Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
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Mythology Distillery
Overview of the Distillery
Mythology Distillery in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, produces small-batch award-winning whiskies, gin and vodka with a strong emphasis on blending and sharing experiences. The distillery combines sourced whiskies for layered blends, small-scale distillation of botanical gins and a clean vodka, and welcomes guests to a new campus with a bar, restaurant and Whiskey Garden.
History
The idea for Mythology arose during a backcountry skiing trip in Alaska, where shared experiences and whiskey became central to community. Scott Yeates carried the vision forward and opened Mythology in Denver's Lower Highlands in 2018. After early recognition and a number of national awards, the company expanded production and in July 2023 moved to a unified, modern campus in Steamboat Springs with a distillery, rackhouse and public areas. In the first years of operation the distillery was named 'Top Distillery' several times and collected more than 60 national and international prizes.
Raw Materials and Production
Mythology combines small-batch distillation of gin, vodka and specialty spirits with a whiskey business built on sourcing and blending. Production work begins by formulating a desired end expression, after which the team finds and screens whiskies and lots from different distilleries. The laboratory creates many blend variations, which are tested blind; the chosen recipe is scaled by weight and density calculations and in large stainless steel tanks. The vodka (Jungle Cat) is distilled nine times and carbon-filtered twice, and cut with Steamboat snowmelt. Gin production includes both fixed botanical blends (e.g., Needle Pig) and seasonal collaborations (The Foragers in collaboration with the Denver Botanic Gardens). The distillery's blending expertise is a central production criterion.
Aging and Barrel Types
Mythology works with both aging of components and with subsequent finishes in specific barrels. Examples include finishes in Dominio IV Syrah and Tempranillo wine barrels (Syrah finish in 7–10 months; Tempranillo used to provide an additional two years of finish on a 10-year rye to create a 12-year release). The distillery has also experimented with the use of rum barrels from its own dunder pit production, where the rum had aged for four years before the barrels were reused for bourbon finish. On the new campus, a rackhouse is included as part of the storage facilities.
Whiskies
The portfolio ranges from blended rye and bourbons like Hell Bear and Best Friend to longer-aged rye expressions like Thunder Hoof (10 years) and special finishes such as the Syrah- and Tempranillo-finishes. There are also barrel-proof editions (Cask Strength), limited releases and bundles (e.g., Hell Bear Double Strike, The Untamed Trio). In addition to whiskey, Mythology offers several gin variants (Needle Pig, The Foragers) and a 9x-distilled vodka (Jungle Cat). The products are marketed for both neat and cocktail-friendly use.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Cask and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hell Bear | Rye + Bourbon (blend) | 45 % | Hell Bear is a blend of straight rye and straight bourbon designed to work in both cocktails and neat; blend specs are in the product information. Nose: Fruit and subtle botanicals (berries) upfront, prominent rye spice mid-palate. Palate: Rye spice mid-palate with sweet cereal-grain and cinnamon-like spices. Finish: Smooth vanilla caramel finish with lingering baking spices. | Current; Core range; Available in webshop | ||
| Cask Strength Hell Bear American Whiskey | Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon & Rye Whiskey Blend | Barrel-proof version of Hell Bear, bottled at variable proof (listed as 116–122 Proof / 58–61% ABV on the product page). Nose: Notes of crushed flowers, charred oak and dried fig. Palate: Rich, rounded palate with caramel, vanilla and floral rye spice. Finish: Vanilla with fruit notes and baking spices toward the end. | Current; Core range; Available in webshop | |||
| Best Friend | Bourbon (blend) | 44 % | Blend (includes a 15-year-old Kentucky Bourbon) | Best Friend is a blended bourbon composed of a 15-year-old Kentucky Bourbon and two high-rye bourbons aged 4–6 years to create a full, rich expression. Nose: Wildflower honey and warm cornbread on the nose. Palate: Honey cake and gentle cinnamon notes with roasted almonds. Finish: Rich vanilla with pipe tobacco and black currant from the 15-year-old component. | Current; Core range; Available in webshop | |
