You're a locavore when it comes to filling your fridge; now fill your liquor cabinet with the artisan spirits of local micro-distilleries. Whether you’re looking for organic gins, small-batch whiskeys or traditional absinthe, Colorado distillers will not disappoint.
Leopold Bros.: One of the most popular producers of local spirits, Leopold Bros. ingredients were recently found in many of the finalists’ recipes at the Colorado Cocktail competition. These Denver brothers practice environmental sustainability while creating their hand-crafted gins, whiskeys – including raisin, plum and peach tinged, premium liqueurs, award-winning Silver Tree vodka, and their traditionally prepared (no artificial coloring here) Absinthe Verte.
Peak Spirits: This is Colorado, so you know you’ll find stellar organic and biodynamic options. And Peak Spirits fills that niche nicely with CapRock organic vodka and dry gin, organic peach and pear brandies, organic Eaux de Vie, and organic and biodynamic estate grappa.
Downslope Distillery: Relatively new on the scene, Centennial’s artisan distillers hand-craft an array of rums – including wine barrel-aged rum – along with cane, pepper and grain vodkas, and malt whisky. The Double-Diamond whiskey, however, stands out as it tantalizes the palate with hints of honey, spice, wood and vanilla.
Roundhouse Spirits: This Boulder micro-distillery reaches into its own backyard for the juniper berries that create their highly crafted award-winning gin. Using many natural and organic ingredients, Roundhouse also offers Corretto Coffee Liqueur using locally roasted beans, and the newly available Imperial barrel-aged gin.
Peach Street Distillers: Located in Palisade – a town known for producing Colorado’s finest fruit – Peach Street takes advantage of local produce whether for plum brandy, peach vodka or bourbon made with Olathe sweet corn. Peach Street also produces Jackelope Gin – using Colorado berries – and two grappas.
Stranahan’s: You’d better move quick when you see this Denver original hit the shelves. Supply is short and demand is high – only 12 barrels are made weekly. Colorado’s first-born whiskey, 80 percent of its barley is from Colorado, while the rest is from other parts of the Rockies region. You can pick up a bottle at Stranahan’s Distillery or select bars and liquor stores.
Dancing Pines: Offering multiple rums, Dancing Pines’ spice rum – cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla bean – is a fan favorite. Using only whole ingredients, this Loveland father-son team also creates chai and espresso liqueur, and bourbon, which matures in charred white oak casks.