Artisan Distillers

Here are three for you to look into:

1) Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey www.stranahans.com They have invented a new style of American Straight Whiskey, 100% malted barley, aged in a controlled environment in new heavily charred American white oak, and distilled in a proprietary pot-column still.

2) Peach Street Distillers, www.peachstreetdistillers.com Peach Street makes several spirits, and one of these is an exceptional bourbon. It's fruity and light, with an utterly unique profile, highly recommended if a bit hard to locate, even here in Colorado.

3) Leopold Brothers www.leopoldbros.com Leopold Bros., like Peach Street, makes a variety of spirits, including a range of whiskies. Until recently, these have been flavored whiskies, like peach and apple flavored. I have avoided those, and can't ouch for them, although I admit I'm getting curious, because: last spring they released the first in a planned series of "small batch American whiskies"; they called it simply "American Small Batch Whiskey"and it's supposed to be a pre-Prohibition-style dram. I found it well worth the $30; bought a second bottle. A couple of weeks ago, I first spotted The newest release: Maryland-style Rye. I paid the $46 for it and it's growing on me, but I think there are better ryes for $46. They have a Tenesseee-style coming out soon.

All of these are Colorado (USA) disilleries.

@Charlie-Davis Thank-you!

@Piero How micro are you tring to get? A new distiller seems to be popping up ever day in the US. I suggest starting with some of the more reasonable sized ones (besides what @Charlie-Davis mentioned):

Tuthilltown Spirits (New York) High West (Utah) Copper Fox/Wsmund (Virginia) Old Potrero (California)

i was in Oregon a few years ago and came across these guys.. mcmenamins.com/879-edgefield-distillery-spi…

they are a chain of brew pubs, my wife and I were in one for dinner and I tried their whisky on a lark. It was rather young ( I think I remember 5 y/o) and was clearly all first fill barrels (very sweet and caramely) but had a nice full malt flavour that I thought had a lot of promise, I even ordered a second.

Hey Andrew. We stayed at McMenamins last year. Great place. They have a bunch of different theme bars scattered around the grounds. One is Jerry's Ice House with about a dozen seats and a Jerry Garcia theme and Dead videao playing all day and night. They do some great craft beers and killer Oregon Pinot Noirs. Also excellent food in the restaurants. I'll have to try the whisk(e)y next time. Cheers.

@joshk I'm looking for small independently owned distilleries. The main thing is I'm looking for distilleries producing outstanding whisk(e)y. So within reason size is less important than the craft and the quality of the spirit. In other words if it's independently owned, and not too industrialised, but produces amazing stuff I'd like to hear about it.

Templeton Rye in Iowa, I second Stranahans in Colorado (especially the Snow Flake series, amazing stuff!) and soon the Solas Distillery here in Nebraska.

@Charlie-Davis I'd like to offer a re-consideration of the Leopold Bros Maryland-Style Rye; having spent a bit more time with it, I'd like to encourage others to see what they think. This, it occurs to me, is the only rye whiskey I've had that actually tastes and smells like rye. Others ay be tastier, but the rye influence is rye as it applies to whiskey. This one noses and tastes like a slice of pumpernickel. It fast becoming a favorite in my collection. Maybe I'l do a review...

Wasmunds: Virginia St. George: California Charbay: California House Spirits: Oregon Balcones: Texas Kuchan: Calfornia (only seen white dog) Corsair: Kentucky (only tasted white dog) Tuthiltown: New York Koval: Illinois (don't know if they actually plan to age anything but their grain eau de vie are very cool) Pritchard's: Tennesee

There have been a lot of responses regarding US artisan distillers. Anyone got any recommendations for European distillers?