“We use Rocky Mountain alpine water so it doesn’t get that runoff junk. It’s smooth. Real smooth.” ”

The Rick Thomas Distillery Rep

CENTRAL CITY – The spirits of long-departed miners aren’t the only ones haunting Central City these days. 

On June 28, a different kind of spirit took over the historic streets for the 11th annual Stills in the Hills festival, drawing crowds eager to sip, mingle, and try some artisanal flavors.

Despite a simultaneous celebration happening just down the hill in Black Hawk, the overlapping festivals weren’t a battle of the bands, just a matter of scheduling. 

With no other available Saturdays in June, both cities went full steam ahead. The result? Huge turnouts at both events. The areas of Central and Black Hawk were hopping, quite literally, as many attendees, including myself, moved back and forth between the festivities. 

By early afternoon, more than 200 people had funneled into Central's Main Street, transforming the space into a sprawling speakeasy. 

Central City’s Main Street organization helped run the event, handling ticketing and distributing tasting bracelets. Central City's Business Improvement District organized the event, and member Joe Behm said the turnout was "amazing, really amazing."

For $50 a ticket and $80 for VIP, guests sampled over 15 Colorado distilleries, including Breckenridge and Spirit Hound, as well as Rick Thomas and The Block. Each tent offered something different and unique: vodka, whiskey, flavored moonshine, craft cocktails, and even chocolate-infused spirits.

In the VIP area, festivalgoers enjoyed rotating appetizers and sandwiches, lemonade and tea, and a private bar. The Robby Wicks Band kept the tunes flowing with songs like “Jolene” and “Wagon Wheel.”

The Rick Thomas Distillery booth was quite popular. The local distillery, located just up the hill at Miners Mesa, poured samples of their signature 1859 spirits, a nod to the year the area struck gold.  

“We use Rocky Mountain alpine water,” one rep explained while pouring a taste of their vodka, “so it doesn’t get that runoff junk. It’s smooth. Real smooth.” 

A few booths down, tasters debated the merits of cinnamon pumpkin rum versus apple pie moonshine. The latter, I was told, was made with 25 pounds of real apples per batch.

The atmosphere was casual, colorful, and classic. Distillers swapped stories with tasters. People played Plinko to win prizes, including food and game play, at local casinos. 

At the north end of Main, the Grateful Dead tribute band Aoxomoxoa, named after the Dead’s 1969 album, had fans singing along, myself included. Their unusual employment of a mandolin player added to the richness of their sound. 

The seven-member band will return to the area on July 12 for the Nederland Gravel Race, so if you missed them, you’ve got a second shot.

It wasn’t just spirits and music that brought Main Street to life. The Model A Ford Club also lined up a beautiful display of vintage cars along the street, adding to Central’s historic vibe.

If drinking wasn’t on your agenda, there was still plenty to enjoy. Designated driver passes allowed guests to enjoy the day without the booze. 

By the end of the afternoon, attendees left with commemorative miniature mason cups, casino perks, and maybe a new favorite small-batch bourbon or two. Central City may be best known for its ghosts and gold mines, but once a year, it becomes the epicenter of Colorado’s craft spirit scene.