It’s always nice to see historic buildings in our state being repurposed for different uses instead of being torn down. After all, our state has a rich history and preserving it is a priority! A new distillery recently opened up in the little town of Minden, transforming a century-old flour mill into a swanky estate distillery that’s open to the public. Whether you love exploring Nevada’s history or tasting our state’s finest spirits, a visit to this place is a must.
Driving through the tiny town of Minden, it's hard to miss the giant, 100-year-old flour mill which stands proudly above the town. The mill hasn't been used in decades, but it's recently been transformed into a state-of-the-art distillery.
Bently Heritage opened the doors to their new distillery extremely recently—on February 9, to be exact. The highly anticipated project was in the works for years, since at least summer of 2017. At last, they've put on the finishing touches and opened up the swanky new distillery to the public.
Bently Heritage will be using their own grains, grown on Bently Ranch, to create some of Nevada's finest spirits. Their goal is to create an awesome product while taking advantage of sustainable production methods.
The old mill building is the perfect environment for such a place. Originally constructed in 1906, it quickly became one of the largest mills in the state.
They say the mill was instrumental in developing the Carson Valley as we know it today. The mill's owner, Minden Flour Milling Company, was responsible for bringing the railroads to Minden and encouraging the growth of electric power.
Seeing this flour mill torn down or deteriorate over time is one of the last things locals wanted to see. When Bently Heritage decided to make it the location of their distillery, they were adamant about preserving the structure's rich history. More than two dozen pieces of equipment has been catalogued and preserved during the distillery's construction.
Tours of the new facility are offered at $20 (tastings are just $10). Explore a fantastic piece of Nevada history and enjoy some fine spirits while you do so. For more information about Bently Heritage, check out their website here.
