Writer, and Ft. Collins resident, Ron Stern is back with a guest blog of information we can all use – a roundup of Colorado distilleries doing unique things while making craft cocktails across the Front Range. Don’t miss the three, count ’em, three cocktail recipes using some of their spirits.
A Taste of Colorado’s Front Range Distilleries
Building on the craft beer phenomenon, creative entrepreneurs are pioneering innovations in the distilling industry around Colorado’s Front Range. From small “mom and pop” operations to larger concerns with multi-state distribution, all have a common goal of creating a distilled brand of distinctive spirits that their customers will love.
While there are more than 130 licensed distilleries in Colorado, COVID-19 hit some hard and those didn’t survive the financial impact of the pandemic. Others managed to make it through, however, and are re-emerging stronger than ever. There is even a Colorado Spirits Trail Map marking the locations of these distilleries throughout the state and rewarding you with a t-shirt after ten visits.
Along the Front Range, you’ll find distilleries tucked into industrial parks, commercial centers, and even lush green gardens. The old adage of location, location, location doesn’t seem to be a factor in this case as loyal customers beat a path to their doors to indulge in their favorite libations. While Denver, Colorado Springs, and the Western Slope also have many distilleries, this list will provide just a tasty sampling of a few in the northern part of the state.
Copper Muse Distillery, Fort Collins
Situated just north of Old Town Fort Collins next to The Exchange Plaza, Jason and Heather Hevelone came from electrical engineering backgrounds but also shared a love for craft beer and winemaking. Deciding to try their hands at distilling spirits, they launched Copper Muse in 2014.
Using natural ingredients, they started with Vertueux and Vicieux (Virtuous and Vicious) Vodkas and then added rums, infusions, liqueurs, whiskeys, and gin, including a lovely pink-hued hibiscus gin. While there, be sure to check out the artwork on their labels–a thing of beauty,
They have an inviting tasting room and you can purchase items on-site or at many liquor stores throughout the state.
Old Elk Distillery, Fort Collins
Passersby on busy Linden Street in Fort Collins often stop in their tracks as they peer into a window and see huge fossilized Irish Elk antlers (6 feet across) at Old Elk Distillery. Estimated to be thousands of years old, it is definitely a showstopper and the hallmark of their distilling history. Their tasting room called The Reserve has an amazing assortment of cocktails and bourbons featuring their longer “Slow Cut™” aging process resulting in a smooth, rich taste on the palate.
Try their signature Smoked Old Fashioned which comes playfully to you in a large smoked dome before the big reveal.
Old Elk products can be enjoyed on site or can be found at most liquor stores.
The Heart Distillery, Windsor
Having won many awards, including a gold medal for their Cast Strength Bourbon, The Heart Distillery is situated inside the Windsor Gardener and is three businesses in one. This includes The Garden Center, High Hops Brewery, and The Heart Distillery. You can enjoy one of their bourbon, vodka, gin, or absinthe cocktails in a lush, tropical setting amongst colorful flowers and plants inside of their expansive greenhouse.
The Heart’s products, including cans of Colorado Spiked Seltzer, are available statewide at stores, restaurants, and bars.
Feisty Spirits Distillery, Fort Collins
Hoping to do for whiskey what craft beer did for beer, Jamison Gulden wasn’t satisfied with the products he could find locally. So he decided to make his own quality whiskeys by using different varieties of corn including yellow, red, and blue. He also uses lots of secondary grains such as oats and triticale along with various malts.
The results are whiskeys with more complex flavors that have created a loyal following. Having won 27 medals, his most popular items are his Better Days Bourbon, Rockit 100% Rye, Rye Whiskey, and Wild Things Whiskey, all named after pop culture songs.
Feisty Spirits has a tasting room and his products are available in some of the larger liquor stores.
Elevation 5300 Distillery, Fort Collins
Having been in the brewing industry for 15 years, Loren Matthews thought that distilling spirits would be a natural progression. Following her dream, she opened Distillery 5300 in a retail strip mall along Lemay Ave. in Ft. Collins.
Elevation specializes in Straight Rye Whiskey finished in maple wood staves. They also distill Bourbon Whiskey aged in New American White Oak Barrels, Single Malted Barley Based Vodka, and Small Batch, Column Distilled Gin.
Matthews also has a passion for creating rich, flavorful liqueurs like cherry, coffee, and Falernum. If you’ve never heard of Falernum, it’s a popular liqueur in the Caribbean used for making rum cocktails such as Mai Tai’s and Rum Swizzles. This liqueur is infused with spices that include ginger, allspice, clove, and lime.
You can find Elevation 5300 products on-site or at various liquor stores along the Front Range.
NOCO Distillery, Fort Collins
Located in an inconspicuous industrial park, Sebastien Gavillet is a Master Blender and an expert on whisky. He even wrote a couple of books on the subject including, Discovering and Mastering Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2013) and International Whisky Guide (2017).
Gavillet prepares his products with a slow distillation process using small copper pots and ages them in American and European oak casks. He also incorporates many other kinds of wood in the maturation process, one of the few distilling in this manner. Even though this is more work, it results in a smooth, flavorful product that his customers love and has them showing up in droves to his tasting room, despite the atypical location.
