Documentary highlights transition from Army bomb technician to distiller

By Johnny Burkin

Girard’s first spirits still, made out of a three-gallon pressure cooker IED (Improvised Explosive Device) in Afghanistan that he and his military unit were responsible for disarming.

It’s a common trope seen in many movies. The hero must scramble against time to disarm the bomb and save the day, often with no formal training or understanding of what they’re doing.

Just simply cut the correct wire. Ultimately, that is what an action flick can get away with – the manipulation of realism for the sake of entertainment.

In contrast, a documentary thrives by leaning into realism and using it as a vessel to deliver a powerful story or message.

That’s the path that local filmmaker Lauryn Ritchie is walking with her latest film, “Bombs to Booze.” It’s a soon-to-be released documentary that tells the story of Mike Girard, a retired U.S. Army bomb tech turned moonshine distiller and now the owner of 3 Hundred Days Distilling in Monument. For Ritchie, though, the project is a continuation of her lifelong fascination with storytelling.

3 Hundred Days Distilling owner Mike Girard

“Ever since I can remember, I've been drawn to the magic of the entertainment world,” she says. “As a kid, I was glued to the screen, fascinated by how stories unfolded through film. So, it was a no-brainer for me to pursue my passion in college. During my time there, I had a blast creating several award-winning short films. It was like living my dream every day, honing my skills and fueling my passion.”

Now, with “Bombs to Booze,” Ritchie has taken that experience and focused it on Girad, a former explosive ordnance disposal tech.

He was tasked with diffusing and removing dangerous devices from the battlefield, which included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Incidentally, it was during one of these tours that spurned his interest in a new craft that is featured in Ritchie’s documentary.

“Mike's backstory is nothing short of remarkable,” Ritchie says. “He’s self-taught in the art of moonshine distillation. His first batch of shine was run through a diffused bomb while he was deployed in Afghanistan.”

Although that part of Girard’s life is compelling in itself, the documentary also aims to broach a much larger topic: mental health. According to Ritchie,“Once I decided to take on the project, I sat down with Mike and we hashed out the plan. He wanted this film to shine a light on his journey and shed some much-needed insight into veterans’ mental health and the difficulties many face when transitioning out of the military.”

To do that, the film provided viewpoints from other veterans, who shared their own personal stories with the hope of reaching those who are also struggling. It was such a soul-bearing experience that it drove Ritchie to return to therapy and put an emphasis on her own mental health.

Overall, this seems to be the central message of “Bombs to Booze.” As Ritchie says, her “greatest hope is that viewers find solace and validation, perhaps in ways they haven’t experienced before. I want them to realize there's a supportive community out there, along with resources to guide them through tough times. I hope this film makes people realize that their quality of life is worth fighting for and motivates people to seek the help they need.”

“Bombs to Booze” is available to rent on Prime Video here.

In addition to contributing to Thirst Colorado, Johnny Burkin writes screenplays and breaks down the possibility of the Denver Nuggets repeating as NBA champs.