasting room, restaurant, and distribution throughout Idaho and beyond.