Colorado bourbon?

Indeed, Peach Street Distillers offers new product

Gene Davis, DDN Staff Writer

Friday, September 5, 2008

Be warned, Kentucky: Colorado has produced its first bottles of legal bourbon.

Peach Street Distillers, producers of Goat Vodka and Jackelope Gin, released the Colorado caramel-colored liquor last month to heavy fanfare.

“I’ve been dropping by every week for what seems like an eternity, but they say the finest things are worth waiting for,” said a statement from Grand Junction resident, Josh Williams, who purchased one of the first bottles.

The 740-milliliter bourbon bottle is 46-percent alcohol by volume. Each bottle features a black wax-dipped top and is hand-numbered by head distiller Davy Lindig.

Rory Donovan, co-founder of Peach Street, described the bourbon’s taste as having a heavy cereal note with distinct tannic caramel and vanilla qualities that come from the oak.

“All in all, it’s a pretty nice whiskey for what it is,” he said.

Unfortunately for Denverites, the 2-year-old batch is only available in the Peach Street Distillers tasting room in Palisade.  

What is bourbon?

Contrary to popular belief, Bourbon can be made outside of Kentucky. According to Peach Street Distillers, the spirit must be made from at least 51-percent corn, aged for at least two years in new charred American oak barrels, and had nothing added at bottling to enhance the flavor or color. If it follows those requirements, it’s legitimate bourbon.

No rush

Donovan said that he and his business partner, David Thibodeau, had been thinking about producing Colorado bourbon for around 15 years. 

The two men plan on releasing the bourbon to some accounts statewide sometime next year. They are waiting to see how the spirit ages over time in the barrels, and are in no hurry to mass-produce it.

“We are pleased with its quality,” said Donovan. “There is time for it to improve in time.”