KGB Spirits

Overview of the Distillery

KGB Spirits is an American craft distillery that has revived the historic Taos Lightning name. The company produces a range of spirits—including whiskies under Taos Lightning, gin, vodka, and liqueur—and bases its whiskies on corn grown in Colorado. Combined with selected botanicals from places like Sri Lanka, Sicily, and Tuscany, their approach gives an international flair to a local raw material base.

History

The story behind KGB Spirits goes back to the tale of Simeon Turley from the 1820s, who was one of the major suppliers of grain and spirits to the American army, and whose Taos Lightning whiskey is considered among the oldest registered brands in the American West. Turley's distillery was interrupted in the wake of the Taos Pueblo uprising. In 2009, KGB Spirits revived the name by acquiring the rights to Taos Lightning from a jeweler in Taos. After the acquisition, the company immediately began distilling and marketing what they call award-winning craft spirits, and at the same time built a range that extends beyond whiskey to include gin, vodka, and liqueurs.

Raw Materials and Production

KGB Spirits describes its production as anchored in local materials: the whiskies are based on corn grown in Colorado. The company combines this local corn base with flavorings and botanicals drawn from other parts of the world, for example Sri Lankan vanilla, Sicilian bergamot, and Tuscan juniper. The range includes both whiskies under the Taos Lightning name and other spirits such as gin, vodka, and liqueur, indicating a production philosophy that works with several categories of spirits simultaneously. The company highlights its craft focus and describes its products as award-winning craft spirits, but details about technical processes, distillation equipment, fermentation times, or any local malting traditions are not disclosed in the available information.

The Style and Flavor Profile of the Whiskies

The diversity in the company’s expression arises from the combination of a Colorado-based grain and selected flavorings from abroad. Sri Lankan vanilla provides a pronounced vanilla note, Sicilian bergamot contributes an aromatic, citrusy tone, and Tuscan juniper adds a botanical, spicy touch. Taken together, these directions indicate an approach where local ingredients meet global flavors across the range.

Philosophy and Craft

KGB Spirits operates with the aim of connecting local raw material production with global flavor experiences. The company has revived a historic whisky name and highlights the use of Colorado-grown grain together with carefully selected botanicals from other countries. The range spans several categories of spirits, reflecting a practical and experimental approach to the craft.