Colorado whiskey is redefining American spirits -- here's how

[Celerity]

A spirit style informed by the West

https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/colorado-whiskey-american-future/



The American whiskey landscape is changing and it’s changing for the better. Whereas states like Kentucky and Tennessee used to be the only shows in town, these days, increasingly, more distillers from other corners of the American whiskey map are entering the game. If there’s one state that’s showcasing where this movement is all headed, it might just be Colorado.

There, producers are sourcing local grains from nearby farms and crafting something distinctly Coloradan. They are taking advantage of all the things that make Colorado terroir special—the climate, the elevation, the soils. And the results are bringing delightful new flavors to the American whiskey flavor wheel.

Colorado style starts with the farm



Jamie Burns is the lead distiller at The Family Jones. The label boasts a beautiful tasting room in the Highland neighborhood of Denver. The brand makes a number of spirits and bottled cocktails in addition to its bourbon and rye. “For us, capturing the sense of place starts with sourcing grains from local family farms that are practicing regenerative agriculture,” he says. “Most people think of the mountains when they think of Colorado, but what they forget is that half of the state is plains up to the Front Range. The four major grains used to make whiskey—corn, rye, wheat, and barley are all commercially grown in Colorado. Not every state can say that.”

Winemakers often say wine is made in the vineyard, and Burns echoes that, suggesting that their spirits start in the field. The heather soils, he says, help produce a more flavorful grain. “We work with our farmers to source heirloom, flavor- forward grains and work to showcase those flavors throughout the production process,” he says. “That means long fermentations that allow for a secondary fermentation with native lactic and acetic bacteria. While the majority of the whiskey in the world is column distilled, we used double pot distillation. We believe the double pot distillation method helps to retain all of the complex flavors originating from the grain and the fermentation.”

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[Colorado Liberal]

1. We have a great local distillery

In Longmont, CO (just northeast of Boulder) we have a great distillery that makes a delicious Rye Whiskey (among other spirits), so I would vouch for Colorado whiskeys https://www.abbottandwallace.com/

[Celerity]

2. This looks really good

Wallace’s Malt Whiskey is arguably our smoothest expression. Brewed in collaboration with Left Hand Brewing. Loads of roasted malt and rich chocolate are mellowed by years in our new American Oak barrels.