Dry Land Distillers
About the Distillery
Dry Land Distillers is a small, award-winning distillery in the heart of Longmont, Colorado, creating craft spirits from ingredients sourced from Colorado and the American West. From 100% wheat whiskeys and a smoked prickly pear cactus spirit to a gin built entirely on native Colorado botanicals, their bottles express the place they come from. The distillery's focus on local ingredients and sustainable operations makes it an interesting stop for curious whiskey and spirit enthusiasts.
History
History begins as a freelance side project in 2017, where the founders worked closely with local farmers, brewers, and artisans to explore native ingredients. Inspired by the early pioneers of the Colorado movement, the team chose to pursue small-batch production and ingredients that are challenging to work with but rich in potential. Dry Land officially opened in 2018 in a small 600-square-foot location in downtown Longmont with a custom-built pot still from Pot and Column. From the first two flagship spirits, a 100% heirloom wheat whiskey and a smoked cactus spirit, the range expanded to also include Native Colorado Gin and additional limited releases. Today the distillery resides in the larger Valley Farm Dairy building in Longmont, has distinguished itself for sustainability, and continues with annual reserves and limited releases.
Raw Materials and Production
Production centers on local ingredients and specially tuned equipment. Grains such as Antero wheat and heirloom wheat are grown nearby, and malting is performed by Troubadour Maltings in Ft. Collins. The mash process takes place in a 1,000-gallon custom-fabricated stainless steel mash tun built by Rocky Mountain Vessels, and fermentation vessels are run in refurbished 1,000-gallon wine tanks for precise control. The distillation fleet consists of a 200-gallon copper pot still, a 1,000-gallon copper pot still, and a 12-plate stainless/copper column still with a gin basket, all designed to get the most out of the challenging native ingredients. The cactus is treated and smoked over mesquite to lock in a smoky, earthy character, and the rum is distilled from pure cane syrup. The production equipment and processes are tailored for small-batch runs and unconventional raw materials.
Aging and Barrel Types
Dry Land works with aging primarily in connection with their cactus releases. Cactus Reposado is aged between 3 and 12 months in new or used whiskey barrels, while Cactus Añejo and Dry Land Reserve Cactus Añejo are aged between 1 and 3 years in new or used whiskey barrels. These limited releases are used to build variation between fresh distillate and barrel-aged complexity. There are no details on the origin of the oak or the new oak status for all releases.
Whiskeys
The range spans from 100% grain-based whiskeys (Antero Wheat, Heirloom Wheat, Ryman Rye) to a range of original spirits such as the smoked Cactus Spirit, barrel-aged Cactus Reposado/Añejo reserves, Native Colorado Gin, Pure Cane Rum, and Love Letter Vodka. The three early flagship spirits—Heirloom Wheat Whiskey, Cactus Spirit, and Native Colorado Gin—form the backbone of their production, while several limited barrel-aged cactus releases and special bottlings are released annually.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Age | Cask & Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Antero Wheat Whiskey | Wheat Whiskey | 100% Antero Wheat Whiskey made from grain developed by Colorado State University and grown by local farmers within 30 miles. | Current | ||
| Heirloom Whiskey (100% Heirloom Wheat Whiskey) | Wheat Whiskey | 100% Heirloom Wheat Whiskey; one of the original flagship spirits from the distillery's early days. | Current; Core Range | ||
| Cactus Spirit (Prickly Pear) | Cactus Spirit | smoked/dried | Unique spirit distilled from native prickly pear cactus, where the cactus is smoked over mesquite embers in a process inspired by mezcal. | Current; Core Range | |
| Native Colorado Gin | Gin | The first gin made with 100% native Colorado botanicals; described as delicate and suitable for both neat sipping and tonics. | Current; Core Range | ||
| Pure Cane Rum (Silver) | Rum | Rum distilled from pure cane syrup and raw sugar from a small family grower; distilled on the distillery's custom pot still. | Current | ||
| Cactus Reposado | Barrel-aged Cactus Spirit | 3-12 months | Whiskey barrel; finish: Aged 3-12 months in new or used whiskey barrels; smoked/dried | Limited releases of cactus spirit, aged in whiskey barrels for 3-12 months. | Limited |
| Cactus Añejo | Barrel-aged Cactus Spirit | 1-3 years | Whiskey barrel; finish: Aged 1-3 years in new or used whiskey barrels; smoked/dried | Annual, limited releases of cactus spirit aged 1-3 years in whiskey barrels for deeper complexity. | Limited |
| Dry Land Reserve Cactus Añejo | Barrel-aged Cactus Spirit | 1-3 years | Whiskey barrel; finish: Aged 1-3 years in new or used whiskey barrels as an annual reserve release; smoked/dried | An annual limited reserve release of aged cactus spirit, aged 1-3 years in whiskey barrels. | Limited |
| Ryman Rye Whiskey (100% Straight Malted Rye) | Rye Whiskey | 100% Straight Malted Rye Whiskey made from ROC-certified grain grown by Jones Farms Organics. | Current | ||
| Love Letter Vodka | Vodka | Vodka made from 100% regenerative organic, certified heirloom wheat; described as silky-smooth, delicately sweet, and complex. | Current |
The Whiskeys' Style and Flavor Profile
Several products lean toward earthy, smoky, and complex directions: the cactus spirit is described directly as earthy, smoky, and complex, the vodka is highlighted as silky-smooth and delicately sweet, and the gin is described as delicate and suitable for neat sipping or with tonic. These elements recur in the portfolio: smoky/earthy in the cactus line, delicate floral notes in the gin, and malted sweetness in the wheat-based whiskies.
Visiting the Distillery
The distillery has a tasting room in downtown Longmont where you can sample their spirits and enjoy craft cocktails. The tasting room is open Wednesday to Sunday with extended hours on Friday and Saturday, and the distillery hosts events and private bookings. Usually, no special booking is required for regular tasting room visits, but events and private gatherings are booked through the distillery.
The stated hours are Wednesday 4:00–9:00 PM; Thursday 4:00–9:00 PM; Friday 4:00–10:00 PM; Saturday 2:00–10:00 PM; Sunday 2:00–6:00 PM.
Philosophy and Craft
Dry Land Distillers aims to reflect Colorado and the American West in every bottle by consistently using local and native ingredients. They prioritize craft over mass production, collaborate with local farmers and artisans, and integrate sustainable technologies into operations to reduce resource usage and recycle energy.
Sustainability
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Use of a low-pressure steam boiler and a closed-loop cooling water system that reuses BTUs for the building's heating and cooling.
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Cooling water reused for air conditioning before recirculation.
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Spent yeast and grain hulls composted at local Black Cat Farms.
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LEED certification process in progress.
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Recipient of '2021 Most Sustainable Business' from PACE and the City of Longmont.
Awards and Recognitions
- Most Sustainable Business (2021)