Spirit Hound Distillers doubled whisky production in 2021 with plans to triple production in 2022
Lyons, Colo., Feb. 3, 2022 — Spirit Hound Distillers, the Lyons, Colo.-based spirits producer with a hands-on approach to the craft of distilling, celebrated its ninth anniversary in 2021 increasing sales over 23%. With continued investments in growth, the distillery had a record year. Spirit Hound doubled whisky production, grew distribution 23% in 2021 and has plans to triple production of its flagship, award-winning whisky made and sold throughout Colorado.
Spirit Hound’s Straight Malt Whisky is made with Colorado-grown barley and is aged for more than two years in new, fully charred American oak barrels before being bottled in an unblended “single-barrel” fashion. Spirit Hound’s Straight Malt Whisky received a 94 rating by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible this year, putting it in the Liquid Gold category. The well decorated distillery continued to add to its already impressive awards resume, capturing Gold in the 2021 Denver International Spirits Competition for its Bourbon (Barrel 3) and Gin (Batch 405).
Every spirit with the Spirit Hound name attached to it was distilled “the Spirit Hound way” on two hand-built-from-scratch stills designed by Co-Founder and Head Distiller Craig Engelhorn and constructed by Engelhorn and his partners nearly 10 years ago.
“Since the beginning, Spirit Hound has done everything ourselves. From thousands of hammer strikes shaping the still, to brewing, fermenting and distilling, to aging and bottling, we carefully craft every step,” said Craig. “It’s mind blowing to think we’ve bottled 261 barrels of spirits by hand. We’re excited to continue to grow, and we’re in the planning stages for a new building that will increase both our production space and our tasting room seating.”
On-premise sales at the Lyons’ tasting room were also up in 2021, led by sales of the distillery’s creative menu of hand-crafted cocktails, a cargo space addition and an ongoing on-site partnership with the Cluck-n-Burger food truck.
“We use local ingredients in all of our spirits, like the malt for our whisky, the juniper berries for our gin, and elderberries for our sambuca,” said Amanda Engelhorn, Spirit Hound’s tasting room manager and resident mixologist. “We play off these unique flavors and incorporate them into our cocktails so the spirits shine.”
“Since our first straight malt whisky release in August 2015, we’ve expanded our lineup of spirits in the tasting room to include bottled-in-bond whisky, honey whisky, bourbon, rye whisky, gin, and more,” said Craig. “Amanda has done an amazing job of developing a complex, challenging and complimentary cocktail menu for each unique spirit.”
Spirit Hound continues to be a community favorite and was named Best Distillery by Boulder Weekly (six years in a row), won Boulder People’s Choice Award by the Daily Camera, and received Boulder County Gold for Best Distillery in 2021.
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About Spirit Hound Distillers
Resonating from the gritty small town of Lyons, situated in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, comes Spirit Hound Distillers and unique crafted spirits years in the making. Since its launch in 2012, Spirit Hound’s reputation originates in a hands-on approach to the craft of distilling. Co-founders Craig Engelhorn, Matt Rooney and Neil Sullivan and the Spirit Hound team take traditional and classic recipes that come to life with local, hand-selected ingredients distilled through hand-built-from-scratch stills and distillation equipment in search of one-of-a-kind processes and flavors.
Spirit Hound offerings include: an acclaimed Straight Malt Whisky (94 rating, Jump Murray’s Whisky Bible / Double Gold, 2018 “The Fifty Best” American Malt Whiskies), Honey Whisky (Double Gold, 2019 Breckenridge Spirits Festival), Spirit Hound Gin (Silver, 88 rating, 2015 Beverage Testing Institute and Gold, 2021 Denver International Spirits Competition), Mountain Bum Rum, Single Barrel Bourbon (Gold, 2021 Denver International Spirits Competition), Sambuca (Best Herbal Liqueur, American Distilling Institute) and an un-aged version of its whisky called White Dog Moonshine.
Currently, Spirit Hound products are available in Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. The tasting room is located on the St. Vrain River at 4196 Ute Highway/US Route 36 Lyons, CO 80540 and is a popular destination for lovers of distilled spirits and handcrafted cocktails.
For additional details please visit www.spirithounds.com or call (303) 823-5696.
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