As so often happens in this town, developers followed the artists, and in 2018, the owners decided to sell — but not to a speculator who wanted to create the type of apartment complexes so common in RiNo today.
"The new owners will be the Ironton Distillery," co-owner Jill Hadley Hooper, who'd worked with fellow artist Tracy Weil to found the art district in 2005, wrote in an announcement. "They are keeping all the buildings intact, the garden and grounds and the twelve artists in the building we added in 2013. It was a difficult decision to make but we are thrilled that there will be continuity to the culture we've created over the past eighteen years."
And Ironton Distillery definitely carried on in the spirit of the original, creating award-winning spirits and cocktails, and quickly snagging the Readers' Choice award for Best New Bar in the Best of Denver 2019.
Editor's Picks
But now Ironton Distillery is leaving RiNo. On December 21, it will close up in advance of a move to a state-of-the-art facility and expanded tasting room in Louisville. When that project was first reported this spring, there was talk of the original distillery remaining as an event space, but that talk is no more.
“While we will miss our RiNo home, Ironton products will remain available across Colorado at our retail partners, so you can continue to enjoy our spirits,” notes co-founder Kallyn Romero in an announcement released today, November 21. "Additionally, fans can still order their favorite bottles for delivery through our online store.” But for the next month, you can still get them in RiNo.
"Grateful for the friendships and support that have helped to establish the brand and helped grow its community, Ironton would like to extend one final thank you to its amazing Denver family with some special deals to help close out the space," the distillery adds.
The deals will start on November 29, a truly Black Friday for people who loved this RiNo spot.