While Colorado has long been known for its thriving craft beer scene, the state also has an extremely robust craft spirits scene. And, while the competition has heated up in recent years with more and more makers coming on the scene, the collaborative nature of the industry keeps it thriving. Today, both established and emerging brands are fostering a spirit of mutual support, creating an environment that’s elevating the industry as a whole.

One of Colorado’s established brands is Denver-based Bear Creek Distillery. While the distillery recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, its roots trace back to the camaraderie of founders Jay Johnson, Jeff Dickinson, and David “Dbo” Baker during their junior high and high school days at Lakewood’s Bear Creek High School.

While they initially set out to make whiskey and bourbon, their passion spirits, commitment to crafting everything in-house, and dedication to being a grain to glass distiller, led to a more diverse line-up. While they were waiting for their spirits to age, they expanded their offerings to include three rum and three vodka products. Locally, only a couple of other distillers are producing rum, setting Bear Creek Distillery apart and giving them a leg up in the summer months when people gravitate towards lighter spirits.

As they continue to refine their craft, Bear Creek is steadily working towards sourcing everything exclusively from Colorado, even though they are already considered locally sourced, with all of their ingredients coming from within a 250-mile radius. They currently use Colorado corn from Whiskey Sisters in Burlington, Colorado and are actively pursuing 100 percent Colorado-grown grains. For Bear Creek, grain sourcing is a top priority, especially since their wheat and rye whiskey feature 100 percent mash bills.

“This philosophy extends to our vodkas as well,” shares founding partner Jay Johnson. “Our distiller had this cool idea to truly capture the essence of each grain.” With three vodkas in their lineup, it might seem surprising to some that none are flavored. However, Jay explains that as people taste through them, they can really get a sense for the grain differences and how they influence the final product.

No matter the product, “we pride ourselves on very drinkable, approachable spirits,” explains Jay. Bear Creek Distillery aims to be your go-to everyday drink, not something you buy once and save for special occasions. “At the price point we’re at, compared to other craft distilleries, I think we’ve really created space for ourselves in that niche.”

With a longstanding presence in Colorado’s craft spirits industry, Bear Creek Distillery embraces the supportive ethos of the industry, readily sharing their expertise with those who are just starting to build their brands. One of those makers is Declan Watts, founder and master distiller at Rick Thomas Distillery, who Jay can recall sitting at their bar diligently jotting down notes when he was just starting out.

After graduating Colorado State University for fermentation science and finishing his education at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland, which is widely regarded as one of the best places to study brewing and distilling, Declan founded Black Hawk-based Rick Thomas Distillery with his father in 2021. The distillery is named after another member of the family, Declan’s grandfather, Rick Thomas Watts. It’s the ultimate nod to “a scotch guy,” as they describe him.

The distillery’s high-altitude location in Black Hawk offers Rick Thomas Distillery some unique advantages. For instance, at 8,000 feet ethanol boils at a lower temperature, which allows for a gentler distillation process. “You get some more of the delicate notes that come through because they’re not being vaporized,” explains Declan. “It’s not better or worse, it’s just unique.”

Another interesting thing that happens at elevation is significant temperature fluctuations. With daily temperature swings of 20-50 degrees, the whiskey continuously moves in and out of the wood, accelerating the aging process of the spirits.

Beyond tapping into the unique effects of Colorado’s high elevation, Rick Thomas Distillery also leans heavily into Colorado grown products by using 100 percent Colorado-grown grains in their whiskey. Even though Colorado growing conditions can be stressful on the grains, Declan and Brian see that as enhancing the flavor of their whiskey.

Local sourcing is a great example of how the collaborative nature of the Colorado spirits community creates a ripple effect of support in adjacent industries. For instance, conversations between local spirits brands often stirs up inspiration to source ingredients from within the state, fostering support for Colorado’s agricultural industry.

Another emerging brand that’s been making waves is Denver-based Red Rocks Spirits, whose owners Willis and Ashley Blankenship hit the ground running in 2023.

New to the industry, Ashley and Willis quickly discovered the supportive nature of the Colorado spirits community. “Everyone’s been incredibly helpful, especially considering the competitive landscape,” Ashley shared. “We’re all small businesses trying to make it, and there’s a real sense of camaraderie in going up against some of the bigger players in the industry.” Embracing this spirit of collaboration, they also dove headfirst into paying that support forward, including leading Rick Thomas Distillery to Elite Brands when they were looking for a distribution partner.

Blazing their own trail on the Colorado spirits scene, Red Rocks Spirits saw an opportunity to disrupt the Colorado vodka category with a high-quality, affordable product. “We decided early on that having a distillery would increase our overhead too much,” Ashley shared. “Our goal has always been to find the best quality product and sell it at an affordable price, because we believe that everyone should have access to really high-quality products.”

Willis and Ashley take that commitment to quality seriously. After searching coast-to-coast for the best product, they also found that Colorado’s unique attributes produced exceptional spirits and partnered with Lakewood-based Ballmer Peak. “The high mineral content in our water here in Colorado, and ethanol that’s six times distilled from corn, makes for a really great product,” describes Willis. Willis’ experience mirrors that of consumers, who are consistently impressed by the vodka’s smooth, neutral flavor and exceptional quality, especially considering its affordable price point.

And consumers aren’t the only ones who have taken notice. Red Rocks Spirits recently became the official vodka of the Colorado Rockies, less than a year and a half after Willis and Ashley took the helm. Ashley was so surprised when the email landed in her inbox that she thought it was a hoax. “I never, ever expected that to happen. Especially at this stage of the game,” she explained. In their first year at the stadium, Red Rocks Vodka outsold Tito’s, Ketel One, and Absolut combined.

Needless to say, Colorado’s robust craft spirits scene is thriving. Fueled by a unique blend of collaboration, innovation and local pride, the industry is as diverse as it is collaborative. From established brands like Bear Creek Distillery, to rising stars like Rick Thomas Distillery and Red Rocks Spirits, there’s no shortage of passion and creativity to keep spirits high—and flowing!