In another maverick move that has come to define its business, Three Wells Distilling Company today announced its launch of Tucson’s first locally crafted bourbon. Dubbed “Hard-Way Bourbon”, the new product stands as a testament to tradition, harking back to the early days in the distilling industry when manual labor outrivaled convenience.

The product’s brand is built around a cast iron anvil that has been in the distiller’s family for more than five generations, and an old photograph of that anvil is the centerpiece of the bottle’s label, reinforcing the notion that the easy way in life isn’t always the right way.

“When I inherited this anvil that’s been in my family since the Civil War era, I was reminded of the Montgomery family’s history of hard work and dedication to doing everything the right way, no matter how hard it was,” said Matt Montgomery, co-founder, and distiller at Three Wells. “Knowing that we could easily get away with buying bourbon from a giant commercial distillery and call it Three Wells, I thought of my family’s history and knew that would not be the right way,” he continued. “Instead, using traditional methods without all of the fancy equipment, we set out to craft our Hard-Way Bourbon.”

The new 94-proof spirit is made with a proprietary blend of corn, wheat, and malted barley, then oak-aged to deliver a decidedly smooth yet unmistakably distinct whiskey experience. Montgomery observes “strong caramel on the nose, soft butter with mild oak at the front, and a slight spice at the back.” The Hard-Way Bourbon is also a versatile selection, working just as well as a sipper as it does in a craft cocktail.

Three Wells offers a growing line of craft spirits, including the Sonora Silver, Copper, and Gold, all distilled from local prickly pear cactus fruit, the Agave Silver and Reposado, distilled in the Tequila tradition, the Hard-Way Bourbon, the Mt. Lemmon Gin, crafted with alligator juniper, local botanicals, and citrus, the Three Wells Vodka, and the Old Tom Gin, an 18th century favourite of the English.