Local small batch distilleries making their mark on southern Colorado
Colorado is often noted for its booming local brewery scene, but small batch distilleries are also making their distinguished mark on the drinking landscape of the West. Thankfully, one doesn’t have to travel too far to find some amazing local craft spirits reshaping the way Coloradans drink. Read up on these popular tasting rooms for your next night out in the Southern Colorado region.
Distilleries in the Pike’s Peak Region
Distillery 291
Main Spirits: Whiskey & Liqueur
Tasting Room: 1647 S Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80905
Distillery 291 has been making big waves since they launched in 2011, and their most recent awards include top placements at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Denver International Spirits Competition, and World Whiskies Awards in 2016. They’ve even earned two Liquid Gold Awards from Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. So what’s all the excitement about? Some might attribute it to their unique use of aspen wood in the distilling process.
3 Hundred Days of Shine
Main Spirit: Moonshine
Tasting Room: 279 Beacon Lite Rd ste. #G, Monument, CO 80132
Named after Colorado’s unofficial slogan, “300 Days of Sunshine,” 3 Hundred Days of Shine is a spirits distillery founded by an Army vet. Their western American moonshine flavors boast colorful names like Firebomb, Summertime Strawberry Lemonade, Margarita Moon, and Rocky Mountain Sweet Tea. All of their recipes are similar to what pre-prohibition era Coloradans were producing, keeping a distinct Coloradan feel to their drinks.
Axe and the Oak Whiskey
Main Spirit: Whiskey
Tasting Room:Ivywild School, 1604 S Cascade Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80905
Founded in 2013 by four friends, Axe and the Oak Whiskey recently opened their first tasting room at the Ivywild School, a hub for high quality drink and food inside a renovated elementary school. Their signature whiskey is made from a base of corn, malted rye, and barley that is already getting noticed. Axe and the Oak recently received a silver medal for small-batch bourbon at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a highly sought after acclamation. They also won silvers at the North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition and the Denver International Spirits Competition in 2016.
Cockpit Craft Distillery
Main Spirits: Rum & Whiskey
Tasting Room: 4893 Galley Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80915
A new addition to local distilleries, Cockpit Craft Distillery opened its doors in 2016. Walk into Cockpit Craft Distillery, and you will see décor using authentic parts from WWII’s aircrafts. This distillery launched with a choice between a rum or whiskey — both appropriately named after WWII aircrafts (P-51 Mustang Whiskey and FG-1D Corsair Rum). Their newest addition to the lineup is the FBL Corsair Sweet Peach Tea Rum that is sweetened with just the right level of peach tea flavor.
Lee Spirit’s Company & Brooklyn’s On Boulder Street
Main Spirit: Gin
Tasting Room: 110 E. Boulder St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903
In 2014, Lee Spirit’s Company launched what the founders — brothers Ian and Nick Lee — claim is the first craft gin distillery in Colorado. Following the release of their first gin products, they opened a highly anticipated 20s-themed tasting room in downtown Colorado Springs called Brooklyn’s On Boulder Street in 2015. The speakeasy atmosphere makes for a distinctive night out on town (you have to find the entrance, which at first glance looks like a men’s clothing store), and the award-winning gin that makes up the base of a substantial variety of mixed drinks is superb.
Spirit of the Rockies Distillery
Main Spirit: Moonshine
Truly close to home turf, Spirit of the Rockies Distillery is the lone but proud legal moonshine distillery in Pueblo. A family owned and operated business, the distillery’s moonshine was inspired by family recipes and stories from the 1900s. Their Colorado Apple Pie Moonshine sounds as delicious as it tastes, and in the past it’s won gold at the Denver International Spirit Competition.
Bonus Distilleries for Mountain Traveling
Heading into the mountains anytime soon? Check out these two distilleries that still aren’t too far away to stop in as you pass on through for adventures.
Deerhammer Distilling Company
Main Spirits: Whiskey, Brandy, & Gin
Tasting Room: 321 E. Main St., Buena Vista, CO 81211
Built in the Arkansas River Valley, Deerhammer Distilling Company is a tucked-away gem that uses pristine glacial water as the start of their whiskey. Their signature product is the Deerhammer Single Malt Whiskey, which has rich notes of chocolate and coffee. Their line also includes a vanilla and fruit-filled Buena Vista Brandy and a Dutch Style Gin with an infusion of 15 botanicals.
Wood’s High Mountain Distillery
Main Spirits: Gin, Whiskey, and Liqueur
Tasting Room: 144 W 1st St., Salida, CO 81201
Wood’s High Mountain Distillery is a small batch distillery looking to inspire the call of the great outdoors in both their whiskey and their packaging. They recently announced that their Tenderfoot Whiskey will be available in a lightweight 750-ml aluminum “Backcountry Bottle” to ensure that people can take their spirits outdoors without fear of the weight or breaking glass. Why didn’t anyone think of this before?
