Cooper’s Small Batch partners with Locke + Co. Distilling for hybrid flavor infusion

By Jay McKinney

Two Denver small businesses have collaborated to come up with a way to spice up any meal. Cooper’s Small Batch has teamed up with Locke + Co. Distilling to create the Drunkin Funkin - a sauce featuring the gourmet mix of black habanero peppers and charred barrel discs from Locke + Co. Distillery’s Aspen aged Rye. It’s smooth, not too hot, and has a hint of pumpkin to welcome fall.

Cooper’s Small Batch sauces were created by Chef John Davidson and his wife Michelle. The couple opened The Crushery, a successful restaurant in Denver’s South Pearl Neighborhood, but they struggled to find food-friendly sauces for the menu’s dishes.

John leaned on his cheffing creativity to fix the problem by creating his own sauces. When guests fell in love with the sauces, the couple saw an opportunity to grow the brand, named after their son.

“Cooper’s Small Batch is all about pushing boundaries and creating explosive flavor combinations within the hot sauce industry,” John says. “Some of the best suggestions have come from our fans at farmers’ markets who have been vocal about wanting more unique sauce flavors to choose from. Partnering with Locke + Co. Distilling was a great choice; they provided a unique flavor in their charred Aspen disc which offered a comforting flavor to our hot sauce.”

Locke + Co. Distilling is the creation of high school friends Owen Locke and Rick Talley. Locke developed an interest in brewing at the age of 15, which grew into a fascination with distilling spirits. The passion for the craft and desire to create better spirits than what they were offered at tastings represent the foundation for the distillery’s success. Locke and Talley have an affinity for Rye and the distillery’s flagship Aspen Aged Rye has won numerous awards. The collaboration with Cooper’s Small Batch was an easy choice.

“We are constantly searching out new, shared experiences and exploring opportunities for collaborations,” says Rick Talley, Co-Owner of Locke + Co. Distilling. “When John approached us about incorporating our charred aspen discs used in our whiskey aging process into his unique hot sauces, it was a no-brainer. We love hot sauce, and we love Cooper's Small Batch unique flavor offerings, and are always excited to see what they’ll create next.”

The Drunkin Funkin is a limited release that is only available to purchase at https://www.cooperssmallbatch.com