October up in the high country usually consists of bipolar weather and anxiously awaiting opening day, but Breckenridge’s Craft Spirits Festival is here smack dab in the middle of the month to help us through the mud season. 38 different distillers will be handing out tasters this year which sets the weekend up for great success. Between distilling seminars, a scavenger hunt around town, spirited cooking classes and a haunted tour, activity options will not be scarce the weekend of October 20th – 22nd.
Some Distiller Highlights:
Breckenridge Distillery – Breckenridge, CO
Bryan Nolt scraped up every last penny he could find and put all that he had into starting the Breckenridge Distillery in 2007. 10 years later, the distillery produces some of the finest whiskey, vodka and gin in the country. This well-known spot is popular among tourists for guided tours of the distillery, and among locals for the amazing restaurant and bottling parties.
Black Canyon Distillery – Mead, CO
The Black Canyon Distillery, named after the founder’s love for the glorious Black Canyon of the Gunnison, pride themselves on their balanced whiskey made from Colorado grain and pure Rocky Mountain water. Fred Lesnick’s whiskeys have a “rich golden color, along with hints of caramel and vanilla flavors extracted from new white oak.”
10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Company – Vail, CO
Named after the 10th Mountain Division soldiers who came to Vail in the 1940’s, this distillery has quite a beautiful tasting room and even more beautiful spirits. The founders are both ski and whiskey aficionados from different parts of the country, but they headed to the mountains for the same reason the majority of us did – love for adventure.
The festival’s main event will take place Saturday evening starting at 4:00. Still on the Hill is three hours of “premier craft spirits tasting” at Breckenridge’s Riverwalk Center and tickets in advance are $45.
If you’re worried about where to stay, the host lodging property for the weekend is Beaver Run. For more information, you can visit their website.