Colorado is a state that has been at the forefront of the craft whiskey renaissance over the past several years. Lucky for us, we have many great distilleries in our backyard. Whether visiting Colorado or living here, you must check out 291 Colorado Whiskey.
291 Colorado Whiskey
291 Colorado Whiskey was started by Michael Myers in 2011. After Myers grew tired of haunting teens… Oh wait, wrong guy. The Michael Myers of 291 Colorado Whiskey began his career as a fashion and beauty photographer in New York City before being displaced by the events that unfolded on 9/11. Far away from the hustle and bustle of NYC, Myers began a new journey in the entirely unrelated field of whiskey distillation.
Really, who can blame Myers for seeking new opportunities? As people, we constantly reinvent ourselves whether we realize it or not. The good news is that Myers’s pursuits led him to create an exceptional whiskey. 291 happens to be the favorite pour of one of my work buddies. He always tries to get me to join the 291 Colorado Whiskey bandwagon. It should be noted that it isn’t hard to do because I enjoy variety and sampling new pours.
Origins of 291 Colorado Whiskey
When Myers began distilling whiskey, he knew he needed a still. However, he quickly realized that his budget wouldn’t support the purchase of a still. Using a bit of ingenuity and inspiration from moonshiners in the hills of Tennessee and Georgia, Myers decided to craft his own still utilizing copper plates from one of his previous photography projects. 291 continues to use Myers’ original still as part of the distillation process.
291 Colorado Whiskey is unique because it set out to distill and age its whiskey from scratch. Early on in the journey, Myers recognized that the traditional pathway of sourcing whiskey while you wait for your first batches to age wasn’t going to produce the results they wanted. For example, 291 Colorado Bourbon is finished with aspen staves. Good luck finding that in the MGP catalog.
Another process that sets 291 Colorado Whiskey apart from other distillers is using IPA spillage in the mash bill. Myers started working with Bristol Brewing, sourcing their wash from one of Bristol’s IPAs. Unfortunately, the wort in the first batch of 291 from this wash resulted in a drain pour. However, the folks at 291 realized they could use a portion of the wort and mash to add to other batches. This helped add depth and complexity to each bottle of 291.
291 Colorado Whiskey Distillery
The 291 Colorado Whiskey Distillery is located in the heart of Colorado Springs. One thing we love about the 291 Colorado Whiskey location is that it is mostly accessible via bike. On our visit, we used the urban trail system and bikes to get us to the location. It was uphill from where we lived, so I think I earned my cocktail.
291 Colorado Whiskey is located inside a warehouse complex in a commercial area in central Colorado Springs. It is relatively unimpressive. We were hesitant about where to enter the building when we arrived. We also traveled by bike, so we encountered a few challenges trying to figure out an adequate location to lock our bikes without blocking the ADA-accessible entrance. At that moment, I had to remind myself that the good things were inside.
Inside 291 Colorado Distillery, the warehouse is divided into two sections. To the right is the warehouse and distilling facility. To the left is the bar and tasting room. Since we had only planned to grab a quick cocktail before resuming our bike ride, we headed to the left and stepped up to the bar.
291 Tasting Room
Distillery tours are fun, but the tasting is what we look forward to the most. At 291 Colorado Distillery, getting right to the good part is easy. Since we arrived shortly after opening, we were greeted by the bartender and quickly picked out the cocktails we wanted to try. The best part about 291 Colorado Whiskey is that their cocktails are among some of the best-priced cocktails in the entire city. Everything on the menu is $10. This makes it worthwhile to drop in for a happy hour cocktail or a quick drink before a big evening out. The cocktails we enjoyed while there were excellent.
291 Distillery Tours
If you want to whole experience. 291 Colorado Whiskey offers a tour and tasting package. For $40, you’ll learn about the distilling process and more about Michael Myers’ pathway to creating 291 Colorado Whiskey. At the end of the tour, you can sample the delicious spirits 291 produced in their distillery. Afterward, hang out and enjoy some live music over a cocktail.
For more information about the tasting room and tour, check out the 291 Colorado Whiskey website.
Closing Thoughts
291 Colorado Whiskey gets down to business at its facility located in Central Colorado Springs. The simple setup allows the whiskey and cocktails to be the stars of the show. We recommend dropping in for a tasting or grabbing a cocktail. 291 is a perfect place to drop in for a happy hour or to enjoy some live music on the weekends. The tasting room is for those 21 and over, making it an excellent place for a date night. Leave the kids at home and drop in for a good time.
Be sure to check out our page to find other distillery experiences off the bourbon trail.
Happy Exploring!
