A COLORADO BOURBON PRIMER

The exact number of bourbons produced by Colorado’s distilleries is a little hard to pin down, but there are at least 30 being bottled in the state. One of the best ways to learn more about how bourbon is made is by visiting one of the many distillery tours and tastings that are available.

The following guide to Colorado’s best bourbons is based on recommendations from Tom Fischer, members of the Colorado Bourbon Society, and awards in national competitions.

Some Colorado distilleries import spirits from other states to produce their bourbon and other whiskies. The following bourbons are all distilled, not just aged, in Colorado, and in many cases, use Colorado-grown grain.

291 SMALL BATCH COLORADO BOURBON WHISKEY

Story: This is a single barrel bourbon, 100 proof grain to barrel to bottle, aged in charred American white oak and finished with toasted aspen wood.

Tasting Notes: Notes of vanilla, cherry and spice

Awards: San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold winner and an American Whiskey Master award, 2019

Tasting Room: Distillery 291, 647 South Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, distillery291.com

BOULDER SPIRITS BOTTLED IN BOND BOURBON

Story: Boulder Spirits are distilled at Vapor Distillery using the biggest pot still in the state. The mash bill is 51% corn, 44% malted barley and 5% rye.

Tasting Notes: Distinct apple notes in a less sweet bourbon. The high amount of malted barley adds apple butter, cinnamon, and kettle corn notes.

Awards: Gold medal, 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Tasting room: Vapor Distillery, 5311 Western Ave., Boulder; boulderspirits.com

Breckenridge Rum Cask Finish Bourbon

Story: Breckenridge Bourbon’s mash bill is 56% corn, 38% rye, and 6% malted barley. After aging, it is finished in Breckenridge rum casks.

Tasting Notes: Candied apple, cinnamon, dark chocolate, and cacao with lingering allspice

Awards: Breckenridge Bourbon is a four-time winner of Best American Blended (2016- 2019) from the World Whiskies Awards

Tasting room: Breckenridge Distillery, 1925 Airport Road, Breckenridge, breckenridgedistillery.com

LAWS FOUR GRAIN STRAIGHT BOURBON BONDED

Story: Laws was the first Colorado bonded bourbon, meaning it is at least 4 years old, a product of a single season and a single distiller, and has been aged entirely in a federally bonded rickhouse. The mash bill is 60% corn, 20% heirloom wheat, 10% heirloom rye, 10% heirloom malted barley, aged 8-plus years in new charred oak barrels

Tasting Notes: Black tea, orange, brown butter and dates, with notes of sandalwood

Awards: Double Gold at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for 8-Year-Old Bottled in Bond Four Grain Bourbon

Tasting room: Laws Whiskey House, 1420 S. Acoma St., Denver, lawswhiskeyhouse.com

LEOPOLD BROS BOTTLED IN BOND STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY

Story: Made from 64% corn, 21% malted barley and 15% Abruzzi heritage rye, aged four years in new American white oak charred barrels in a bonded warehouse.

Tasting Notes: Notes of cocoa, apple, and crusty bread with hints of ripe pear, toffee and baking spices

Tasting Room: Leopold Bros., 5285 Joliet St., Denver, leopoldbros.com

OLD ELK STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY

Story: The mash bill includes corn plus a high malted barley content plus rye, aged five years in charred new oak.

Tasting Notes: Maple syrup, almond, chocolate, coconut, and clove

Awards: Gold medal, 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Tasting Room: The Reserve Tasting Room: 253 Linden St., Fort Collins, oldelk.com

ROCKER BOURBON WHISKEY

Story: The mash bill of 70% corn and 30% wheat includes grain grown in Burlington and Loveland. The bourbon is aged a minimum of 3 years in charred American oak barrels

Tasting Notes: A slightly sweeter bourbon with notes of vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, and honey with a hint of citrus

Tasting Room: Rocker Spirits, 5587 S. Hill St., Littleton, rockerspirits.com

LAWS WHISKEY HOUSE

By Isaac Bouchard