🇺🇲 Explore Denver's Whiskey Scene 🥃
Verified guide
Denver guide
Nov 16th, 2022
•
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Rarely do folks think of Denver when planning a whisky trail, they often go to Kentucky instead! Denver is home to the rocky mountains, and the snowmelt fresh water that is used for distilling this golden spirit is the bomb.
General tips
From straight bourbon and rye to single malt and moonshine, there's a whisky for everyone! If you don't like whisky, but want to go along the Colorado Spirit Alley, then many locations also have vodka and gin offerings.
Most distilleries offer:
- Whisky tasting tours - it's best to book them in advance
- Whisky tasting flights - these are typically walk-ins
If you don't have time, I've made a 'must visit' list of distilleries I'd highly recommend. If you're into craft distilleries, you'll have so many options! Finally, if you like visiting bars instead of distilleries because you want to compare and contrast the different options, head to a bar!
Must Visit Distilleries in Denver
1
Stranahan's Whiskey Distillery & Cocktail Bar
Hidden gem
Distillery
They claim to be the first Colorado-whisky! Stranahan's boasts the first American Single Malt Whiskey in the region - using just malted barley.
Tours include:
- 1 hr Single Malt Whiskey Tour for $20/pp
- 2 hr Top Shelf Tour for $70/pp
- 45 min Cask Finish Whiskey Tasting for $40/pp
- 45 min Mountain Angel 10 yr old Tasting for $55/pp
- 2 hr cocktail class for $70/pp
If you're not interested in tours, they have a really nice Cocktail Bar, where you can order the flights of whiskies as well!
2
Laws Whiskey House
Hidden gem
Distillery
Food & Drink
Each batch of Laws whiskey is produced with traditional open-air fermentation, aged for 2 years in a charred American white oak barrel.
Whisky Tours take place Wednesday - Sunday:
- 1 hr tour for $20/pp
This distillery has a really cozy walk-in tasting room.
3
Breckenridge Distillery: Tasting Room
Store
If you're willing to travel by car for a few hours, then you must visit the Breckenridge Distillery. This is the world's highest distillery, and is often praised among whiskey fans for its award-winning bourbon. It has also won 4x in a row, Colorado Whiskey Distillery of the Year at the NY Int'l Spirits Competition.
Tours
- 30 min Distillery tour @ $35/pp
- 60 min After Hours tour @ $200-400/pp
- Complementary Spirit Tastings
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Craft Distilleries in Denver to Explore
1
Rising Sun Distillery
Distillery
Food & Drink
A craft distillery, nestled near the Denver city core. Rising Sun Distillery is known for its small batch organic whiskey + spirits. They make rye and bourbon (award winning!) whiskies.
They offers tours at $10/pp.
Tasting room is quite big!
2
Denver Distillery
affordable
Distillery
They create award-winning spirits, such as rye whiskey, four-grain bourbon, vodka, gin, and rum.
3
The Family Jones Spirit House
affordable
Distillery
They offer weekly guided tours and tastings. Besides whiskey, you'll find gin and vodka.
4
Mythology Distillery
Distillery
Bar
Cocktail bar
After Scott Yeates came back from his Alaskan journeys, he started this distillery!
5
Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse - Denver Distilleries
Distillery
Food & Drink
Located in the RiNo Arts District, this distillery has a 10K sqft patio where you can enjoy some grub and spirits.
6
The Block Distilling Co.
Distillery
Food & Drink
They source their grains from Missouri to produce vodka, gin, bourbon, and coffee liqueur.
7
Bear Creek Distillery
Distillery
Food & Drink
They are known for using the German-built Kothe still to make: spiced rum, silver rum, cask-strength rum, rye vodka, wheat vodka, straight bourbon, wheated bourbon, rye whiskey, white whiskey, and wheat whiskey.
8
Deviation Distilling
Distillery
Small plates restaurant
Probably more known for their gin and use of fun botanicals. Deviation Distilling also makes whiskies.
Top Whiskey Bars in Denver
1
Seven Grand
affordable
Bar
700+ whiskies. Located in the Historic walls of the Dairy Block.
2
Whiskey Bar
cheap
Bar
Pub
600+ whiskies. Taste local whiskies at a fair price!
3
Finn's Manor
affordable
Bar
Restaurant
400+ whiskies. 800+ spirits. 16 rotating taps.
4
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
affordable
Cocktail bar
Restaurant
90+ whiskies. 30+ beers on tap.
Distillery Row in Arvada
A mix of whiskey bars and distilleries!
1
Olde Town Arvada
2300+ whiskies. Enjoy some rare stuff.
2
The Bluegrass Lounge - Olde Town
affordable
Bar
From the web: Rustic-chic hangout with coffee, pastries & sandwiches by day, pizza, whiskey & live music by night.
3
School House Kitchen and Libations
affordable
American restaurant
2100+ whiskies. Old school house built in 1882.
4
Spirits Wine Provisions
Liquor store
StockRoom Speakeasy and Spirit Wines Provisions. They have 160+ bitters!
5
Talnua Distillery
affordable
Bar
They bring an old-world / Irish style of distilling (Single Pot Still Whiskey Distilling) to America. Owned and run by women!
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