Colorado Distiller Taps Local Terroir for Award-Winning Bourbon Branch & Barrel Distilling has released Batch 35 of its 5-Year Colorado Straight Bourbon, also known as "Mitch's Blend" for Master Blender Mitchell Nester's preference for the batch. The release is now available across Colorado and at the distillery's Centennial tasting room. "I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is our best batch yet," said Mitchell Nester. "Batch 35 is exceptionally smooth and well-rounded, reflecting both the maturity of our program and the quality of locally-sourced ingredients."
Sourcing Strategy Shapes Flavor Profile The bourbon is built from Colorado-sourced grain and water drawn from the Arapahoe Aquifer, a vast underground reservoir naturally filtered through sandstone and shale for millions of years. The distillery emphasizes elevation and climate as deliberate shaping factors in its production approach rather than incidental elements. Batch 35 carries tasting notes of Honey Nut Cheerios, vanilla custard crème brûlée, dark buckwheat honey, sandalwood, cedar humidor, cocktail cherry, caramelized orange oil, and campfire. The bourbon is suited for neat serving, chilled over ice, or in elevated bourbon cocktails.
Track Record and Production Cadence The 5-Year Colorado Straight Bourbon has accrued 17 awards since the distillery began submitting it to competitions in 2019. Small-batch releases occur roughly four times per year, with each batch shaped by specific barrels and blending decisions. Branch & Barrel Distilling was founded in 2016 in Centennial, Colorado, following experimental aging work that began in the late 2000s. The distillery sources ingredients locally and applies a hands-on approach to barrel aging.
Why It Matters
As craft spirits continue to proliferate nationally, Colorado producers are building distinct market positioning around terroir and local sourcing. Batch variation as a deliberate storytelling tool—rather than inconsistency—represents a maturing approach in the category worth tracking.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors
