Five years in the making, the distillers involved include 291 Colorado Whiskey, Bear Creek Distillery, Laws Whiskey House, Old Elk Distillery, State 38 Distilling, Wood’s High Mountain Distillery, and Woody Creek Distillers. The collaboration of this size is a rarity in the industry and is a product of the group’s long standing relationships to highlight the camaraderie among Colorado’s distilling community.
Three conditions were agreed upon by the seven partners prior to beginning the collaboration: only distillate made by the participating distilleries could be added; each distillery would use the same Centennial wheat grown and supplied by Colorado Malting Company; and 100 per cent of the proceeds from the sale would be contributed to Colorado non-profits.
The collaborative whiskey is said to showcase the flavours of Colorado. The producers have described as having aromas of vanilla, caramel, and black tea, with bright fruit notes on the palate.
State 38 Distillery co-owner Sean Smiley said: “It is not uncommon to see breweries doing collaborations with other local breweries, even with distilleries, however I did find it strange that distilleries were not doing collaborative projects with other local distilleries, despite being a tight network that frequently meets and discusses strategies and recipes with each other. This is the first time in Colorado history that a group of distilleries who all make their whiskey from grain to glass has come together to produce a common blended product that we can share with our local community and not only raise awareness of our brands, but also raise money for our local charities.”
All materials involved in the collaboration were donated, including the wheat grain from Colorado Malting Company and the barrels from Independent Stave Company, Canton, and Atlas Barrel Company.
291 Colorado Whiskey founder Michael Myers added: “It’s amazing to look back at the relationships created over the last 10 years, to celebrate Colorado Whiskey and give back to our community. Each Colorado distillery brings its unique flavour profile, rich history, and the dedication of its distillers. This collaboration is a testament to the thriving craft distilling industry in our state and our collective spirit.”
Colorado Distillers Collaboration Straight Wheat Whiskey will only be available from the tasting rooms of participating distilleries, with only 105 bottles available at a price of $74.99. It will release this Friday 19 May.