The Sparks & Spirits annual fundraising event treated guests to a night of drinks, food and fire. The fundraiser benefits the Colorado Maker Hub, a nonprofit that fosters creative types who focus on sustainability. The May 20 event, hosted by the Arts Hub in Lafayette, highlighted artists who bring fire, light and sound displays to life.

“Sparks & Spirits is a unique and exciting addition to Lafayette’s arts community," said Lori Jones, executive director of the Lafayette Arts Hub. "This signature event rounds out the state of arts and performances in our new Hub building and provides exceptional opportunities for adults to interact with dedicated artists and craft distillers.”

Artists lighted the parking lot with a metal, fire-breathing dragon sculpture and an electronic drum pad, which was linked to sizeable flamethrowers that would erupt when the drum pad was struck.

Paired with the pyrotechnic displays were plenty of chest-warming distilled spirits. Patrons were greeted by 15 distilleries, each pouring samples of their spirits, which included gin, rum, whiskey, vodka, moonshine and mixed drinks a-plenty. The Colorado craft distillers who participated included:

Bear Creek Distillery
Black Canyon Distillery
CopperMuse Distillery
Deerhammer Distilling Company
Distillery 291
Feisty Spirits
Golden Moon Distillery
Leopold Brothers
Mad Rabbit Distilling
Montanya Distillers
Old Elk Distillery
Trinity Absinthe
Still Cellars
Syntax Spirits
Vapor Distillery

Heather Bean, Distiller and Co-Owner of Syntax Spirits said, “Syntax Spirits is honored to be featured alongside other grain-to-glass distillers who are doing things the right way. And pairing great spirits with fire arts – who wouldn’t love that?”

With more than 300 breweries across the state, brewfests and other brewery events are quite common. Some forget that there are nearly 70 craft distilleries in Colorado, and Sparks & Spirits was a great opportunity to connect with the makers of fine spirits who were eager to share their stories and liquor. One of the distillers explained that their team fought over who would staff the event because several employees were interested in going.

The night was capped off with a live DJ and hors d’oeuvres for all.

- Dylan Hochstedler