By David Young

This is the ideal time of year to pour a glass of whiskey, light up a fire, kick back, and relax. The temperature outside is finally cold enough for a fire to keep you toasty in the evenings. And nothing pairs better with a fire than a glass of whiskey.

Whether it is a living room fireplace, backyard fire pit, or campfire, there’s something about a fire that just pairs perfectly with whiskey. A fine Colorado whiskey and campfires go together seamlessly, as the smoke wafting from the fire mixes perfectly with the smokey rich aromas and flavors that whiskey offers.

We’ve gone ahead and selected five fantastic Colorado whiskeys to pair with a fire this season to ensure you maximize the cool days and snowy nights ahead.

So throw a few more logs in the old fire pit, invite over some fortunate friends, and crack open these bottles of whiskey this season to enjoy!

Family Jones

Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Located in Loveland, the Family Jones Distillery has a Spirit House in Denver that has drawn attention in recent years for its craft spirits and excellent cocktails. Distiller Rob Masters created this Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey using Colorado water and locally-sourced grains. The signature match on the label is also a nod toward the fire that you can enjoy this spirit by. Ignite your taste buds and senses with this Colorado whiskey.

Woody Creek Distillers

Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Just west of Aspen, one of Colorado’s most famed mountain towns, sits the small community of Basalt where Woody Creek Distillers resides. Fans of Hunter S. Thompson are familiar with this area where the infamous author resided. This Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a match made in heaven for a fire pit session. Aged for at least four years in a charred new American oak cask, this whiskey has hints of caramel, cinnamon and peppery spice. It may even warm your insides more than the heat from the fire.

Tin Cup

Mountain Whiskey

Tin Cup Mountain Whiskey was made with campfires in mind. It is one of the Centennial State’s most outdoor-focused whiskeys. Aside from the name - “Mountain Whiskey” - even the bottle is shaped like a rugged hexagon so it won’t roll away from your sleeping bag. The whiskey out of Denver even comes with a tin cup cap that is inspired by miners who no doubt would sip this whiskey by a campfire. Tin Cup is often seen in campsites around the West as outdoor adventurers raise a toast by a fire. Tin Cup is a bourbon-style whiskey made with corn, rye, and malted barley. It is a blend of two American whiskeys aged in No. 3 charred white American oak barrels. “High rye” bourbon, distilled and aged in Indiana, is blended with Colorado single malt whiskey and cut with Colorado water.

Peach Street Distillers

Smoked Rye Whiskey

Touted as “Colorado’s first legal bourbon,” Peach Street Distillers in Palisade has crafted a winner here with its Smoked Rye Whiskey. This Colorado whiskey is distilled from smoked rye and malted barley. The step above is that Peach Street then infused it with a cold smoker at proofing. The result is super smokey rye made with Colorado grains. It will no doubt bring the heat if the fire doesn’t do it. And if the smoke from the fire does not get you, this whiskey will.

Breckenridge Distillery

Limited Release Broncos Blend

What could possibly be more Colorado than the Broncos? Well, Breckenridge Distillery answered that question with a Colorado-distilled limited-release Broncos Blend whiskey. The official bourbon of the Broncos, this is a blend of straight bourbon whiskeys. These collector bottles from Breckenridge Distillery are only available in Colorado, making it about as Colorado as you can get. And considering the Broncos are not having the best season, a glass of this by the fire will help make a loss a little more palatable.

David Young is a freelance writer based in Fort Collins. He specializes in beer, whiskey and outdoor writing. David has been published in SKI Magazine, GearJunkie, 5280 Magazine, USA Today, and The Denver Post. Learn more at davidyoungcommunications.com.