Central City's Stills in the Hills festival showcased Colorado craft spirits, food, and live music
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3 Hundred Days Distillery offered an impressive assortment of moonshine.
Stills in the Hills was as popular as ever.
Recyclable aluminum bottles are utilized by Morgan Douglass and OACIS Distilling.
Retired Army Command Sergeant Major Scott Anderson of Art of the Spirits Distillery.
Chief's Cigar Blend whiskey has a nose of nutmeg, caramel, cinnamon, and oak.
At the end of the day, nothing hit the spot quite like a cold glass of water.
Antique cars lined one end of Main Street.
Music entertained visitors throughout the afternoon.
One of the scores of satisfied tasters at the event.
CENTRAL CITY — On Saturday afternoon, June 27, 2026, Main Street in Central City was transformed into a giant open-air tasting area for a wide variety of Colorado whiskeys, vodkas, gins, rums, moonshines., and liqueurs.
Not intended for guzzling, and served in small portions, it was an opportunity to relax and broaden one’s palate in a social context, hopefully without getting too snockered.
The event, of course, was the 12th Annual Stills in the Hills.
Live music played at both ends of the one-block-long venue. Delicious food was served, included with the VIP price of admission. Sliced buffalo and chicken sandwiches, hamburgers, cherry tomato and cheese kabobs, fresh fruit, cashews, and pistachios were some of the items on the menu.
With the event running from 12 through 6 p.m., it was best to pace oneself if you wanted to sample as many spirits as possible.
Molly Brown Distillery’s bourbons from Denver brought a “grain to glass” smoothness that left you feeling unsinkable.
Dirty Pickle’s vodka shots came in regular, spicy, and Bloody Mary flavors.
Located in Lyons, Spirit Hound Distilling’s sambuca is infused with elderberries and anise for a flavorful combination.
Black Hat Distillery of Colorado Springs produces four types of agave spirits. Their Galletto Coffee Liqueur sources African coffee beans for a long-lasting dark finish that melds with Madagascar vanilla.
Gypsum’s 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Company offered a brandy made with pinot noir grapes, featuring a complex flavor with a slight cream and maple finish.
Mile High Spirits’ Cuidado Almond Tequila is distilled with roasted almonds. Their Fireside Wheated Bourbon uses 70% Colorado sweet corn, 20% wheat, and 10% malted barley in its manufacture and is aged for at least four years. With a clean beginning, structured middle, and excellent finish, it possesses a nose of chocolate, raspberry, prune, brown sugar, and pomegranate molasses.
Apple pie, strawberry lemonade, watermelon, huckleberry hibiscus, honey salted caramel, and old-fashioned root beer were some of the varieties of moonshine being served by 3 Hundred Days Distillery out of Monument.
If you were still able to stand and your sweet tooth hadn’t been satisfied by then, CVC Vodka had vodka-laced gummy bear shots available for dessert.
