Owner Joe Vonfeldt confirms that January is still looking good -- "that's pretty realistic," he says. And he notes that vodka isn't all the distillery has in store.
Vonfeldt has partnered with Wyn Ferrell and Chase Campbell to open the micro-distillery, and he and Ferrell both come from Colorado Pure, the private label distillery that also once employed Rob Masters of Rob's Mtn Gin. "Wyn and I worked for Colorado Pure and then Shadow Beverage Group," Vonfeldt explains. "We built that business up and then decided to get moving on our own deal."
Campbell was one of the pair's private label clients, and they decided to bring him in as a partner instead. The guys picked up a glass column still from Colorado Pure and a pot still, and while the distillers will continue to make private label spirits for a variety of brands, they'll also unveil their own line. "We'll have Elevate Vodka, Pegleg Rum and Denver Dry Gin," Vonfeldt says. And possibly whiskey in the future.
The distillery also has space for a 2,500-square-foot tasting bar, where the guys hope to draw the same large crowds that pack the city's brewery tasting rooms. Drinks will be supplemented by food trucks -- Vonfeldt says they've already begun negotiating with several to stop by and join the party. And they'll retail their spirits along with t-shirts and other fanfare on site, too.
Vonfeldt says the construction is almost complete, but the guys are waiting on one federal permit before they can nail down an opening date. "We've been in the queue for a while now," he says. "We've got to be getting close."
