Trailhead Spirits sits in an industrial suite on Billings’ south side, founded by husband-and-wife team Joe and Melissa Hoke in 2018. Joe came from a background in oil and gas while Melissa worked in healthcare, but they’d been home distillers for years before deciding to go legitimate. The operation is compact but purposeful—they’re working with a 500-liter copper pot still from Germany that Joe helped design, focusing on vodka, gin, and whiskey production in their 3,000 square foot facility. The Hokes didn’t just stumble into distilling. They spent three years perfecting recipes and navigating Montana’s licensing maze before opening their doors. Joe handles most of the production side while Melissa manages the business operations, and they’ve built everything around small-batch philosophy—they’re talking 50-100 bottles per run, not thousands. Their approach centers on local ingredients when possible, including Montana wheat for their vodka and regional botanicals for gin. You’re visiting what’s essentially a working distillery first, tasting room second. The space feels more like stepping into someone’s serious hobby workshop than a polished visitor center, which works in their favor. You can see the entire operation from the tasting area, smell the mash cooking, and actually talk to the people making your spirits. They’ve got a small but growing following among locals who appreciate the straightforward approach and the fact that everything you’re tasting was literally made in the room you’re standing in.