Laws Whiskey House
- Alex McCabe
- Jan 1, 2000
- 3 min read
Founding Year & Location: Fourth of July, 2011 & Denver, Colorado
Founder: Al Laws, a former finance executive, founded the distillery as a passion project to pursue something he truly loved. His hands-on approach and reverence for craftsmanship are woven into every aspect of the brand. This is emphasized with their motto: "There are no Shortcuts."
Signature Style: Laws is known for its terroir-driven philosophy. They use heirloom grains grown at high altitudes (up to 8,000 feet), open-air fermentation, and pot distillation. Their whiskeys are cut with water from Eldorado Springs and aged in Colorado’s volatile climate, which creates steep barometric pressure shifts that accelerate flavor development.
Historical Timeline
2011: Laws Whiskey House starts distillation on July 4th, fills their first 53-gallon barrel.
2014: First bottle of bourbon sold, after aging for just over 3 years.
2017: Their 4 year old bonded rye, CO's first bonded rye, wins World's Best Rye at the World Whiskey Awards
2020: The first release of Laws Origins, a 9.5 year bourbon, is released. The Origins series originated from the first 28 barrels ever distilled by Laws Whiskey House.
2022: Intention becomes the first of the annual limited edition Origins series blends. These straw away from the original "Origins" barrels and instead focus on high quality blends to look forward to every year.
2024: The Cask Strength bourbon is named "World's Best Small Batch Bourbon" at the World Whiskey Awards and immediately sells out their website. Late 2024 saw the completion of their new brutalist architecture inspired "Whiskey Sanctuary," which includes a whole new bar, lounge, and gift shop area.
Cultural & Regional Influence
Geography & Climate: Located a mile above sea level, Denver’s thin air and dramatic weather shifts impact both fermentation and aging. The grain is grown in the San Luis Valley at 7,500–8,000 feet, where intense sun and cold nights shape starch development.
Community Ties: Laws partners with local farms like Whiskey Sisters Supply and Colorado Malting Company, reinforcing its commitment to regional sourcing. They have partnered with local brewery Great Divide Brewing Co, other Colorado distilleries, and Colorado University for special releases.
Production Evolution
Techniques & Equipment: Laws uses a custom-built four-plate pot still and open-air fermentation tanks. Their process emphasizes patience and precision, rejecting shortcuts in favor of flavor integrity.
Innovation & Tradition: While rooted in traditional pot distillation, Laws experiments with finishes (e.g., cognac casks) and heirloom grain blends. Their bonded program reflects a return to classic American whiskey standards.
Sustainability: Though not heavily marketed, their local sourcing and small-batch ethos support regional agriculture and reduce transport emissions.
Modern Identity
Leadership: Still led by founder Al Laws, whose philosophy of “Whiskey Above All” guides the brand.
Brand Philosophy: Laws champions “craft over commodity” and “quality over quantity.” Their mission is to redefine American whiskey through terroir, transparency, and time-honored technique.
Flagship Expressions:
Four Grain Straight Bourbon
100% San Luis Valley Rye Whiskey
100% Centennial Wheat Whiskey
American Single Malt
Limited seasonal and specialty finishes
Personal Opinion
Laws Whiskey House is one of my favorite Colorado distilleries. Their unique flavor profile is one of the best pot still distillations I have tried. It brings in the local terroir and grain and highlights it, without becoming a messy profile.
I am a huge fan of their older whiskey especially, with some of their 7 year old+ whiskey being amongst my all time favorite bottlings. The impact that aging quality whiskey in Colorado can have, is highlighted through their bottles. The single barrels are a personal favorite of mine, really highlighting how capable Laws is at producing some of the best whiskey in America. Don't believe me? Pick up a cask strength high aged single barrel and see for yourself!
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