Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
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Idlewild Spirits
Overview of the Distillery
Idlewild Spirits is a small-batch distillery in the Colorado mountains, run by Master Distiller Jeff Ruhle since 2015. The company operates on a grain-to-glass principle: all grains are Colorado-grown, malted on-site just hours before mashing, then distilled, aged and bottled locally near Vasquez Creek at an altitude of about 8,787 feet. The range spans from bourbon, single malt and rye to several experimental gin variants and a nine-times distilled vodka.
History
Idlewild Spirits started in 2015, founded by Jeff Ruhle with a desire to deliver premium, locally produced craft spirits. From the outset, the focus has been on using Colorado-grown grains and controlling the entire process from malting to bottling in the same location. The single malt production highlights the use of several special-malted barley types and specifically mentions distillation and aging in Winter Park, Colorado. In 2025, the distillery marked itself in competition by taking home three gold medals at the Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards, a newer milestone in the company’s development.
Raw materials and production
The raw materials consist exclusively of Colorado-grown grains: corn, wheat, rye, barley, and specialty-malted barley. The grains are malted on-site at the distillery at most 12 hours before they go into the mash tun to preserve fresh oils and aromas. Distillation takes place on-site in small-batch series; the water for distillation is sourced from Vasquez Creek, which runs close by the facility. Rocky Mtn Vodka is said to be distilled nine times. Gin production uses juniper as a base and around a dozen botanicals; several varieties use fresh lemon and orange zest, and some are steeped with flowers such as lavender or hibiscus for color and aroma. The entire process — malting, fermentation, distillation, barrel-aging and bottling — takes place locally at high elevations in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
Maturation and barrel types
The distillery describes aging as an integral part of their expression. There is mention of a bourbon recipe aged in three different types of wood to achieve complexity, without specifying the wood types. One of the gin variants is finished in used bourbon barrels, where the barrel’s char and previous bourbon content are highlighted as flavor elements. All aging and bottling takes place on-site at about 8,787 feet in Colorado, but no details are given about aging time or temperature control.
Whiskeys
Idlewild's range includes core offerings of Woodcutter’s Straight Bourbon, a Colorado single malt and a Colorado rye, as well as several gin variants (Alpine Gin, Purple Daze, Hibiscus Gin and a Barrel Aged Gin) and a Rocky Mtn Vodka. The products are presented in a small-batch, grain-to-glass approach with a focus on local grains and experimental botanical combinations for the gins. The bourbon is highlighted for its aging in three wood types, the single malt for the use of special-malted barley, and the rye whiskey for its more subdued, sweeter rye profile.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Cask and Style | Tasting Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodcutter’s Straight Bourbon | Bourbon | Aged in three different types of wood (not specified) | Signature bourbon recipe, aged in three different types of wood to create complexity. Locally sourced Colorado grains give a pronounced grain-forward character. | Current; Core Range |
| Colorado Single Malt Whiskey | Single Malt Whiskey | A full-bodied single malt based on a "quadruple malt" recipe with several specialty-malted barley types, mashed, fermented, distilled and aged in Winter Park, CO. | Current; Core Range | |
| Colorado Rye Whiskey | Rye Whiskey | An atypical rye; described as soft and approachable with rounded warmth and a spicy finish. Sweet notes attributed to the Colorado-grown rye. | Current; Core Range | |
| Alpine Gin | Gin | New American-style gin with juniper and around a dozen botanicals, including coriander, lavender, angelica and licorice root. Fresh zest of lemon and orange are used to create a soft citrus profile. | Current; Core Range | |
| Purple Daze Gin | Gin | New American gin with deep violet nuances and a floral steeping process. Botanicals include lavender, coriander and angelica; fresh citrus zest provides a luxurious mouthfeel. | Current; Core Range | |
| Hibiscus Gin | Gin | Gin steeped with dried hibiscus flowers, which provide a deep scarlet color, tart berry- and citrus-notes, and tannins reminiscent of a dry wine finish. | Current; Core Range | |
| Barrel Aged Gin | Gin (Barrel Aged) | Used bourbon barrel | New American gin, which after aging in used bourbon barrels appears softer on the juniper and where the other botanicals come forward more clearly. The combination of fresh zest and the barrel’s char features in the finish. | Current; Core Range |
| Rocky Mtn Vodka | Vodka | Distilled nine times from Colorado grains and malted barley, which is said to give a light sweetness and a full mouthfeel. Produced with the same water and distillation equipment as the rest of the portfolio. | Current; Core Range |
Whiskey Styles and Flavor Profiles
Several clear threads run through the range: the single malt emphasizes malted and almost cake-like notes with references to caramel and chocolate; the gin series work with juniper in combination with citrus zest and floral elements such as lavender; the rye whiskey is described as soft with rounded warmth and a spicy finish, while the bourbon is built around complexity from multiple woods. Hibiscus Gin adds distinct berry and citrus notes as well as tannins from the flower, and barrel-aged gin highlights the barrel’s char and earthy nuances.
Philosophy and Craft
Idlewild practices a clear grain-to-glass craft with emphasis on local ingredients and freshness: the grains are Colorado-grown and malted on-site shortly before mashing. Small-batch production, use of local water from Vasquez Creek, and full control over the entire process from malting to bottling support their ambition to deliver premium, locally produced spirits.
Awards and Recognitions
- 3 Gold medals (2025, Gold (3))
Latest News
We’re proud to announce 3 GOLD medals at this year’s Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards! – 2025-06-02
Idlewild announced on June 2, 2025, that they had won three gold medals at the Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards.