NOCO Distillery
Overview of the Distillery
NOCO Distillery is a craft micro-distillery in Fort Collins, Colorado, at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. They combine local spring water, hand-built copper stills, and a trio of slow fermentation, careful cuts, and at least three distillations to create clean, complex spirits. The distillery produces everything from whiskey and rum to gin and agave spirits, and their tasting room offers a speakeasy ambience, cocktails, and the opportunity to sample their own aging expressions.
History
NOCO presents itself as a versatile micro-distillery in Fort Collins, highlighting local ties and awards such as 'Best Micro Distillery 2024'. In 2025 the distillery released several notable, limited releases: Founders Reserve Rye with PX‑sherry finish (May 2025) and Master Blender’s Private Reserve (May 2025), an ultra‑limited blend of American single malt, bourbon and rye. The site history emphasizes production techniques and local integration over the establishment year.
Raw Materials and Production
NOCO works with local spring water from the Rocky Mountains and distills its mashes through both pot stills and copper column stills. Many series are triple‑distilled, and fermentation can in some cases extend over a month to extract more aroma components. The distillation process is intentionally slow to increase reflux and copper contact, and the distillers take small cuts to ensure purity. To create variation and special expressions, they collaborate with local breweries on some wash, local botanicals and fruits, as well as a broad catalog of barrels and woods for finishing.
Maturation and Barrel Types
Maturation takes place in American and European oak barrels of various sizes (5–100 gallons). The casks are seasoned between 12 and 48 months depending on the supplier. For certain finishes—particularly rum and agave—up to nine different wood varieties are used. A distinctive approach is to create their own, consistent finishes, for example by aging Pedro Ximénez sherry in their own used whiskey barrels for up to a year and then using these barrels to finish aging whiskey to avoid unwanted sulfur notes from purchased sherry casks.
Whiskeys
The range spans whiskeys to rum, gin, vodka, brandy, and agave distillates; the company states that it distills over 25 different products. On the website, both core varieties and recurring, limited releases such as Founders Reserve and Master Blender’s Private Reserve are presented. The core philosophy of the portfolio is craft, experimental finishes, and small, select batches rather than large, standardized volume releases.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Cask & Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founders Reserve Rye Whiskey PX Sherry Cask Finish | Rye Whiskey | In‑house aged in their own used whiskey casks; finish: PX Sherry cask finish (in‑house aging of PX in used casks) | Nose: Fig jam, black cherry, sticky toffee pudding, peppery rye spice, roasted pecans and a touch of cocoa powder. Taste: Dark berries, molasses and spiced plum; PX‑finish adds notes of dates, maple and nutmeg. Finish: Long, with roasted oak notes, cinnamon and candied orange peel. | Limited; Available in limited quantities at Fort Collins distillery and selected retailers. | |
| Master Blender’s Private Reserve | Blend (American Single Malt, Bourbon & Rye) | 66.6 % | Selected American oak casks | An ultra‑limited private reserve composed of the distillery's best American single malt, bourbon and rye. Released rarely (only the second time in nine years) and sold exclusively in the tasting room in Fort Collins.; Nose: Figs, honey, key lime pie, crème brûlée, roasted almonds and dark cherry with a hint of cigar box.; Taste: Layers of warm spices, caramelized oak and complex fruitiness; evolves over time.; Finish: Warming spices, caramelized oak and a subtle stone fruit note. | Limited; Very limited; exclusive distribution in Fort Collins tasting room. |
The Style and Flavor Profile of the Whiskeys
Across several releases, a thread of dark fruits, warm spices, and caramelized oak tones recurs. Tasting notes document figs, black cherries, and dark berries, a peppery rye kick, and sweeter elements such as sticky toffee, molasses, and honey. Oak influence appears as roasted or caramelized oak notes and supports both fruit and spices in the finish.
Visit the Distillery
The tasting room functions as a speakeasy and is located in an industrial area on S. Link Lane in Fort Collins. It offers cocktails, tastings, and occasional guided tours led by the distillery staff; reviews also mention tours by the head distiller and barrel samples. The tasting room is open Wednesday–Thursday 16:00–20:00 and Friday–Saturday 16:00–21:00; the retail shop is open Monday–Friday 10:00–17:00. Reservations are recommended, and groups should contact the distillery for planning.
The stated hours are: Tasting Room: Wednesday–Thursday 16:00–20:00; Friday–Saturday 16:00–21:00. Retail shop (bottles & sampling): Monday–Friday 10:00–17:00.
Philosophy and Craft
NOCO's values focus on local engagement, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. They collaborate with local suppliers and breweries, prioritize local botanicals, and aim to minimize their climate footprint. Practical measures include recycling, heat exchangers for energy savings, a closed cooling system with reused RO water, a bottle return program, and the use of organic or Non‑GMO ingredients whenever available.
Sustainability
Reuse/return of materials and bottles.
Use of heat exchangers to recover energy.
A closed cooling system in winter with recycled water from the Reverse Osmosis system.
Local sourcing to reduce transport distance and fuel consumption.
Awards and Recognitions
- Best Micro Distillery 2024 (2024)
Latest News
NOCO Distillery releases its latest Founders Reserve Rye Whiskey finished in PX Sherry Casks – 2025-05-01
Launch of Founders Reserve Rye Whiskey PX Sherry Cask Finish: a triple‑distilled 100% malted rye finished in their own used whiskey barrels aged with Pedro Ximénez sherry. The release highlights in‑house aging of PX to avoid sulfur notes and achieve a consistent finish. Available in limited quantities in Fort Collins and at select retailers.
NOCO Distillery Unveils the Ultra‑Rare Master Blender’s Private Reserve – A Visionary Blend of American Craft Whiskeys – 2025-05-19
Release of Master Blender’s Private Reserve: an extremely limited blend of the distillery's American single malt, bourbon, and rye whiskeys. The bottle is 66.6% ABV and sold exclusively in the tasting room. This release is only the second in nine years and showcases the distillery's blending ambitions.