Hoarfrost Distilling sits in an industrial suite on Lathrop Street in Fairbanks, bringing premium vodka production to Alaska’s interior. Founded by Mike Janes, a former airline pilot who traded cockpits for copper stills, the distillery launched in 2014 with a mission to create ultra-clean vodka using Alaska’s pristine water sources. The operation runs out of a converted warehouse space that’s been transformed into a compact but efficient production facility, complete with custom distillation equipment designed to handle Alaska’s unique climate challenges. Janes spent years perfecting his recipe before opening to the public, drawing on his aviation background’s attention to precision and detail. The distillery’s name reflects Alaska’s harsh beauty—hoarfrost being those delicate ice crystals that form on cold surfaces, a phenomenon Fairbanks residents know well during the long winter months. The team remains small and hands-on, with Janes still overseeing every batch personally. They’ve built their reputation on consistency and quality, using a multi-column distillation process that runs through several filtration stages. The facility offers an intimate look at small-batch vodka production in one of America’s most remote distilling locations. You’re not getting a polished visitor center experience here—this is a working distillery where you can see the entire process from grain to bottle. The space maintains that Alaskan frontier spirit while producing spirits that compete with premium brands from anywhere. It’s the kind of place where the founder will likely be the one showing you around, sharing stories about the challenges of distilling in sub-zero temperatures and shipping products across the vast state.