Have you ever watched an independent film, or listened to music that comes from the related genre known as “indie”? There’s so much promise that these products hold, and while they aren’t as celebrated as the mainstream ones in terms of price or production, they will surely leave you craving for more. With your emotions running in, this genre is the next big thing.
Ever wondered why we asked? We believe you will understand it more when we establish the premise about independent art forms, since just like the indie genre, craft spirits share the same way in terms of how they are made. Defined, craft spirits are not made by big distilling companies or brands, but crafted by a smaller group of people. Surprisingly, some of the best craft spirits are even made at home, indoors.
Check out some whiskeys at a live whiskey experience at the Winter Whiskey Festival. Learn more below and add discount code DWF to save 20%!
Denver and Craft Spirits
Denver, Colorado, when it comes to beverages, may be about whiskeys and big distillers like Stranahan’s or Laws Whiskey House. Yet, many have noted the distinct taste of craft spirits and it takes appreciation to really feel the love for these beverages. In fact, Denver enjoys its spot as the third best destination for craft spirits tourism in the nation, according to the ranking by the American Distilling Institute. Seattle and Portland came in as one and two.
As you visit the list Social Scene is providing you, you will realize how heartfelt the story of these craft spirits are in the region and how they are made. Without further ado, here are the top craft spirits brands in Denver and nearby areas.
1. Alpine Rye Whiskey, Woods Distillery
Alpine Rye Whiskey is mainly spice rye malt and barley malts com
bined in a bottle. The flavor profile though is something to look forward to, since it has hints of cinnamon, caramel, orange peel, and coffee. Aged for two years, this craft spirit is only available at specific times within the year, which makes it even more special.
Woods Distillery’s story is also worth sharing as brothers P.T. and Lee Wood works with their crafts in an old car repair garage for almost five years now. Despite this, they are able to preserve tradition by using a German pot still that was used in the 19th century.
2. Añejo, Suerte Tequila
Not all añejos are created equal, and in the case of this fine blend, it is more than just serendipity. This award-winning añejo comes from hand-picked agave, slowly roasted for more than 50 hours or more than two days in a traditional brick oven. It recently earned a Platinum medal at the Spirits International Prestige.
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3. CapRock Organic Gin, Jack Rabbit Hill
It might sound like it’s from an early 2000's musical, but it is far from what you are thinking. CapRock Organic Gin is probably one of the healthiest gins that you can ever find.
This organic beverage uses apples grown in a farm and winter wheat that only the brand seemingly has. Jack Rabbit Hill is the maker and has a farm located at the North Fork Valley in western Colorado. The organic ingredients where this gin is made of are grown along with grapes, cattle, and sheep in their 70-acre land.
4. Colorado Straight Bourbon, Peach Street Distillers
The place where Colorado Straight Bourbon is made marks its spotlight to be one of the best craft spirits brands in the state. Peach Street Distillers produces this small batch bourbon in their humble location in Palisades, a farming village located on the western slope of The Centennial State.
The making of this beverage begins with open fermenting a wash with 60% corn from Colorado, 20% rye, and 20% two-row barley before the distillation process. Afterwards, it is aged for around two years before being bottled at 92 proof.
Check out some whiskeys at a live whiskey experience at the Winter Whiskey Festival. Learn more below and add discount code DWF to save 20%!
5. Crème de Violette, Golden Moon Distillery
Coming in as one of the top favorites among reviewers and enthusiasts alike is Crème de Violette by Golden Moon Distillery. This craft spirit is distilled using finely selected herbs, such as buds and flowers. Other than the art to the making, it also has less sugar compared to its counterparts, giving it a fresher taste that other cocktails may not have.
Golden Moon Distillery is located in Colorado, distilling products with recipes that date back to the 1500's. Aside from this craft spirit, they also produce Apple Jack, absinthe, gin, and other specialty liquors.
6. Hickory Smoked Corn Whiskey, Deerhammer
From what the name suggests, you know that this craft whiskey is going to be different. Distilled by an independent business known as Deerhammer, this hickory smoked corn whiskey called Rough and Tumble is built as a classic American whiskey and made from 100% Colorado corn in a process that the distillery is ever proud of.
Deerhammer carefully selects the grains and matches them to the intricate processes that make their craft spirits. It may not focus on herbs just like the previous ones on the list but the process is what keeps it moving forward. From the formulation of the recipe to the aging, it makes sure its final products are oriented to perfection.
7. Montanya Exclusiva, Montanya Distillers
Young as it goes, Montaya Exclusiva is a craft rum that has only been available since 2015. It is characterized as a rum barrel aged for around two years from an oak barrel that previously contained Colorado whiskey. It does not end there, the process has a transfer of the rum to another barrel, this time French Oak, that once housed Cabernet Sauvignon.
The flavor profile is comparable to the other craft spirits on this list, but this time with more focus on the fusion between two ingredients such as honey and vanilla. Sweetness is emphasized in every sip.
The distillery behind Montanya Exclusiva, Montanya Distillers, has found itself in tune with nature’s goodness. It started making the spirits in a beach location before moving highlands to the ski village of Crested Butte in Colorado. It maintains its status as a craft spirits distiller because of the process that defines what Montanya is all about.
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8. Silver Tree American Small Batch Vodka, Leopold Brothers
In the industry of craft spirits, there are distillers who chose to remain low-key and there are those who have made it as leaders in the field. Leopold Brothers is one of them. It is still considered a craft spirits maker despite the name that it has created with beverages that range from gins, whiskeys, to vodka.
One of the best labels it has is the Silver Tree American Small Batch Vodka, blended from potatoes, malted barley, and summer wheat to create a vodka mainly based on grain ingredients. It is also smooth to the taste, thanks to the light filtration process that it has gone through.
9. Tequila El Nacimiento
Tequila El Nacimiento uses the finest agave cultivated and harvested in the volcanic terrains beyond the little town of El Nacimiento in Jalisco. The Quiroz clan owns these lands and has produced the best flavors for several years. Masonry kilns are used to ferment and double distill the juice to make its Reposado and Anejo among the best in the world.
10. The Steward’s Solera Bourbon
The Steward’s Solera Bourbon retains the traditional aging process found in the mainstream brands, but adds its own personality to it. Several flavors were combined to make this exceptional blend of craft bourbon. The native spices of Colorado were matched with the barrels from the states of Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and what they contain makes for a true artisanal elegance.
Colorado’s very own spices like cinnamon and honeysuckle were used alongside caramel, vanilla, soft cherry, rose, and even ripe banana to make this craft spirit.
Be Part Of Social Scene Events!
Be part of our events! Partner with us as a brand in our spirits festivals, and take your business to the next level. To sign up, send an email to info@besocialscene.com and visit BeSocialScene.com for more information. You may also now check out what's happening in 2019!
Check out some whiskeys at a live whiskey experience at the Winter Whiskey Festival. Learn more below and add discount code DWF to save 20%!
References:
https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2017/04/20/denvers-no-3-in-the-u-s-in-a-new-craft-booze.html
https://www.deerhammer.com/our-story.html
https://www.deerhammer.com/spirits.html
https://www.facebook.com/tequilanacimiento
https://www.jackrabbithill.com/about-us
https://www.leopoldbros.com/vodka
http://goldenmoondistillery.com/ourspirits
http://www.montanyarum.com/about/
https://www.peachstreetdistillers.com/
http://www.thestewardssolera.com/
https://theknow.denverpost.com/2017/03/23/top-craft-distilleries-in-colorado/139878/
http://woodsdistillery.com/whiskey/
Jon Lindley Agustin
Professional Content Writer
Social Scene
BeSocialScene.com
