Denver and Colorado have long been recognized as havens for beer lovers and brewers. Only in recent years has that love of fine craft alcohol transferred to the art of distilling spirits.

STRANAHAN’S COLORADO WHISKEY

THE SPIRIT: Stranahan’s lays claim to being the first Colorado-born whiskey, and they remain committed to making the smoothest, most distinctively flavored whiskey on the market. How do they do it? By using handcrafted distilling techniques and Colorado’s finest natural ingredients. The connoisseurs of the beverage world are taking notice, too: Stranahan’s Batch 49 was voted artisanal whiskey of the year in 2010, by Malt Advocate magazine.

THE TOUR: Free tours of the distillery last approximately 30-45 minutes and include an overview of the company and a guided stroll through the production brew house, still house and rack house. See the bottling room floor and – most importantly – get a taste of Colorado’s most precious gold, Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey. All guests are required to have a valid ID with proof of age. Reservations are highly recommended, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Make an online reservation here: https://www.distillerysolutions.com/stranahans/tours.php  

LOCAL TIP: Before or after your tour, drop into the neighboring Rackhouse Pub to enjoy a hand-picked selection of Colorado beers and micro-distilled spirits, as well as a food menu with creative spins on old classics, as well as new creations that accentuate the unique bar selections. The Rackhouse Pub’s decor is created from used Stranahan’s barrels and the cedar beams from the original Stranahan’s rack house.

MORE INFO: www.stranahans.com  

LEOPOLD BROS. DISTILLERY

THE SPIRIT: A family owned and operated small batch distillery located in Denver, Leopold Bros. specializes in hand-crafted whiskies, liqueurs, gin, and Silver Tree Vodka, the highest rated vodka distilled and bottled in America, according to the Beverage Tasting Institute. The 2009 San Francisco Spirits Competition, the largest of its kind in North America, agreed, awarding Silver Tree a Gold Medal.

DOWNSLOPE DISTILLING

THE SPIRIT: Downslope’s goal is to produce and sell the highest quality distilled spirits available, to do so locally, and to make those products first available to the Colorado community. Their fine and unique products include Cane Vodka (made from the juice of Maui sugar cane before it is processed into sugar), Pepper Vodka (infused with New Mexico dried red chilies and black pepper from Indonesia), and Gold Rum (created in the same barrels that are used for tequila).

SOPHISTICATED SPIRITS

Try some of Denver’s best spirits at some of Denver’s best restaurants.

• Downtown Denver’s new (but old school), speakeasy-style watering hole, Green Russell (1422 Larimer St.), offers the Jalisco Sour: blanco tequila, mescal, Leopold Bros. peach whiskey, fresh grapefruit and lime juices, and black-pepper syrup.
• The Squeaky Bean’s (3301 Tejon St.) bracing Cowboy Coffee cocktail consists of Stranahan’s whiskey, Angostura bitters, coffee beans, Demerara simple and lemon peel.
• Head to the Ship Tavern in the historic Brown Palace Hotel (321 17th St.) for a Colorado Sidecar, made with Stranahan’s Whiskey, Grand Marnier, simple syrup and lime juice.
• The curiously-named-but-delicious Corpse Reviver at Jax Fish House (1539 17th St.) is a mix of Leopold Bros. American small batch gin, cointreau, cocchi Americano, fresh lemon juice with a rinse of absinthe.
• Get adventurous at ChoLon Bistro (1555 Blake St.) and order the Old Saigon, with Stranahan’s Whiskey, muddled Thai basil, Luxardo Cherries and housemade bitters.
• Duo Restaurant (2413 W. 32nd. Ave.) offers the enticing Blackberry Sage Manhattan, with Leopold Bros. blackberry whiskey spiked with sage and lemon.

COLORADO'S SIGNATURE COCKTAIL: THE TREE LINE

In June of 2011, the Colorado Distillers Guild and the Colorado Bartenders Guild (along with co-sponsors Westword and MCA Denver) hosted the Colorado Cocktail Contest. The aim? To get the state's best mixologists to create a signature Centennial State cocktail. The competition was fierce, but Marnie Ward of Denver's Avenue Grill emerged victorious with the Tree Line, a cocktail that makes use of Leopold Brothers' Small Batch Whiskey and Herbal Liqueur. The recipe:

Tree Line
2 Bing cherries
2 oz. Leopold's Small Batch Whiskey
.5 oz Leopold's Three Pins Alpine Herbal Liqueur
.5 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
.5 oz simple syrup

Muddle cherries, lemon juice and simple syrup; add whiskey and Three Pins; add ice and shake. Serve up. Garnish with round slice of lemon peel (to replicate the Colorado sun). Drink and enjoy!

MORE FRONT RANGE DISTILLERIES

Black Canyon – Makers of beautifully balanced whiskey from fine Colorado grain and pure Rocky Mountain water. Located in Longmont.

Roundhouse Spirits – Award-winning spirits in exceptionally small batches, using only the finest raw ingredients – grain, water, spices and herbs, coffee. Located in Boulder.

Boulder Clear Spirits Company – Master distiller Steve Viezbicke created all the equipment in this distillery, using it to make the popular 303 Vodka, 303 Whiskey and Rob’s Mountain Gin. Located in Boulder.