Colorado’s First Bourbon
By Katherine Weadley
(Spring Issue 2009, Edible Front Range)

This isn’t mountain moonshine, but high-end small-batch bourbon. Using only Colorado ingredients Peach Street Distillers has released their first (legal) bourbon -- “Peach Street Distiller’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey.” Each 750 milliliter bottle is hand-numbered by Distiller Davy Lindig and features a black wax-dipped top. The first release featured only 200 bottles.
In order to be legally considered bourbon, as opposed to whisky, ingredients must be at least 51 percent corn and aged for a minimum of two years in a new American oak barrel that has been charred, according to Packing Manager Danny Wilson. “We use more like 60 percent corn,” Wilson said. “Also, bourbon doesn’t have to come from Bourbon County in Kentucky in order to be called bourbon. That’s just something they made up in Kentucky.”
Peach Street Distillery focuses on using natural, local ingredients. Their other products, including Goat Vodka, and Jackalope Gin are also made the same way. “Our gin is made from handpicked juniper berries. That’s why we’re in Palisade, because we can find local things to make our high-quality products,” said Lindig. “I’m a purist. I wouldn’t’ put anything artificial in our products. I just wouldn’t do it,” he said.
Rory Donovan founded Peach Street Distillers in November 2005 with Bill Graham and Dave Thibodeau. Graham and Thibodeau are also founders of the craft beer Ska Brewery Company in Durango. Previously, Lindig was a brewer at the Durango Brewing Company. However, the group chose to locate the distillery in Palisade because its warm days, low humidity and cool nights create perfect growing conditions for fruits including grapes, apples and the famous Palisade Peach.
“We’ve slowly been filling barrels, and in January we’re going to step up our production of bourbon and distill barrels like crazy,” Lindig said. Just take a peek into their barrel-aging warehouse, or "rick house,” to see all the barrels lined up waiting to make bourbon.
"Waiting for this bourbon has proved to be quite an exercise in restraint, but the rewards are well worth it,” said Donavan. “We haven’t made up our minds yet as to how or how far we’ll distribute the bourbon,” said Wilson. Right now the bourbon can only be purchased in their tasting room in Palisade, but their other spirits can fe found all over Colorado.
Peach Street Distillers, www.peachstreetdistillers.com, 144 South Kluge Ave, Bldg. #2, Palisade, CO 81526, 970-464-1128, or email at info@peachstreetdistillers.com
Peach Street products can be found at:
Colorado Springs: Cheers Liquor Mart, 1105 North Circle Drive
Denver: Argonaut, 700 E. Colfax
Boulder: Liquor Mart, 1750 15th Street
Ft. Collins: Crystals Liquor, 356 E. Harmony