May 14, 2006

Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey

We're huge fans of high-quality spirits distilled in places you wouldn't expect (like a Texas Vodka, for example), and we've just stumbled across a whiskey made in, of all places, the Colorado Rockies. Now we know most American Whiskey is made in the south, and we're intrigued by the idea of getting Rocky Mountain high off this new liquor, called Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey. They definitely get points for the simple and direct name, and they're generating all sorts of buzz, especially in the Colorado area.

The company just tapped its first barrel, and we're itching to get our hands on a bottle. Not only is it a unique whiskey, it's also got a pretty cool backstory:

The story behind the whiskey is the stuff of legend. When businessman George Stranahan's barn went up in flames seven years ago outside Aspen, (Jess) Graber was a volunteer firefighter who responded to the fire. After the blaze, Graber and Stranahan got to talking and discovered they had a mutual interest in the alcoholic beverage business. The idea began brewing there.

Stranahan, co-founder of Flying Dog Brewery, is a major investor in the whiskey business. The distillery relies on the nearby brewery to get its mash, a mixture of hot water and crushed grain that is an early step in the production of beer.

Thinking back to the fire at his barn, Stranahan, who attended Thursday's party, clearly is proud of the new venture that sprang forth from the ashes.

via Rocky Mountain News

The stuff retails for $54.95 per 750ml bottle, and good luck getting your hands on it. It's currently only sold in Colorado right now, and it's apparently so popular that liquor stores can't keep it in stock. Learn more at the Stranahan's site, plus find a list of stores that carry it for the next time you're in the Centennial State.