Denver is known for a lot of things — coffee, breweries, outdoor activities, and of course, the natural beauty and views that surround this Mile-High city. It’s also known for its spirits. No, not “rah, rah” spirit. We’re talking spirits of the alcohol variety.
Whether it’s a whiskey made with local grains and Rocky Mountain water, or vodka made with Colorado-grown potatoes and botanicals, Denver’s distilleries cater to every taste. For the discerning drinker, we put together a list of five top notch distilleries in Denver.
Want to live near the best distilleries in Denver? Call AptAmigo today. Our team of expert apartment locators is here to find you the perfect apartment match for your needs and tastes — distillery proximity included.
Related: Apartments with the Best Views in Denver
Where Are the Best Distilleries in Denver?
Denver Distillery
Address: 244 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80209 (Inside the Imperial Building)
Neighborhood: Baker
Walking into this brick and wood oasis, you can feel the vibe that goes into Denver Distillery’s spirits. It’s part old-school and part modern. They distill their liquors in-house in their self-built copper pot still with a thumper keg (a way of distilling that can be traced to European settlers in early North America). Yet, their creativity with ingredients brings a contemporary feel to their offerings.
You can tour the distillery Monday through Friday from 1-4pm (with a reservation). Their distillery-pub hours are from 5-10pm on Thursdays and Fridays, 1-10pm on Saturdays, and 2-8pm on Sundays. Between visits, you can learn more about the distillery and their processes by watching their virtual tour videos on YouTube. They sell their award-winning alcohols in their main location in the Baker neighborhood, but they also distribute bottles to locations all across Denver.
What to Try:
From classics like a Gin & Tonic or an Old Fashioned, to rotating cocktail concoctions like their 2022 Spring/Summer Spirited Away Collection (based on movies from Studio Ghibli), they serve a drink for everyone at Denver Distillery. Check out their individual liquors too. They make vodka with sweet potatoes, Gin from rum, and many other interesting ingredient pairings.
Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse
Address: 3636 Chestnut Pl, Denver, CO 80216
Neighborhood: RiNo Arts District
The folks at Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse pride themselves on their “farm-to-flask” production process, creating alcohol in truly small batches and never blending their spirits. Their tasting room is the perfect place to bring friends after work, whether they be two-legged or four-legged. That’s right, Ironton features one of Denver’s best distilleries with a pet-friendly patio (they even serve dog treats made from spent grain).
All spirits are made in-house in three custom copper stills named Big Karl, Margo, and Tamila. They use all local ingredients, including herbs and botanicals grown right on-site. The most perceptive drinkers will also notice that all their liquors are 86 proof (a magical number for the distillery). The tasting room is open Tuesday through Thursday from 3-10pm, Friday from 3-11pm, Saturday from 12-11pm, and Sunday from 11am-8pm.
What to Try:
Start yourself off with a drink from their extensive cocktail and liquor menu. Try the Coco Crazy rum drink, Purple Mountain Majesty vodka drink, or Bury Me in Gin drink. Pair your libations with a basket of “Spent Knots” (spent grain garlic knots with housemade tomato sauce), or one of their many pizza options, each named after mines in the actual Ironton mining town.
Stranahan’s Whiskey Distillery & Cocktail Bar
Address: 200 S Kalamath St, Denver, CO 80223
Neighborhood: Baker
Fate has a way of intervening in our lives, and it certainly did so when Jess Graber (a volunteer firefighter) responded to a neighbor’s barn fire. George Stranahan (the neighbor) and Jess would go on to create Stranahan’s Whiskey Distillery, a maker of small-batch single malt whiskey.
The cocktail lounge portion of the distillery features a large patio with picnic tables and plenty of inside seating. Don’t forget to take time for one of their experiences, such as a tour, a guided whiskey tasting, or a cocktail class, all offered daily. Top off the night with a drink while listening to live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Lounge hours run Friday through Sunday from 12-8pm, and the general store is open daily from 12-7pm.
What to Try:
Whiskey is, of course, king of their menu. From flights to cocktails, every drinker will find their perfect whiskey match. Of note are the Sherry Cask whiskey (finished in sherry casks from the Andalusia region of Spain) and the Boulevardier cocktail (similar to a Negroni).
Bear Creek Distillery
Address: 1879 S Acoma St, Denver, CO 80223
Neighborhood: West of Platt Park
The Bear Creek Distillery (BCD) was born out of a shared love among friends: grain-to-bottle spirits. Operating in the heart of Denver, this distillery makes all of its spirits in a state-of-the-art, German-built Kothe still. It all started with their Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which won awards as far back as 2018 and as recently as 2021. BCD also features wheat whiskey, rye whiskey, white whiskey, wheat vodka, corn vodka, cask-strength rum, and more.
There’s a lot going on at BCD. Along with their regular opening hours (Wednesday and Thursday from 4-10pm, Friday and Saturday from 2-11pm, and Sunday from 2-8pm), they host special live DJ events every first Friday, third Friday, second Saturday, and last Saturday of every month. Don’t forget to take a tour of the facility for just $10, which you can later apply toward a bottle or merchandise to take home at the end of the tasting.
What to Try:
The cocktail menu here is extensive, and the bartenders will mix anything your heart desires. Don’t skip out on trying the award-winning straight bourbon whiskey with some grapefruit juice and honey in a Brown Derby. And, keep a lookout for their seasonal drinks, which they distill with special combinations of grains, using various finishing techniques.
Archetype Distillery
Address: 119 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80209
Neighborhood: Baker
Come for the drinks and be awed by the history of this amazing distillery in Denver. Archetype Distillery is housed in the old Webb Theatre built in 1917. Over the years, the theatre has been used for various purposes until Archetype took over in 2015. Along with the tours and tasting room, Archetype features an event space for weddings or corporate parties.
This spectacular place exists thanks to Michael Chapyak, President and Head Distiller. He pursued extensive training and many certificates to bring you their amazing spirits, which they sell in a specially designed bottle made to match the geometry of the theatre itself. The distillery is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12-5pm and Friday from 12-4pm. The tasting room is open Friday and Saturday from 4-10pm and Sunday from 2-6pm.
What to Try:
When it comes to alcohol here, you have two choices—Archangel Vodka or Archrival Gin. Of course, this doesn’t stop the menu from featuring a full lineup of delicious drinks, including their distillates (infused clear spirits) in flavors like ginger, lavender, oolong, dill, olive, and beef jerky. The bartenders will help you pick the perfect drink with just a few simple questions.
Apartment Hunting Near the Best Distilleries in Denver?
With so many amazing distilleries in Denver, we couldn’t cover them all. But you can certainly tour every single one when you move here. Let AptAmigo help with that.
You answer a few simple questions, indicating your most important apartment features, such as apartment views. Our apartment locating team will compile a list of buildings that match your needs. We’ll help get you to your apartment tours with free Lyfts or Ubers, and then you can celebrate at one of these distilleries as soon as you sign your lease.
It’s that easy, and it’s completely free. Check out AptAmigo today and see why we’ve had so many happy clients since 2015.
Jeanette Smith is a writer, editor, and freelancer based in Dallas, Texas. Find out more at JeanettetheWriter.com.
