The Ultimate Guide to Colorado Distilleries: The Essential Bar Cart

1. Marble Distilling Co. Vodka 80; $30, Carbondale
One of a handful of distilleries in the country working toward a zero-waste process, Marble recaptures 100 percent of the water it uses in the distilling process and reuses energy created during the distillation of its smooth, clean Vodka 80, made from Colorado grains.

2. Old Town Distilling Co. Old Standard Bourbon Whiskey; $60, Fort Collins
This three-year-old distillery adheres to organic and sustainable practices, filtering chlorine and fluoride out of its water and sending spent grains to local ranches as feed for hogs and cattle.

3. Longtucky Spirits Silver Sour-Mashed Rum; $30, Longmont
What happens when you turn three former Avery Brewing employees loose with bushels of Fort Morgan sugar beets? Longtucky Spirits’ sour-mashed rum, made from 75 percent sugar beets and 25 percent Florida organic molasses (try it in a Cuba Libre).

4. Distillery 291 The Decc; $25, Colorado Springs
This clove and citrus liqueur is best enjoyed, according to 291’s founder, Michael Myers, on an alpine deck. (“The Deck” was already taken, so 291 fudged the spelling.) The Decc’s 35 percent ABV—significantly higher than that of many liqueurs—also means if you drink too much, you may hit the deck in a more literal sense.

5. 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Co. Rye; $45, Vail
This full-bodied, lightly spicy spirit has a crowd-pleasing flavor profile and is made with southern Colorado rye and malted barley. Plus, co-founder Christian Avignon’s grandfather was a medic in the original 10th Mountain Division that trained at Camp Hale, near Vail.

6. State 38 Distilling Darling Apple Brandy; $40, Golden
State 38 debuted Whippletree—a rich, balanced brandy made entirely with excess apples donated by Coloradans—in 2016. The 2018 bottling will be released this month under its new name, Darling Apple Brandy.

7. Cocktailpunk Bitters; $12, Boulder
Made with as many local ingredients as possible (Palisade peaches, Western Slope lavender), Cocktailpunk’s flavored bitters turn up the volume on your otherwise ho-hum old fashioned.

8. Izze Sparkling Water Beverage; Boulder
Inspired by sunny days in Boulder, Izze’s creators dreamed up a variety of bubbly sips and a plethora of refreshing cocktail recipes that utilize them (visit izze.com/recipes).

Local(ish) Accessories

Clockwise from top left: The Colorado Tumbler (made in Portland, Oregon, using a mold of the Maroon Bells), $45, North Drinkware; porcelain white birch vases, $75 each, Liz Quan; tall arrow drink stirrers, $35 for four, Drynkware; copper shaker and jigger, $25 and $10, Sparq Home; stoneware cocktail mixing vessel, $60, Analog Mercantile; large faceted bowl, $48, Liz Quan; wood cocktail glasses, $61 each, David Rasmussen Design; Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails (from New York City’s Death & Co bar, which is opening its second location in RiNo this spring), $40, Tattered Cover