166: Boulder Spirits With Alastair Brogan

There are a few places that I just keep going back to. Today we are chatting with Alastair over at Boulder Spirits. We chatted about everything from the early years to why malt has such complexity. Such a good conversation, hope you enjoy.

Boulderspirits.com

Patreon.com/offtopicwhiskey

Badmotivatorbarrels.com/shop/?aff=3

https://www.instagram.com/zsmithwhiskeyandmixology?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

THE MISSION

Barley, yeast, water, oak, and the pursuit of happiness. These make up the foundation of what we here at Boulder Spirits stand on. We’re a small Colorado whiskey company with big dreams, bigger goals, and the biggest pot still in the state. We’re here to make our best versions of American Single Malt Whiskeys, Bourbons, and Gins that our team can. We hope you can find us in your future, whether by visiting the distillery for a tour and tasting, or seeing our products at your favorite spirits retailers and finer whiskey serving establishments.

THE MOVEMENT

Unbeknownst to Alastair during his pursuit of whiskey, an entire movement was abrew. Since the day we filled our first freshly charred, virgin American Oak barrel with malt whiskey to the day that we filled our first bottle, the American Single Malt Whiskey category was born. Around the country, as well as the world, the taste for American Whiskey has grown. The thirst for Bourbon stays strong, but this country is great at many things, and innovation is absolutely one of our greatest. This innovative mindset shared by distillers in every corner of this country has created an entirely new set of flavors to explore; these flavors all begin with one common source: 100% malted barley. Currently, there are over 130 distilleries that have ventured into the American Single Malt Whiskey realm, each with as different of an approach to creating whiskey from each other as the next. Single malt whisky is made in many, many countries around the world, but only the United States utilizes the virgin American Oak as a standard. We believe that is the truest defining characteristic of American whiskey.

We take traditions from Al’s homeland, along with American ingenuity to find a balance that creates award winning whiskeys: distillers malted barley, a Scottish pot still, #3 char American White Oak barrels, aged in an arid, high elevation climate, and cut with the celebrated Eldorado Springs water. This is our American Single Malt.

American Single Malt Whiskey

A forthright representation of a traditional pot distilled malt whiskey
combined with American aging techniques. Using 100% imported malted barley and
long fermentation and distillation times, our whiskey is rich with flavor before being
aged in freshly charred American Oak barrels for a minimum of 3 years.

Profile:

• Clean, bright, round whiskey with citrus notes and a wonderful balance of oak and barley. Whiskey for the daytime, or anytime.

• 100% Malted barley, 100% virgin American white oak, 100% American Single Malt

• 92 Proof / 46% Alc. By Vol.

Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled in Bond

The Bottled In Bond Act of 1897 was written to ensure the consumer was informed the
contents of that bottle were of quality standards and made in compliance with industry
standards. In modern times, this ensures the consumer knows three major things: It’s at least 4
years of age and all the whiskey is harvested from the same season, it is bottled at exactly 100
proof, and perhaps most importantly, the labeling states where it’s made and who bottled the
whiskey inside.

Profile:

• Oatmeal cookie, candied ginger, and allspice. Aged 4 years and bottled at 100 proof.

• We’re proud to have a whiskey that joins the hallmark tradition of quality American whiskey designation: Bottled In Bond

• 100 Proof / 50% Alc. By Vol.