We are in Denver, which means we have free daycare in the form of Grandparents Hesseltine, which means Sarah and I are going to take the opportunity to do some adult stuff together. As such, we found ourselves at a local craft whiskey distillery ready for a tour and tasting at
Stranahan's Colorado Straight Whiskey at 11AM.
Stranahan's is a very cool, small, hands-on operation. There are a lot of ways these characteristics show through in the final product. The best example I have is demonstrated in the photo above. Every bottle of Stranahan's is hand bottled and hand labeled by an all volunteer crew. (OK, so they get paid with a bottle of the good stuff for their work - well worth the time) Each bottle, after labeling, is then hand inked with the "notes" of the bottler - in the case of the photo above, what they were listening to while bottling. Each bottle is unique - just one of the many things that made this place special.
The tour begins, logically enough, at the beginning of the process. Making whisky begins by essentially making beer. The smell is amazing.
The barrels in this photo were filled the day of our tour.
This whiskey won't make it to a bottle for 2-5 years.
These barrels were filled just 2 days before our visit.
This is what happens when someone offers to take a photo for you, a slightly out of focus photo.
Approximately 5 years of Colorado straight whiskey in this room.
Finally, the tasting room.
Our tour was slated for 30 minutes. It took us more than an hour to get to the tasting at the end of the tour. I blame this mostly on the 15 intensely inquisitive ladies who volunteer giving tours at the state capital building, meeting at the tour for their weekly social event. I must give credit to our tour guide, TK, who, although initially appearing as not much more than a stoner who probably worked at a whiskey factory for the side benefits, was able to read his audience and more than keep step with their questions, always be factually correct, never long winded, and most importantly, a lot of fun. If you are in the neighborhood, I recommend this as a must. Oh, the whiskey was astounding too.
I think Sarah should sell this photo to Stranahan's - or at least get a free bottle.
Remnants...
After a delicious BBQ lunch at the Breckenridge brewery, we headed to Great Divide for a taste of their beers and a tour. You see all those taps? Yeah, we had some of ALL of that! (yes, even some water, appearing in the far left)
Once again, Sara's prowess as a photographer shines. Can you spot the focal point in the photo on the right? Bottom right corner!? Who does that?! Artists - that's who - my wife the artist.
If you need fingers/toes to count, you are gonna need both hands, an entire foot, and the big toe on the other foot for all the delicious tasters we enjoyed. Most were well above average, one or two were epic. Only one didn't get drank; the Pilsner in case you were wondering.
Doing my best to mimic the art in the background. You know, 16 beers will do that...
