Branch & Barrel Distilling
About
Branch & Barrel Distilling is the brainchild of our three owners Ryan, Tom, and Scott. The three met and became friends back in the late 2000s through overlapping work in general contracting (Tom), residential construction (Ryan), and Plumbing and HVAC (Scott). Over the years, Ryan and Tom bonded over the dream of producing a high quality Colorado whiskey; they were both fans of brown spirits, but hadn't had much luck finding any that they liked enough to drink consistently. They read up on spirits production, did some experimentation of their own, and eventually concluded that with their idea and Scott's plumbing expertise, they could make their dream a reality.
During Ryan and Tom's "experimentation" days, Scott had provided the systems expertise to allow for early forays into what would later become Branch & Barrel's flagship spirit: an authentic Colorado Bourbon. Staying rooted in this DIY mentality, the three owners quite literally built their distillery from the ground up. The auto body shop was completely gutted, and new cement and infrastructure was installed by our own team's hands. Our still system was devised and built by Scott, utilizing proprietary technology and recycled/upcycled industrial stainless steel parts. Scott is very much a proponent of the 'why buy something when I can build it better' paradigm, and this is evident in every aspect of our manufacturing process. His designs function uniquely and efficiently, save us money by utilizing industrial parts purchased at various auctions, and keep large metal waste out of landfills.
Over the first couple years of operation, we laid down countless barrels of our Flagship Bourbon Recipe, eventually adding a second expression: Plumwood. This was a call back to the owners' "origin story days" when their experimentation with distilling led them to aging spirits on charred branches from their own backyards. Because we have aged whiskey on both branches and in barrels, it was only natural to adopt the moniker "Branch & Barrel" as our company name. We released our first 1-2 year Bourbon to the public in the late 2010s once we felt it was ready. Despite our product being relatively young, we received a lot of positive feedback, validating all of the blood, sweat, and tears that were put into the creative process. In 2021, we opened our tasting room to the public. We watched it grow from a small, fairly informal space where you could buy and sample a limited range of younger whiskies to a fully functional and thriving cocktail bar concept, now considered one of the best places to try whiskey and drinks in the South Metro.
Through the first few years of operation, our Plumwood, Honey, Cafe Miel, and later 3-Way whiskey (cinnamon/vanilla/maple) built us a reputation for experimental expressions. As of this year, we have won over 30 total awards for our portfolio, including numerous gold and double gold medals. We continued this tradition through releases like spicy pepper aged bourbon, a whiskey distilled partially with Colorado Field peas, and various collaborations with breweries, wineries, and other industry partners. We have worked with The Wine Group in Parker, Peakview Brewing, Downhill Brewing, Los Dos Potrillos, Denver Beer Company, and Two22 Brewing, just to name a few. Branch & Barrel aims to create a hub for craft culture and community in the South Metro, and champion this message throughout the great state of Colorado. We work with numerous charities around the state, supporting causes with auction donations, event sponsorships, and a monthly rotating charity cocktail series at our tasting room. We emphasize inclusivity and expression, and the celebration of uniqueness in personality, art, and all things craft.
tasting room hours
Thursday: 2pm – 8pm
Friday: 2pm – 8pm
Saturday: 12pm – 6pm
Sunday: 12pm – 4pm
Branch & Barrel Distilling
15353 E Hinsdale Circle, Suite C
Centennial, CO 80112
babdistilling.com