1908 Speakeasy brings prohibition era to life

Beneath the bustling restaurant Showthyme Act II is Bigfork’s newest watering hole — 1908 Speakeasy, an intimate bar that celebrates good gin and local history on its menu of handcrafted cocktails in a prohibition-inspired setting. The rock walls and concrete floors help set the secretive tone to the place, a nod to the clandestine speakeasies that operated from 1920-33 during Prohibition, when the production and sale of alcohol was forbidden in the United States.

Owner Aaron Killian, who also owns Showthyme Act II, said opening a speakeasy in the restaurant’s basement had been his and his wife’s dream all along. After working under culinary greats such as Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck, Killian and partner Jenny Crough opened the doors to Showthyme Act II in December 2018. Funds were tight that first year and in 2020, COVID-19 forced them to press pause on plans for the speakeasy once again.

This year presented the greatest challenge of all.

In March, at just 41 years old, Jenny Crough passed away unexpectedly. She’d been dealing with kidney infections and in the middle of the night, her potassium levels dropped.

“Her heart just stopped while she was sleeping — Not even a heart attack, just stopped beating,” Killian said. “That was part of the push to open this. This was going to be her thing. She was going to be the bartender.”

Crough’s visions for 1908 Speakeasy live on in her absence. The orange furniture, the classic Edison light bulbs. And, of course, on the cocktail menu is her namesake drink, Jenny’s Martini, which features Hendrick’s Gin, strawberry thyme simple syrup, bitters and grapefruit juice. The other cocktails celebrate the local history — Chumley’s Manhattan, for example, is named after a former bar in Bigfork, and Josie, another gin-based drink, was dubbed in honor of Montana’s most famous bootlegger.

In addition to unique beverages, patrons can enjoy the full menu from Showthyme in the relaxed, speakeasy setting.

“I’ve lived all over the place — that kind of reflects on the menu,” Killian noted. “There are no entrees on our menu that are ‘safe’ except maybe, prime rib.”

Offerings include black garlic marinated chicken thighs, creole jambalaya and varying game meats such as elk, buffalo and occasionally rabbit or ostrich.

Killian said 1908 Speakeasy is too small a venue to house large musical performances but will feature jazz acts and comedy nights from time to time. He’s also planning a special industry night, geared for Bigfork workers and locals.

“It’s going to be one night a week, we just don’t know which one yet,” he said. “If you don’t know about it, you can’t get in.”

To stay in the know, interested parties can sign up for a membership, where they’ll receive text alerts with information about special events or passwords they can use for discounts. But again, there’s a bit of secrecy there, too. Guests can’t simply register online -- they have to actually stop by the bar to get on the list.

“You have to find it first,” Killian said with a smile.

1908 Speakeasy welcomed its first guests Friday, June 25 and will be open in the evenings from 5 p.m. until late. The bar is located downstairs at Showthyme Act II at 548 Electric Avenue in Bigfork.