Ryan Max Riley started the Ski Bum Rum Distillery after retiring from the United States National Ski Team.

When he moved from Colorado to North Adams last year, Riley wasn't sure how his ski-inspired cocktail bar would be received. But he's found he's right at home in the Berkshires.

“The skiing culture here is really actually quite strong, which I was shocked to discover. So by chance I ended up in another state, another part of a state that’s perfect for my personality," Riley said. 

Located at the Old Greylock Works Mill, Ski Bum Rum is a craft micro-distillery. Riley is a one-man band, distilling spirits and creating and serving completely homemade cocktails. 

"I make everything from scratch, the spirits of course, like rum and whiskey and gin, but I even make the liquors," Riley said. "And everything that goes into the cocktails is made by me.”

Much of the menu is inspired by the Berkshires' cuisine and culture. Riley said keeping everything local is an important part of his business. 

“I only sell the bottles to stores here in the Berkshires because I like to keep it really local. I don’t want anyone to be able to find this anywhere else in the country or the state. I like to draw people to our region," Riley said.

His commitment to staying local includes the ingredients for the spirits as well. 

"When we make our gins, for example, it’s called forager gin because we go around the hills locally and forage for some of the ingredients," Riley said. "So it’s seasonal, it’s local, and it’s something that you can only make here in the Berkshires.”

The distillery is only open Friday and Saturday evenings, but Riley says he plans on expanding the days and hours that they’re open once more businesses move into the mill this summer.