| Cask Strength Best Friend Bourbon | Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon | Barrel-proof version of Best Friend Bourbon (the product text lists a proof interval 116–122 Proof / 58–61% ABV). Nose: Peanut brittle, cornbread and honeysuckle. Palate: Rich caramel with notes of oak and cereal grains. Finish: Pipe tobacco, crème brûlée and vanilla. | Current; Core range; Available in webshop | |||
| Thunder Hoof | Rye Whiskey | 44 % | 10 years | Thunder Hoof is a rare 10-year rye, formulated to highlight the rye character with deep chocolate and oak notes. Nose: Dark chocolate, mint and ripe oak with baking spices. Palate: Rye spice, caramel and cacao nibs with a hint of mint. Finish: Long, rich finish with caramel, floral notes and cinnamon. | Current; Core range; Available in webshop | |
| Syrah Finished Whiskey | Finished Whiskey | 47 % | Dominio IV Syrah wine barrels; finish: Hell Bear American Whiskey finished in Dominio IV Syrah barrels for 7–10 months | A wine-barrel finished version of Hell Bear American Whiskey, finished in Dominio IV Syrah barrels to add pronounced fruit character. Nose: Blackberry preserves, warm baking spices, vanilla and rich chocolate. Palate: Chocolate-dipped blackberries, mulled spices, cinnamon and leather. Finish: Caramelized cherries, fresh mint and subtle molasses. | Current; Core range; Available in webshop | |
| 12 Year Aged Rye Finished in Tempranillo Barrels | Rye Whiskey (Limited Release); Limited Release | 50 % | 12 years (10 years + 2 years finishing) | Dominio IV Tempranillo wine barrels; finish: 10-year Thunder Hoof Rye got an additional two years in Dominio IV Tempranillo wine barrels to create this 12-year limited release. | Limited edition, where a 10-year rye is complemented by further aging in Tempranillo barrels for deeper berry and spice profiles. Nose: Brown sugar-coated blackberries, cinnamon and robust oak. Palate: Luxardo cherries, rich cocoa nibs, mulled spices and leather. Finish: Soft caramel, woodiness and warm clove with winter-green aftertaste. | Limited; Limited release |
| Straight Bourbon Finished in Dunder Pit Rum Barrels | Straight Bourbon (finished); Limited Release | 47 % | Dunder Pit rum barrels; finish: Best Friend Bourbon finished in barrels that previously aged Mythology's dunder pit rum, which adds tropical ester-like notes. | Best Friend Bourbon that has received an extra finish in dunder pit rum barrels to add tropical and molasses-like notes. Nose: Caramelized pineapple, molasses and cinnamon. Finish: Long warm vanilla and tobacco finish. | Limited; Limited release |
Whiskies’ Style and Flavor Profile
Overall, the flavor profile draws on three throughlines: fruity, wine-like notes in wine-finished whiskies (blackberry, cherry), sweet malt- and bourbon elements (caramel, honey, vanilla), and spicy rye character (rye spice, cinnamon and baking spices). Several bottles supplement these directions with dark chocolate, leather and floral elements depending on blend and finish.
Visiting the Distillery
On the Steamboat campus there are a range of visitor facilities: The Confluence houses a cocktail bar, restaurant and an outdoor Whiskey Garden, and the distillery offers a tasting room, guided tours and events. The address and phone number are provided for reservations and enquiries, and the campus opened in July 2023 to combine production and guest experiences.
Philosophy and Craft
Mythology builds its philosophy on community, travel and sharing stories — the name points to creating a personal 'mythology' through experiences. Craft-wise, the distillery prioritizes blending, small-batch production and collaborations (e.g., botanicals with the Denver Botanic Gardens). Sustainability is integrated as a practical part of building and production solutions through energy savings, closed loops and reuse of byproducts.
Sustainability
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Solar power offsetting 50% of electricity needs.
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Efficient building design to reduce solar gain and material usage.
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Closed-loop for steam-transfer systems and cooling water.
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Significant water-saving measures.
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Reuse of spent grain for ranch feed.
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Use of recycled glass and paper in packaging.
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Composting or reuse of 90% of all waste.
Awards and Recognitions
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Top Distillery (2019)
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Top Distillery (2020)
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Top Distillery (2022)
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Top Distillery (2024)