New Spirit will Replace 4-year Bottled in Bond Version

By Katie Coakley

The craft bourbon scene is strong in Colorado. There are plenty of options for “local” bourbon when perusing the shelves at liquor stores or behind the bar in your favorite watering hole. But it only takes one sip to reiterate the idea that not all whiskeys are equal. However, choose the distinctive square bottle of Laws Whiskey House and you’re guaranteed a smooth, well-balanced whiskey or bourbon, expertly made and Colorado born-and-bred, from the farm to the bottle.

Alan Laws started Laws Whiskey House in 2011 as a purpose driven, grain-to-bottle whiskey distillery. Using a traditional method of open-air, on-grain fermentation, Laws' whiskeys feature high altitude-grown American mother grains and mountain spring water while aging in 53-gallon charred American oak barrels.

“These are heirloom, not commodity grains,” Laws explained. “You’re really tasting the Colorado terroir.”

This idea of terroir, most often used in conjunction with wine, means that every element of the whiskey is considered, not only the type of grains, but where they’re grown and how they’re treated. Laws knows the farmers that are growing his grain, which is important to him because he can gauge the quality of the final product.

“When we know who grew our grain, nothing happens by accident,” Laws said.

Laws Whiskey House’s latest release, a 6-year Bottled in Bond Bourbon, is yet another expression of Laws’ commitment to producing the finest Colorado bourbon possible.

Bottled in Bond is a designation created in 1897 as a consumer production law. In short, it requires that the whiskey be a product of a single season (January to June or July to December), using the grain of a single season, made by one distiller at a single distillery. It also must be aged at least four years in a federal government-bonded warehouse. The whiskey is then cut and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV).

The 6-Year Bottled in Bond Four Grain Bourbon was matured in 53-gallon charred oak barrels. It features 100 percent Colorado-grown corn from The Whiskey Sisters in Burlington, as well as rye, wheat and barley from Colorado Malting Co. in Alamosa.

“Many bonded whiskeys are only aged to four years, but I think six to nine years is the best,” Laws said. “This version has smoother vanilla and caramel notes and an enhanced black cherry flavor that you don’t get from the 4-year version.”

Laws recommends opening up the bottle to reduce the “bottle shock,” and then adding a few drops of water to your glass for the best tasting experience. Everyone’s sampling experience will be different due to individual palates, but I found the smooth, golden liquid was like drinking the smell of freshly made cinnamon rolls – not too sweet and all too quaffable.

Currently, Laws Whiskey House produces six bonded whiskeys (the lineup includes the newly released Bonded Centennial Straight Wheat Whiskey, bonded Secale Straight Rye Whiskey, bonded Two Grain Straight Bourbon, bonded Four Grain Straight Bourbon and bonded Straight Corn Whiskey). The 6-year Bottled in Bond Bourbon will eventually replace the 4-year version.

With so many bonded whiskeys (there are only about 40-50 bonded craft whiskeys in the entire country), Laws continues to uphold the highest integrity in the whiskey-making process.

“Bonded means it’s all ours,” Laws said. “We want to continue to get better and push the envelope of what whiskey can be.”