NOCO has more than 30 product variants prepared from whiskey, gin, rum, vodka, and brandy. Growing up in Switzerland, Gavillet always remembered the aroma and taste of his mother’s freshly made saffron bread. The flavor was the inspiration for his Saffron Gin, also making him the largest consumer of saffron in Colorado. Be sure to try the delicate and fresh Saffron Gin and Tonic which he claims will make a fan out of anyone who doesn’t particularly care for the traditional heavy juniper taste of this cocktail.
Spring 44, Loveland
Spring 44 started operations in 2012 just off Hwy 287 in Loveland in an industrial area. Its creators Robin Marisco and Jeff Lindauer knew they had something special by procuring water sourced from an artesian mineral spring in the 9000-foot elevation Buckhorn Canyon. Painstakingly bringing this water to the production facility is a feat in itself and from it, they produce their super-pure products.
Some of the favorites include a 19th Century-style gin called Old Tom blended with citrus notes and hints of spice and honey. They also have a vodka sourced with locally grown honey that carries the aromas of lavender, hints of vanilla, and toasted nuts.
You can purchase Spring 44 products all over Colorado from restaurants and liquor stores.
Coyote Gold, Fort Collins
Randy Zwetzig and Maureen “Mo” Shaffer said that they fell into this business accidentally. Both loved margaritas and would make up their blends using retail products. Their friends and family loved it so much they jokingly suggested that they should go into business.
That got them thinking and after some experimentation and numerous attempts using all-natural ingredients meant for commercial use, they finally hit on just the perfect recipe. While not technically a “distiller,” they put together their products at a local commercial facility. Not just a mixer but a complete cocktail, their trademark is “open, pour, and enjoy.”
Coyote Gold offers three premium ready-to-pour margaritas including original, pineapple-coconut, and jalapeno. You can also purchase their items in cans and freezer pops with the same great taste.
Coyote Gold is available at most liquor stores throughout the state.
Mobb Mountain Distillers, Fort Collins
A welcome addition to the River District in Fort Collins, the area is a hot spot for restaurants, shopping, and al fresco dining. Started by two friends who loved beer, they wanted to try their hand at making distilled spirits. Their unofficial motto is “Good Booze for Good People,” and they offer 100% malted rye whiskey, single malt whiskey, gin, and vodka.
They are also one of the few distillers who make a traditional version of a Dutch spirit called Genever which is rye-based and infused with juniper. Be sure to sample their Pea Flower cocktail which changes colors from blue to purple as they add ingredients.
Mobb Mountain has a large patio that is open for business. They currently have limited distribution so best to stop by and enjoy!
Boulder Spirits/ Formerly Vapor Spirits, Boulder
Alastair Brogan moved to Boulder from Scotland and started Vapor Spirits, now known as Boulder Spirits in 2012. What started as a hobby has turned into a thriving business with a large tasting room located in an industrial park off of Arapahoe Ave.
Brogan loves sharing his vast knowledge of whiskeys. With his Scottish accent and affable demeanor, he explains how his products are unique in the industry. He offers tours in his education center and his tasting room is open 7 days a week.
In addition to American single malt, he is one of the only distillers that produces a Bottled in Bond, Peated Malt (imports peat moss from the U.K.), and even port and sherry finished whiskeys.
Boulder’s award-winning products are available throughout Colorado at many of the stores that carry craft spirits.
Breckenridge Distillery, Breckenridge
While not part of the “Urban Corridor,” Breckenridge Distillery is still located in the Front Range and the world’s highest distillery. It’s the five-time winner of the Best American Blended (World Whiskies Awards-Whisky Magazine), World’s Best Gin (2021-Gin Magazine), and 2019 Colorado Distillery of the Year at the New York Int’l Spirits Competition.
Guests can enjoy dining and award-winning cocktails at their location in the beautiful resort mountain town of Breckenridge. They also offer taste testing and an insider’s view of their production process.
Creating a spirit from seed to bottle that that customers will truly enjoy is not an easy task. Despite all the obstacles, however, these business innovators have defied the odds and are creating a growing demand for their products. Whether you are having a casual night out or taking a road trip through Colorado, you can whet your whistle at any number of distillers that dot the landscape throughout the state.
What else is In Good Taste? Ron tells us about a Ft. Collins BBQ/Ice Cream Shop.
Colorado Cocktail Recipes
COPPERMUSE PEPPERY PASSION MARTINI
Ingredients:
2 oz CopperMuse Jalapeno Vodka
0.5 oz. Amaretto
0.75 oz. Simple Syrup
1 oz. Lime Juice
3 oz. Passion Fruit Juice
Method:
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.
OLD ELK SMOKED FASHIONED
Ingredients:
2 oz. Old Elk Bourbon
0.5 oz. Oak Smoked Honey Simple Syrup
5 dashes Angostura Bitters
Orange Garnish
Method:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir for 20 seconds.
Strain into a double old-fashioned glass over a large ice cube.
Garnish with an orange twist
NOCO GIN AND TONIC
Ingredients:
2 oz Saffron Gin
1 oz. NOCO Elderberry Tonic
3 oz. Sparkling Water
1 slice of lime
Method:
Combine all ingredients, add ice and garnish with a slice of lime
What else is In Good Taste? We talked “cider” with the co-owner of Snow Capped Cider in this podcast.
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