Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
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Canyon Diablo Spirits and Distillery
Overview of the Distillery
Canyon Diablo Spirits sits in Flagstaff's high country at an elevation of about 7,000 feet and is a small, handcrafted distillery with a focus on premium small-batch whiskeys, bourbons, and characterful spirits. The company was started in 2013 by three owners with experience from previous distillation, and production began in early 2015. The distillery's profile blends traditional aging concepts with experimental, local flavor choices such as mesquite, prickly pear, and chili.
History
Three owners founded Canyon Diablo Spirits in 2013 with backgrounds in distilling and microbrewing; two of them had been affiliated with Arizona's first legal distillery, which later closed. The name was chosen as a reference to the local Canyon Diablo and the area's Wild West history. After renovating a storage space, establishing supplies, and obtaining the necessary federal, state, and local permits, the distillery went into production in early 2015. The first spirit from the still was a mesquite-smoked whiskey, and the first batch was laid down to age in barrels. Experiences from the founders' prior products — including prickly pear vodka, a desert gin, and a chili vodka — are incorporated into plans to continue and reintroduce selected variants.
Raw Materials and Production
The production is run as handcrafted, small-batch distillation with a focus on several types of spirits: aged whiskey and bourbon as well as gin and vodka. A particular technique highlighted is the use of mesquite smoke in whiskey production. They also work with flavorings and ingredients such as prickly pear for vodka and chili peppers for spicy vodka variants. The distillery also mentions a gin profile under the name Desert Rain. The facility's location in Flagstaff's highland (around 7,000 feet) provides the geographic framework for their small batches of premium spirits.
Aging and Barrel Types
The first whiskey batch was laid down in barrels for aging, and mesquite smoking is used as part of the process before barreling. Maturation is described as aging in barrels, and the combination of mesquite smoking followed by barrel aging is described as an experimental element in their early production.
Whiskeys
The range encompasses both aged whiskeys and bourbons and a number of more approachable, characterful spirits. Named products include the mesquite-smoked whiskey, a prickly pear vodka, Desert Rain gin, and a chili pepper vodka. These products are a mix of what has been launched since 2015 and products from the founders' earlier work that the distillery plans to revive. The focus is consistently on craftsmanship, small-batch series, and unique flavor profiles.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Barrel and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesquite Smoked Whiskey | Whiskey | Barrel; smoked/dried | The first spirit from the still was a mesquite-smoked whiskey; the first batch has been laid down to age. | Aging |
| Prickly Pear Vodka | Vodka | Vodka based on prickly pear (cactus fruit); previously described as the world's only prickly pear vodka, and the distillery plans to bring it back. | Planned | |
| Desert Rain Gin | Gin | A newly developed gin profile referred to as 'desert rain' (new name from the previous desert gin); it is listed as one of the unique spirit variants the distillery aims to produce. | Planned | |
| Chili Pepper Vodka | Vodka | A spicy vodka with chili pepper mentioned as a product in development that the distillery wants to produce. | Planned |
The Whiskeys' Style and Flavor Profile
The material highlights four core flavor directions: mesquite smoke in the smoked whiskey, fruity prickly pear tones in the vodka, spicy heat from chili pepper in the spicy vodka, and botanical notes in the Desert Rain gin. These directions recur in the descriptions of the various spirit variants and indicate a versatile, characterful style ranging from smoky to fruity and spicy, as well as botanical.
Philosophy and Craft
Canyon Diablo emphasizes hand-crafted, small-batch production with a goal of premium quality. The distillery combines aged whiskeys with more unconventional flavor choices and prioritizes reviving previously well-received products. Local inspiration and unconventional ingredients such as mesquite, prickly pear, and chili are actively incorporated into their product development.