Omayra Acevedo, Lyons. Morning had come and gone, and by the afternoon I found myself seated at Spirit Hound Distillers with Craig Engelhorn, about to have a private tasting of their new four-year, single-barrel Colorado Rye Whisky. It’s older than most Colorado whiskies, by the way. Please remember that I am not a heavy drinker, but, like with most things and people in life, I am unbelievably picky. This doesn’t exclude my palate.
Craig poured enough on my glass for a tasting, I looked at the bottle and wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I picked up my glass, swirled it gently, and then brought it to my nose. The somewhat spicy floral aroma triggered excitement in me. I gave it a second swirl to watch the legs run down the side of the glass – this offers you an indication of the intensity of the zest. Lots of legs and quick movement will tell you that it will be light in flavor. As I looked at my glass, I noticed that the movement was slow at first, and steady towards its end. I had not tasted it yet, but I felt confident in what I had just witnessed.
While speaking with Craig, I learned that part of their process at Spirit Hound Distillers, is that they do not use machines or special gadgets to verify levels of grains, sugars, water, and flavor. The quality of their spirits is determined by the judgement of their own sense of taste. I was also able to tour the facility, where I met a couple of Craig’s assistants, Matt and Steve. They don’t just distill spirits; they also bottle their own products. Amanda, the tasting room bar manager, has the fun job of creating Spirit Hound Distillers specialty cocktails. Great option for those that prefer to mix their spirits.
Finally, the Rye Whisky touched my lips with the consistency of homemade love. By the time it hit my taste buds, I already wanted more. It was slightly shocking at first, as some whiskies are, then, there was a smoothness to it; the after kick was also pretty calm. My confession here is that I have always been a Rye fan. However, not all Rye Whisky tastes the same or is made with the same level of passion and care. Needless to say, I am now a Spirit Hound Distillers, single-barrel, four-year Colorado Rye Whisky enthusiast.
I’ve traveled quite a bit all around our colorful state. I’ve experienced bars, restaurants, breweries, distilleries, and everything in between. Trust me when I tell you that between the ambiance, friendliness, location, eco-friendly practices, incredible support of the Lyons community, and their spirits (which are all primarily made with Colorado ingredients): Straight Malt Whisky, Gin, Rum, Vodka, Sambuca, Coffee Liqueur, and homemade original cocktails, there’s no reason someone can’t find something to enjoy at Spirit Hound Distillers.
Spirit Hound Distillers http://www.spirithounds.com/ 4196 Ute Highway, Lyons, Colorado, 80540, 303-823-5696.
(Originally published in the February 25, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)
