Just like raising a child, it amazes adults at "how fast the time goes by". The same can be said for our little distillery, although, much like certain years of a raising our kids, some years seem longer than others. Life happens. Our environment changes as frequently as our Colorado weather. We experience successes and failures while some things remain the same. This past year for 1350 has been one of the pivotal years and definitely considered a successful one with an amazing outlook for our road through year number five.
This coming Veterans Day Week marks 1350 Distilling's fourth year of operation. You are invited to attend all of our birthday week events. Veterans Day falls on Saturday this year and we will be "Celebrating the 'American Spirit' of our military and their loved ones, one drink at a time" as well as our birthday with half price drinks for all veterans from 2pm-10pm. Not a vet? Don't fret. Bring one in and enjoy each other's company in our welcoming Taste Lounge.
1350 Distilling Birthday Week Events
We are collecting cash and toy donations for Toys for Tots so bring what you can to fill our toy box and donation jar.
Wednesday 8 Nov - 6-8pm
Tasting at Jack Quinn's
Join us at Jack Quinn's Irish Pub to kick off our birthday week as we showcase our Gold Medal Winning Guardian Bourbon with Red Leg Brewery's Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal Pastry Stout. We are both local veteran-owned businesses who love Quinn's and appreciate our partnership. All through the month of November our Guardian Bourbon will be their Whiskey of the Month with an amazing offer of $5 drinks.
Military Trivia Night at 1350 Distilling
Thursday 9 Nov - 6pm
Join our President, Head Distiller, and house USMC Veteran, Phill Bragg as he hosts a trivia night like no other - All Military Topics. Reserve a table online. Free to play. Prizes to be awarded.
USMC 248th Birthday Cake Ceremony
Friday 10 Nov - 4-10pm
United States Marine Corps' will be celebrating their 248th Birthday in our Taste Lounge with their traditional cake cutting ceremony and #1350Spirits. All are welcome. Turk-N-Stuff food truck will serve from 5-8pm.
We are collecting cash and toy donations for Toys for Tots so bring what you can to fill our toy box and donation jar.
Veterans Day Drinks & 1350 Birthday Party
Saturday 11 Nov - 2-10pm
Toast your veteran at 1350 Distilling for half price cocktails for veterans from open to close. We'll have some birthday celebration treats for all our guests all day too. Here's to our Vets! And here's to being another year older!
Veterans Day Tastings Around Town
Saturday 11 Nov - 11am-2pm : Liquor & Smoker City
Saturday 11 Nov - 4:30-7:30pm : Lebowski's Taphouse
We will be providing tasters in two locations with great local businesses to spread the celebration of veterans around town.
The Past Four Years
We had our official ribbon cutting and began pouring drinks and contributing to our local nonprofits from day one on November 8, 2019. At that time we had only three spirits to offer: Minuteman Vodka, Blue Jacket Rum, and Guardian Bourbon (for the US Coast Guard). The end of 2019 was a blur of excitement. We began distributing to the Pikes Peak Region and our community began learning about us.
Then... the dark years for everyone began. Luckily for us, people did not stop drinking and local liquor stores were willing to take on our little-known products. Our Taste Lounge was closed in March of 2020 so we sped up our production. By the time the pandemic tailed off we expanded our portfolio to the nine products we offer today.
In January this year we have earned a Double Gold Medal for our Code Four 115 Proof Cask Strength Straight Bourbon and a Gold for our Guardian Bourbon, adding to our Gold Medal for our Wingman Gin we received during Covid in 2020. Currently we hold 10 medals for nine products, gaining recognition for all our flavors of spirits.
Besides a major culturally changing environment right as we started, a new branch of military was formed. In 2022 we rebranded our Guardian Bourbon to represent the US Space Force for our growing local military bases. This is the same bourbon that rests in our US Coast Guard bottles, just branded and dedicated to the Space Force. The Coast Guard versions are still available in our Taste Lounge and online for all our "coasties".
We have maintained the past four years thanks to our growing family of employees, our new strategic partners for distribution throughout Colorado (and soon Arizona), and especially because of the best patrons around... YOU! Thank you for continuing your support through the lean and fat years. It is because of you we were awarded honors this year in the Gazette's Best of the Springs in three categories: Best Distillery, Best Cocktail (The Liberator), and that's right, Best Bathroom! We recently were awarded for Best Distillery by the Colorado Springs Independent too.
Please join us in raising a glass for one or more of our 4th Birthday celebrations in November. We are excited to have gotten this far, and look forward to what the following years have in store for us.
Looking Back Online
Some previous writings about our birthdays in the past.
Grand Opening Review
Second Birthday Review
Third Birthday Review