Based in the southwest corner of Colorado, Durango Craft Spirits launched their brand in 2015. Using only Colorado grown grains, Michael and Amy McCardell operate the small, family owned distillery in the heart of Durango.
A small distillery with a lot of potential, the distillers produce moonshine, vodka and bourbon.
Putting away more than 40 barrels of bourbon in 2019, Craft Spirits was on track for 60 or more barrels when the Covid pandemic hit. Like so many of the craft distilleries and wineries today, they have regrouped and relaunched the business to recapture the growth they were enjoying.
Their three different spirits are named with references to Durango history. Mayday Moonshine, named after the Mayday Mine and modern day ghost town, took all of the top Moonshine awards at the American Distilling Institute’s Craft Spirit Awards in 2017. A portion of the moonshine is bottled from the still, with the rest going into kegs for two years to create their signature whiskey, Cinder Dick Bourbon.
Cinder Dick Bourbon, the name referencing the slang term of a railroad detective and the Durango Narrow Gauge Railway, is a bold 94 proof Colorado Bourbon. All of the mash grains are sourced locally, including corn from the Ute Mountain Tribe Farm, located between Four Corners and Mesa Verde, and then aged in new charred oak barrels.
Soiled Dove Vodka, named after the working girls who were adept at relieving the gold rush miners of their new found wealth, has also received national awards. The grain based vodka, smooth enough to be enjoyed straight, is used for a variety of mixed drinks in the tasting room.
Durango Craft Spirits is a must stop when heading through the Durango area. The spirits are available for sale at the distillery and are available through some liquor stores along the front range.
