We have a surprising number of outstanding places to experience locally distilled spirits!
Perfectly nestled at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is arguably Colorado’s top booze destination. The locale has always been the cream of the crop when it comes to hops and barley. Today, local booze lovers are breaking the mold with new exciting distilleries across the region.
Whether you are on tour or doing a pre-dinner warm-up, here’s your guide to the region’s top distilleries!
3 Hundred Days of Shine
279 Beacon Lite Road, Suite G, Monument, CO 80132
Treat your taste buds to a careful blend of Western Sippin’ shine flavors at this veteran-owned distillery. The distillery’s Western Sippin’ delights have found a home in the hearts of many locals here. Among the top blends include the 3 Hundred Days Moonshine, which locals say is “drinkable” right out of the bottle. Other blends include Peach Cobbler, which features juicy peaches with intimate hints of cinnamon, and Margarita Moon, a signature drink best enjoyed on the rocks.
Cockpit Craft Distillery
4893 Galley Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80915
Cockpit Craft Distillery is a delight in regards to spirits. The distillery uses specialty ingredients to create a versatile range of spirits ranging from whiskey, rum, moonshine, vodka, gin, brandies, to bourbon and spiced rum. The cocktail menu is equally interesting. Be sure to try the Whiskey Sour, Manhatton, Cuba Libre, or the famous Corsair Breeze made with pineapple juice, cream of coconut, lime juice, and rum.
Axe and the Oak
1604 South Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80905
Now open in Ivywild School, this distillery is run by four friends who source raw materials from a family farm. The Axe and the Oak’s whiskeys best represent the city’s story, blending history and the promise of new exciting horizons. While here, be sure to try their Pikes Peak Hill Shine, an ode to our world-famous Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Sitting at 104 proof, this blend will marvel you with its intriguing marshmallow and citrus aromas with finishing notes of corn, caramel, and apricot. You can also indulge the Colorado Mountain Bourbon Whiskey, the distillery’s cornerstone spirit. This bourbon is created with a blend of melted grains and aged in American White Oak barrels.
Blue Fish Distillery
5745 Industrial Place, Suite A, Colorado Springs, CO 80916
When Blue fish distillery won the 2017 Denver International Spirits Competition in the Vodka class, it cemented its place as one of the most sort after Colorado Springs distilleries. The distillery uses a grain-to-glass process to finish a wide assortment of spirits. The process relies heavily on raw ingredients from the start, which affords the spirits a full-bodied taste. While here, be sure to try Blue Agave, a Colorado Springs made tequila with a distinctive taste. The American White Rum is also a mainstay here; it is a light, clean rum made from cane sugar and a touch of caramelized sugar. It is best enjoyed on the rocks.
Distillery 291
1647 South Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80905
Located on the backdrop of Cheyenne Mountain, Distillery 291 is arguably Colorado Spring’s best-known distillery. The distillery scooped up the gold medal at the 2017 World Spirit Competition in San Francisco. The distillery’s tasting room features each of their eight flagship whiskeys and a range of classic cocktails. For the whiskeys, try the Barrel Proof Colorado Whiskey, a high-proof but smooth whiskey aged of one year. You can also indulge in the Single Barrel Colorado Rye Whiskey or their barrel-aged bourbon delight. Distillery 291’s cocktails are also an interesting prospect for booze lovers. The Blackberry Sour is a local’s favorite alongside the Colorado Fresh Whiskarita, which are best, served extra chilled.
Colorado Gold Distillery
Celebrating its 11th anniversary this year, the distillery relocated to Colorado Springs in the summer of 2016 in a bid to expand production. The distillery is a true vodka originator now famous for its signature blend, Colorado Hemp Vodka, locally known as the Colorado high. The hemp-distilled vodka is different from conventional vodka as it gives you a luxurious mouthfeel thanks to the natural oiliness of the hemp. While vodka is their specialty, you can swing by for some bourbon or rye whiskey.
Finally, the future looks bright for Colorado Springs distilleries, and we can expect more exciting flavors and blends in the short term. Voted #1 on TripAdvisor for Food and Drink in Colorado Springs in 2018, Rocky Mountain Food Tours is a distinctive family owned food tours venture committed to helping foodies and booze lovers reinvent their food and drink experience. We are also the first and only food tour in operation in Colorado Springs. Book a food tour with us today!
Cheers, Your Rocky Mountain Food Tours Team
