Wyoming Archives | FactoryTwoFour The Original Lifestyle Tue, 23 Apr 2024 09:46:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 The Unimaginable Beauty of the U.S – A Road Trip Through Montana and Wyoming https://www.factorytwofour.com/unimaginable-beauty-u-s-road-trip-montana-wyoming/ Tue, 23 Apr 2024 06:07:50 +0000 http://www.factorytwofour.com/?p=22400 My wife and I took a huge 2400 mile road trip this past week through western Montana and Northern Wyoming that included Yellowstone National Park. We made a deliberate effort this trip to avoid the interstates at all cost and only traveled via state highways and county roads, all routes neither of us have ever seen before. The result was a trip for the record books where we found beautiful vistas and scenic views we had never seen before. A […]

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]]> My wife and I took a huge 2400 mile road trip this past week through western Montana and Northern Wyoming that included Yellowstone National Park. We made a deliberate effort this trip to avoid the interstates at all cost and only traveled via state highways and county roads, all routes neither of us have ever seen before. The result was a trip for the record books where we found beautiful vistas and scenic views we had never seen before.

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In Montana off of tiny dirt roads we found endless lush and brilliantly green fields of flowing wheat and native grasses that stretched to the perfectly bright blue sky horizon like an endless ocean. This area was breathtakingly beautiful in so many ways but the best aspect was the pristine environment dotted with towering clean energy giants powering entire communities while taking away nothing from the natural lands they occupied.

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Further north into Montana tiny specks of small towns were found every 3o miles or so, each with a single grain tower reaching toward the sky, the largest structures on the horizon until the picturesque mountains that served as the most perfect backdrop imaginable.

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After spending time with the unabashed and wild lands that were Montana we ventured south along the western border of Montana to Yellowstone National Park and entered via the North Gate. Mammoth Hot Springs was awe-inspiring with its endless lush vistas punctuated by travertine covered hills that were created due to limestone deposited by the mineral rich and naturally occurring hot springs that run like rivers underneath the thin calcite crust. This area was the most geologically beautiful I have ever seen and makes you thankful that these natural wonders have been so wonderfully preserved for all of us and future generations to enjoy.

Here in Yellowstone native animals like the Bison exist in their natural habitat in all its magnificent glory. This entire area of the United States is magical and it makes me realize how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful and diverse area with such wondrous natural beauty.

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Do yourself the greatest favor possible this summer; pack up your car, loved ones, and provisions so that you can begin the greatest road trip possible and take in the unimaginable beauty that is our great country.

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]]> Koltiska – A Western Tradition https://www.factorytwofour.com/koltiska-western-tradition/ Tue, 20 Jun 2023 23:34:01 +0000 http://www.factorytwofour.com/?p=16816 My family hails from Northern Wyoming and our roots run deep; my grandpa was a police officer in Sheridan in the 60s and later became one of the first highway patrolmen in Wyoming with a single digit badge number. My mother has 5 amazing siblings that all grew up in Sheridan from the 60s through the 80s so they were an institution in this small western town, but they did not hold a candle to the Koltiskas. My uncles would […]

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]]> My family hails from Northern Wyoming and our roots run deep; my grandpa was a police officer in Sheridan in the 60s and later became one of the first highway patrolmen in Wyoming with a single digit badge number. My mother has 5 amazing siblings that all grew up in Sheridan from the 60s through the 80s so they were an institution in this small western town, but they did not hold a candle to the Koltiskas. My uncles would regale me with stories of parties hosted by the Koltiskas and their renowned home-brewed liquor that was served at every one of them. That was a long time ago and now the Koltiska family recipe is part of a legitimate distillery and has solidified itself as a western liquor tradition.

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The best way to enjoy Koltiska Original is as a chilled shooter or on the rocks; this earthy liquor is a refreshing, spicy, and mildly sweet spirit that perfectly captures the soul of the west. I could easily picture enjoying Koltiska while sitting around the campfire after a long day of exploring the untamed wilderness of Wyoming’s front range. If you want a bit more kick in your glass there is also Koltiska KO 90, a 90 proof version of the original that is has more bite and spice notes for the more adventure driven drinker.

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While Koltiska is great on its own I love using new liquors as the base of traditional cocktails, and it works exuberantly well in the standard Moscow Mule. My favorite Koltiska-inspired mixed drink is the Sheridan Mule, to prepare it pour 2 oz Original Koltiska into an ice filled copper mug, add 1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice, fill with ginger beer, and garnish with a lime wedge. The resulting cocktail is a Western powerhouse that is quickly becoming one of my favorite mixed drinks. The Koltiska base gives the cocktail a bite of rooty earthiness that really opens up the palate and allows the spiciness of the ginger beer to flourish creating an absolutely masculine drink that is also wholly refreshing and quite accessible. If you want drink that is a bit more in your face and alcohol forward make the Sheridan Mule with the over-proofed Koltiska KO 90, you won’t be sorry.

If you ever find yourself in America’s beautiful western states be sure to swing by Sheridan Wyoming and pick up a bottle of Koltiska Original or Koliska KO 90, they represent the spirit of Wyoming and the untamed west in bottle form.  

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