Breckenridge took a long, global journey to honey whiskey

It’s a story of Colorado origins, Nigerian honey and a Broncos’ legacy

By Jay McKinney and Joe Ross

Just like any good whiskey, there are many layers to the story behind Breckenridge Honey Whiskey. One could say it started in Estes Park, or long ago in the Denver Broncos’ front office, or in West Africa. 

Breckenridge Distillery has collaborated with a variety of businesses to bring their products to a broader audience that is thirsty for a tasty high-mountain whiskey.

One recent collaboration reached across the sea to West Africa, where honey was harvested to create a limited-edition Denver Broncos honey-flavored whiskey in 2025. It was well received and the distillery decided to continue producing the product as Breckenridge Honey Whiskey. 

From hive to barrel, the whiskey is infused with Goldswarm Honey, which has mesmerizing aromas of golden honey, molasses, spices, toasted oak and vanilla. Flavors of rich honey stand out on the palate with nuanced notes of oak and a smooth finish that lingers with a hint of cinnamon. 

Goldswarm Honey was founded by Omar Lababidi who grew up in Estes Park and moved to Nigeria as a 13-year-old. But Lababidi maintained a connection to Colorado with visits every summer. While road tripping in West Africa, Lababidi was first introduced to Nigerian honey when it was lathered on toast for breakfast.

“I was stunned and I couldn’t believe it was honey,” Lababidi says. “Having grown up between Nigeria and returning every summer to Colorado, that moment clarified for me how powerful taste can be in telling stories of land and place, and why those stories deserve to travel.” 

Omar Lababidi

Compared to American honey that is lighter and more floral, Lababidi says Nigerian honey is darker and more layered with notes of spice, dried fruit and earth. The unmistakable flavors of this wild honey can be attributed to the fact that Nigerian bees are extremely wild and operate far from industrial agriculture.

Goldswarm Honey was recognized with the Superior Taste Award, 2025, which is granted by the International Taste Institute. The sustainably harvested product is traceable to bee-friendly Nigerian farms that use smart-hive technology to monitor nectar flow and colony health. 

After a partner of Goldswarm sent a sample to the team at Breckenridge Distillery, they fell in love with it and wanted to explore using it in whiskey. 

“When they decided to use it in their Denver Broncos whiskey, it was beyond thrilling, both as a maker and as a lifelong Broncos fan,” Lababidi says. “This partnership brings my story full circle, linking Colorado, where I was born, with West Africa, where Goldswarm is built. It’s proof that ingredients with integrity can move across continents without losing meaning.” 

As a reminder of the importance of layers, Lababidi’s connection to the Broncos’ organization runs deeper than the whiskey and his support of the team. His grandfather, Richard S. Kitchen, served as the attorney and secretary of the board of the Denver Broncos in the early days of the franchise.The collaboration appears to have been born decades ago.

The honey whiskey is available throughout Colorado, as well as the company headquarters in Breckenridge.