Mountain Stops on the Colorado Spirits Trail

By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer

Last month, Hearts & Trails Spirits Festival kicked off the Colorado Spirits Trail. The event will be an annual affair to celebrate an industry that has seen tremendous growth not only in Colorado but nationwide.

While attending Hearts & Trails Spirits Festival I heard several people say that there are now more than one hundred distilleries operating in Colorado, with more planning to open in the next 12 to 18 months.

The new Colorado Spirits Trail, a map that was unveiled at February’s event, features seventy distilleries from around the state.

I’m going to highlight the ten distilleries located in the map’s High Elevation region. This is a great reason to download the map and head to the hills.

Basalt

Woody Creek Distillers is a must-stop for skiers, boarders, bikers, rafters, hikers and kayakers. It has become a gathering spot for locals and visitors who can frequently be heard saying to one another, “We’ll meet you a Woody Creek later.”

They are one of the few distillers on the Colorado Spirits Trail that grows one of their ingredients—potatoes, to be exact—for use in their award-winning potato vodka.

Breckenridge

Breckenridge Distillery produces 16 products, but it’s their bourbon that still receives the most accolades. Located in one of Colorado’s prettiest ski towns, Breckenridge Distillery recently built a magnificent new building north of town that also features a restaurant.

A trip here isn’t complete without a tour and tasting, which run every day and are free.

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