Up North Distillery sits in Post Falls, Idaho, just outside Spokane, bringing craft spirits to the Idaho panhandle since 2018. Founded by husband-and-wife team Chris and Amy Daufenbach, this operation started as a dream during Chris’s military career and became reality after years of planning and navigating Idaho’s complex distilling regulations. The couple converted a 3,000-square-foot industrial space into their production facility and tasting room, installing a custom 500-gallon copper still from Vendome Copper & Brass Works alongside smaller experimental equipment. They focus primarily on bourbon, rye whiskey, and vodka, with plans to expand their aged whiskey offerings as their barrels mature. The Daufenbachs didn’t come from distilling backgrounds—Chris spent over two decades in the Air Force while Amy worked in healthcare administration. Their pivot to distilling started with home brewing and evolved into serious whiskey experimentation during Chris’s final military assignment. They spent three years researching equipment, studying distilling techniques, and working through Idaho’s licensing process before opening their doors. Chris handles production while Amy manages the business side, and they’ve built relationships with local grain suppliers to source as much of their raw materials as possible from the Pacific Northwest. The tasting room has an industrial-meets-rustic vibe with concrete floors, exposed beams, and windows looking directly into the production area. You’re not separated from the process here—you can watch mashing, fermentation, and distillation while you taste. The space feels more like visiting friends who happen to make excellent whiskey than a polished tourist destination, which works in their favor. They’re still building their aged whiskey inventory, but their younger spirits show serious promise, and they’re not trying to rush barrels to market before they’re ready.