THE STORY MANSION COCKTAIL RECEPTION

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026, 5:00-7:30 P.M.

BOZEMAN, MONTANA

A HISTORIC HOUSE. A CONVIVIAL EVENING.

The gathering begins Thursday evening at one of Bozeman’s most distinctive historic residences, with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and unhurried conversation. It is an opportunity to meet fellow guests, settle into the surroundings, and begin the Summit in a spirit of fellowship.

THE STORY MANSION

BUILT TO ENDURE. RESTORED TO GATHER.

Completed in 1910 for T. Byron Story and Katheryn Ferris Story, the Story Mansion is one of Bozeman’s most distinctive historic residences. After serving as the Story family home, the house was occupied for nearly eight decades by the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. The City of Bozeman acquired the property in 2003, and its restoration returned the mansion to public life as a place of civic and private gathering.

A house shaped by enterprise, preserved through stewardship, and made useful again is a fitting setting in which to begin the Arcata Summit.

The Particulars

When

Thursday, November 12, 2026
5:00–7:30 p.m.
Doors open at 5:00 p.m.

Food & Drink

The reception includes an open bar featuring the cocktails, beer, and wine described below, together with thoughtful nonalcoholic selections and sparkling water. Substantial hors d’oeuvres and small plates will be served; this is not a seated dinner. Please disclose any dietary restrictions or food allergies during registration.

Dress

Cocktail attire. Jackets are requested; ties are optional. As November evenings in Bozeman can be cold, an overcoat and weather-appropriate footwear are advisable.

Arrival

Story Mansion stands in a residential neighborhood. Please allow additional time for parking and a short walk to the house. Rideshare is encouraged. Final parking and arrival guidance will be sent to registered guests before the Summit.

Accessibility

Guests requiring accessibility assistance or other accommodations are invited to contact engage@arcata.live in advance.

Admission

This optional reception is available to registered Summit guests for $125 per guest and is limited to 80 guests. Admission includes the open bar and all food service, and may be added during Summit registration.

“Drink because you are happy, but never because you are miserable.”

—G.K. Chesterton, Heretics

LIBATIONS

CLASSIC FORMS. DISTINCTIVE PLACES.

The evening’s menu brings together four cocktails, two Montana beers, and two American wines selected for their character, provenance, and responsible stewardship.

Thoughtful nonalcoholic selections and sparkling water will also be available throughout the evening.

Cocktails

Montana Grain. Classic Form.

All four cocktails feature spirits from Dry Hills Distillery, a fifth-generation, farm-to-bottle producer in Bozeman.

The Garding

Dry Hills Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey · demerara · aromatic bitters · orange

An Old Fashioned in the classic manner: spirit-forward, lightly sweetened, and aromatic.

Behind the Glass

Black Manhattan

Dry Hills Montana Straight Rye Whiskey · Averna · aromatic and orange bitters · brandied cherry

Dark, bittersweet, and quietly complex.

Behind the Glass

Huckleberry Fizz

Dry Hills Hollowtop Huckleberry Vodka · lemon · cane sugar · soda

Bright and effervescent, with a distinctly Montana accent.

Behind the Glass

The Johnny G

Dry Hills Montana Abbey Gin · tonic · lime

Crisp, botanical, and bracing.

Behind the Glass

Beer

Brewed in Billings. Made for Montana.

Both selections come from By All Means Brewing in Billings.

Lite Lager

Light Lager · Billings, Montana · 4.7% ABV

Light, crisp, and refreshing, with fruit, herbal and floral notes, fresh bread, clover honey, prairie sweetgrass, and a touch of spice.

Behind the Glass

41 Peaks

Rocky Mountain IPA · Billings, Montana · 7.1% ABV

A well-balanced Rocky Mountain IPA built from a trio of hops: aromatic, expressive, and remarkably drinkable.

Behind the Glass

Wine

American Vineyards. Distinctive Places.

The wines were selected for their beauty in the glass and for the stories behind them: family continuity, organic cultivation, and a serious regard for place.

Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc

Napa and Sonoma Counties · California · Organically Farmed

Bright and poised, with citrus, white peach, floral lift, and mineral length.

Behind the Glass

The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Noir Estate

Dundee Hills · Oregon · Certified Organic

Fragrant red fruit, woodland earth, fine structure, and a restrained finish.

Behind the Glass

Without Spirits

Composed with the same care as the cocktails, our non-alcoholic offerings are built around the handmade drinking shrubs of Shivelight Premium Beverage Company—bright, balanced expressions of pressed fruit, raw Montana honey, and apple-cider vinegar.

Shivelight Premium Beverage Company · Handmade in Montana

Huckleberry Spritz

Shivelight Huckleberry Shrub, lemon, and soda water. Bright, lightly floral, and pleasantly tart, with the unmistakable character of the Mountain West.

Behind the Glass

Bitterroot Apple & Ginger Highball

Shivelight Bitterroot Apple Cinnamon and Ginger Honey shrubs, lemon, and soda water. Crisp orchard fruit meets warming ginger and restrained autumn spice.

Behind the Glass

Still and sparkling water will be available throughout the evening.

“The soil is the nurse of passions, the stage of dramas, and the habitat of local gods.”

—Sir Roger Scruton, I Drink Therefore I Am