Two Weekends of Whiskey in Denver
Hello, again! Bryan jumping in to share some of the fun things that keep me busy, and this time it’s all things whiskey! Have you heard of it? It’s a new thing I was recently introduced to. Well, I may have heard of it during 2025 when I committed to 365 Days of Guinness – drinking at least one Guinness every day for a full year. It was a lot of fun, and a bit challenging with logistics at times, but I enjoyed that journey and met many kind and interesting people at Guinness bars all around the country.
One topic that came up frequently toward the end of the year was “What will you do next year? How about whiskey?” This was an intriguing idea, but using the same daily format seemed like it could get problematic pretty quickly. So I adjusted some of the parameters, and now papa has a brand new bag. Care to join me?
Introducing Pour Friday
This new project is called PourFriday.com, and was started in Maryland by a long-time friend. In short, it’s a way to help people set up a whiskey tasting group with friends and/or coworkers to learn more about whiskey, and to promote getting together for fun. I like this concept. One of my favorite parts of the 365 Days of Guinness was the people I started to hang out with regularly. Same crew, sitting at the pub grabbing a pint on their way home, having a few laughs together. I grew up with something like this. When I was a kid, my dad and grandfather would take an hour or two out of their weekend to stop in for a drink at their local pubs. Sometimes, they didn’t even drink the drink, but it was a place they would check in on their friends and what was happening in their community. I’ll always remember the welcoming “It’s CT and Cleo!” as we walked in. Good memories that I hope to bring to Pour Friday.
One of the interesting perks of this new endeavour is that I have a good reason to go to some of the many whiskey events in my area. I need to understand whiskey to share whiskey, right? Here’s a summary of two events that I attended recently, with links to the full articles at the end.
Do you like whiskey? Do you have a favorite? Know of any events I should attend?
A Saturday of Whiskey Tasting at The Celtic Tavern
First up was a tasting hosted by TastingFestivals.com at The Celtic Tavern in Denver, bringing together a lineup of distilleries and spirit producers under one roof. I’m no sophisticated connoisseur with a finely tuned palate, but that’s kind of the point – the fun is in showing up, trying what’s poured, and learning as you go.
A few pours stood out. Salida Distillery took the top spot for me, with The Chase Rye, The Courtship wheated bourbon, and their Water Rights Botanical Gin all worth seeking out. Anderson & Link Whiskey Company, a veteran-owned outfit working with 100% malted rye, impressed across three different proof levels. Clear Water Distilling kept things approachable with their 90-proof Wednesday Whiskey. Rounding out the room were Altos Distribution, Bulleit, Pure Distilling out of Colorado Springs, Milestone Brands, Gardenista Cocktails, and Suavecito Tequila.
The takeaway: seek out the adventure, try the new stuff, and grow along with the experience.
Bourbon Finished in a Cognac Foeder at Laws Whiskey Sanctuary
The second event was a deep dive at Laws Whiskey Sanctuary – “Breaking Down the Blend: The Evolution of Laws Bourbon Finished in a Cognac Foeder” – walking through the multi-stage production behind this release start to finish.
It starts with Laws’ Four Grain Straight Bourbon, aged over four years in 255-liter barrels. From there it moves through progressively larger French oak cognac casks – 350 liters, then 400 liters – before landing in a massive 1,600-gallon foeder for extended maturation, finished with a solera method where only portions are drawn off and replaced with bourbon from earlier stages.
Tasting through each stage alongside founder Al Laws and Head Distiller Sam Poirier was the real highlight – the flavor and heat profile shifted noticeably from step to step, with different notes moving to the front and then falling back as the whiskey moved through the process. If you’re in Denver, it’s worth visiting the distillery to hear the full story and grab a bottle.
Read the Full Articles
Greeblehaus is a Denver-based music and travel blog sharing concert photography, reviews, and stories from live music across Colorado and beyond. You can find more upcoming shows in our Denver concert calendar.
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