Distilleries statewide are earning recognition and expanding

By Jay McKinney

Colorado may not have the whiskey reputation of Kentucky or Tennessee, but the state is no sleeper when it comes to producing whiskey and other craft spirits. At the recent 2022 Craft Spirits Competition presented by the American Craft Spirits Association, three Colorado distilleries took home medals.

The winning distilleries are dispersed across the state. The Family Jones is based in Loveland and Denver, Woods High Mountain Distillery is in Salida and Peach Street Distillers is located on the Western Slope in Palisade. While multiple spirits were judged at the competition, the winning Colorado spirits were all whiskeys.

Wood’s High Mountain Distillery won a bronze medal for its Dawn Patrol Colorado Single Malt. The spirit is named for die-hard skiers who hit the slopes at the crack of dawn while others lie in their beds and miss out on the fresh powder. Dawn Patrol was aged 5 years in #3 charred New American Oak, and stands out with its cherry wood smoked barley that contributes notes of leather, smoke, chocolate and baking spices.

Peach Street Distillers was fortunate to snag a gold medal for its Colorado Straight Rye. The spirit is aged a minimum of two and a half years and sources its malted and unmalted Rye from the San Luis Valley.

Family Jones took home two medals at the competition. The Ella Jones Colorado Straight Bourbon won a silver medal while the Atticus Jones Colorado Straight Rye won a bronze medal.

The three distilleries won awards in an impressive pool of more than 450 entrants from 37 states. Family Jones, Peach Street Distillers and Wood’s High Mountain Distillery may have won awards for their spirits, but there are numerous others contributing to Colorado’s growing reputation as a state with great whiskies.

Expansion Coming?

This trend will continue to grow as the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) recently announced a proposed addition of American Single Malt Whiskey to the standards of identity for distilled spirits. It is a major moment for the whiskey industry given the fact that a new whiskey category definition has not been established by the Bureau in nearly 30 years.

The nation’s leading American Single Malt distillery, Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey, is thrilled about the news and believes it will drive innovation within the industry.

“We believe this established identity will amplify consumer awareness of the American Single Malt category in the United States and beyond,” says Owen Martin, head distiller at Stranahan’s. “With the category being officiated, American Single Malts will start to compete with traditional whiskey categories. We’re thrilled to be at the forefront of this recognition and to continue doing what we do best - create the country’s number one American Single Malt.”

Steve Hawley, President of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission, agrees with Martin.

“The TTB’s American Single Malt definition will ultimately protect, educate, promote, and grow the category,” Hawley says. “With dedicated producers like Stranahan’s working as part of our collective, we’re able to certify a future where consumers are well-informed about the American Single Malt category and distilleries can build their brands and craft excellent whiskey.”

With an abundance of craft distillers and new freedom to innovate, it’s safe to say Colorado Whiskey is only going to get better.

The official American Single Malt definition set forward by TTB is:

Made from 100% malted barley
Distilled entirely at one distillery
Mashed, distilled and matured in the United States of America
Matured in oak casks of a capacity not exceeding 700 liters
Distilled to no more than 160 (U.S.) proof (80% alcohol by volume)
Bottled at 80 (U.S.) proof or more (40% alcohol by volume)