Recipes from local craft distillers you can make at home

By Natasha Lovato

While measures were taken to decrease human contact during the COVID-19 pandemic, that doesn’t mean libation lovers can’t still enjoy cocktails of their own making while also supporting Colorado craft businesses. You could become an expert bartender with these recipes using liquor from Colorado distilleries. Be sure to check out the distillery websites to find a liquor store that distributes their brand or can deliver to your door.

Alexandra Tudor, owner of Meridiem Spirits, emphasized the importance of minimizing contact as much as possible during this time while practicing your bartender skills and picking up ingredients from the store. “Now is the time to get creative with what you have,” Tudor said. If you don’t have limes, use a lemon. No grape soda? Use orange soda. Make the most of your social distancing and minimize your trips out in public as much as you can but don’t let that stop you from slinging back sensational drinks.

Peach Street Distillers and Ska Street Brewstillery

The Gin Rickey

Ingredients:

2 oz of Jackelope Gin
Lemon-lime soda
Grape Shasta

Preparation:

Fill a glass with ice and pour in 2 ounces of Jackelope gin. Fill the remainder of the glass with half part lemon-lime soda, half part grape Shasta and stir. Garnish with a lime and enjoy.

300 Days Distilling

River Runner

Ingredients:

1½ oz Colorado Harves Honey Shine
1½ oz Peach Cobbler Shine
2 oz orange juice
3 oz pineapple juice
¾ oz coconut cream

Preparation:

Place ingredients in a shaker of ice, shake well and strain in to fresh glass with ice. Finish off the drink with an orange or cherry garnish.

State-38 Distilling

Reposado Margarita

Ingredients:

Kosher salt
1 lime
1 oz fresh lime juice
2 tsp sugar
½ oz triple sec orange liqueur
2 oz State-38 Reposado

Preparation:

Spread the salt on a small plate and rub a lime wedge halfway around the rim of a glass. Dip the moistened side of the glass into salt for a salted rim. In a cocktail shaker, stir together the lime juice and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Add triple sec, reposado, 1 cup of ice, shake vigorously and strain into a glass of ice. Be sure to garnish your marg with a lime, of course.

Meridiem Spirits Company

Quarantine Screwdriver

Ingredients:

2 oz Meridiem Vodka
1 oz Blue Curacao
4 oz orange juice
Lemon-lime soda

Preparation:

Fill a glass with ice, add all of the ingredients making sure to top with lemon-lime soda and stir.

Laws Whiskey House

There's Treasure in These Trees

Ingredients:

1½ oz Laws 4 Grain Bourbon
¾ oz dark maple syrup
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
1 dash aromatic bitters

Preparation:

Pour the ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake, strain into a martini glass and garnish with a lemon wheel.

Old Elk Distillery

Bourbon Cider

Ingredients:

1 oz Old Elk Bourbon
½ oz Lemon Juice
4-5 oz hot cider

Preparation:

In a toddy glass, combine the Old Elk Bourbon and lemon juice. Warm the cider to a steaming temperature. Stir the ingredients together and garnish with a cinnamon stick, apple slices and blueberries.