clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

UPDATED: The Best Ski Town Distilleries, June '14

View as Map

Bust out your sunnies and grab the shakers, it's time to update our list of the Best Ski Town Distilleries. Last October we scoured North America for the top places to sip craft liquors after skiing and let's just say Curbed Ski readers like their rum and whiskey; the list was a hit. Now, we'd like to welcome newcomers Trail Town Distillery in Colorado and Pemberton Distillery in near Whistler. And since in the summer we'd rather be drinking a mojito than a hot toddy, we've updated the entire list to reflect our favorite summertime sippers. Upset your favorite ski town distillery didn't make the cut? Shoot us an email or let us know who we missed in the comments.

Remember, the following list is ordered from west to east.


-Laurel Miller contributed to the research and writing of this piece. · The 18 Best Hot Spots for Eating & Drinking in Vail, May '14 [Curbed Ski]
· The 18 Best Hot Spots for Park City Eating & Drinking, Feb '14 [Curbed Ski]

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Pemberton Distillery

Copy Link

Just a few minutes past Whistler, the family-run Pemberton Distillery is producing award-winning organic vodka and other spirits. Stop by for a tour and a tasting at this working distillery set amidst jaw-dropping mountain views. Cheers!

Bendistillery

Copy Link

Bend Distillery makes award-winning gin and four different types of vodka, but the best is Crater Lake Vodka. It's made with Cascade Mountain water and filtered 10 times through charcoal, crushed lava rock, and oak. This smooth vodka is perfect in classic summer drinks like a Ginger Press. Photo from Bendistillery

High West Distillery

Copy Link

Rye rules at the nation's only ski-in distillery. Choose from a selection of five different styles, ranging from blends to a 21-year, oak barrel aged. This summer, make sure to try the High West Lemonade, a cocktail using their Double Rye! Or Vodka 7000', Housemade Spiced Lemonade, and mint. Whiskey lovers should try the Dead Man's Boots, made with Rendezvous Rye, tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, and ginger beer. Photo from Barrett Doran Photography on High West Distillery's Facebook Page

Roughstock Distillery

Copy Link

100% Montana-made rye whiskey, made with pure malt, spring wheat, sweet corn, or straight rye. A standout is the single-barrel-aged Black Label, a heady blend of dark berry fruit with notes of coffee, toffee, and dark chocolate. Photo from RoughStock Montana Whiskey

Woody Creek Distillers

Copy Link

The killer green construction and design isn't the only reason to visit this boutique producer, although Colorado beetle kill pine and copper German make for stylish sipping. Rather, the owners have their own farm (they grow the potatoes for their stellar vodka, for starters), and what they don't grow is locally sourced. This summer try the Colorado Cucumber, made with Vodka, cucumber, apple, ginger, lemon, and maple. Photo from Woody Creek Distillers

Montanya Distillers

Copy Link

Step into this vast working distillery and tasting room, and belly up to the bar for complimentary pours of the crisp, clean Platino Light Rum, or the exceptionally smooth, smoky Oro Dark Rum. This summer make sure to grab a Montanya Mojito on the rooftop patio of their Silverton location. Photo from Montanya Distillers

Two Guns Distillery

Copy Link

Two Guns Distillery draws on Leadville's rich mining history to produce only two kinds of liquor: moonshine and whiskey. The cocktails are dangerously good and the locals have already embraced this new spot in the historic center. Now that the snow is gone, grab a Singapore Sling or Moonshine Mojito and enjoy a round or two of corn hole outside. Photo from Two Guns Distillery

Breckenridge Distillery

Copy Link

Bourbon, vodka, and bitters are just a few of the elixirs produced at the "world's highest distillery (9600 feet)" which uses local snowmelt for its proofing. You can pop by the distillery for a free tour, or hit the downtown tasting room; the high-octane vodka's minerality is said to provide one of the few "vodka terroirs" in existence. Photo from Breckenridge Distillery

Trail Town Still

Copy Link
Photo from the Colorado Distiller's Festival

Green Mountain Distillers

Copy Link

Green Mountain makes hand-crafted organic spirits in one of the best ski towns in the northeast. The vodka and the gin are good, but check out the maple liqueur for some local flavor. There's no tasting room so email or call to schedule a tour. Photo from Green Mountain Organic Vodka

Loading comments...

Pemberton Distillery

Just a few minutes past Whistler, the family-run Pemberton Distillery is producing award-winning organic vodka and other spirits. Stop by for a tour and a tasting at this working distillery set amidst jaw-dropping mountain views. Cheers!

Bendistillery

Bend Distillery makes award-winning gin and four different types of vodka, but the best is Crater Lake Vodka. It's made with Cascade Mountain water and filtered 10 times through charcoal, crushed lava rock, and oak. This smooth vodka is perfect in classic summer drinks like a Ginger Press. Photo from Bendistillery

High West Distillery

Rye rules at the nation's only ski-in distillery. Choose from a selection of five different styles, ranging from blends to a 21-year, oak barrel aged. This summer, make sure to try the High West Lemonade, a cocktail using their Double Rye! Or Vodka 7000', Housemade Spiced Lemonade, and mint. Whiskey lovers should try the Dead Man's Boots, made with Rendezvous Rye, tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, and ginger beer. Photo from Barrett Doran Photography on High West Distillery's Facebook Page

Roughstock Distillery

100% Montana-made rye whiskey, made with pure malt, spring wheat, sweet corn, or straight rye. A standout is the single-barrel-aged Black Label, a heady blend of dark berry fruit with notes of coffee, toffee, and dark chocolate. Photo from RoughStock Montana Whiskey

Woody Creek Distillers

The killer green construction and design isn't the only reason to visit this boutique producer, although Colorado beetle kill pine and copper German make for stylish sipping. Rather, the owners have their own farm (they grow the potatoes for their stellar vodka, for starters), and what they don't grow is locally sourced. This summer try the Colorado Cucumber, made with Vodka, cucumber, apple, ginger, lemon, and maple. Photo from Woody Creek Distillers

Montanya Distillers

Step into this vast working distillery and tasting room, and belly up to the bar for complimentary pours of the crisp, clean Platino Light Rum, or the exceptionally smooth, smoky Oro Dark Rum. This summer make sure to grab a Montanya Mojito on the rooftop patio of their Silverton location. Photo from Montanya Distillers

Two Guns Distillery

Two Guns Distillery draws on Leadville's rich mining history to produce only two kinds of liquor: moonshine and whiskey. The cocktails are dangerously good and the locals have already embraced this new spot in the historic center. Now that the snow is gone, grab a Singapore Sling or Moonshine Mojito and enjoy a round or two of corn hole outside. Photo from Two Guns Distillery

Breckenridge Distillery

Bourbon, vodka, and bitters are just a few of the elixirs produced at the "world's highest distillery (9600 feet)" which uses local snowmelt for its proofing. You can pop by the distillery for a free tour, or hit the downtown tasting room; the high-octane vodka's minerality is said to provide one of the few "vodka terroirs" in existence. Photo from Breckenridge Distillery

Trail Town Still

Photo from the Colorado Distiller's Festival

Green Mountain Distillers

Green Mountain makes hand-crafted organic spirits in one of the best ski towns in the northeast. The vodka and the gin are good, but check out the maple liqueur for some local flavor. There's no tasting room so email or call to schedule a tour. Photo from Green Mountain Organic Vodka