Holiday Spirits

Dry Land’s grain-to-glass spirits with the soul of Colorado

By Matt Maenpaa

There is a beauty and heartiness inherent in desert plants, growing and sustaining themselves through scarcity in harsh climates. A prickly pear has both blossoms and thorns adorning its pads, after all. One Boulder County distillery is taking heed of the lessons of the desert, using grains and plants that are sustainable and survivable in changing climates to produce beautiful libations that honor the land they come from.

Dry Land Distillers, now in its fifth year of operation, sits in the heart of downtown Longmont. Founded with the goal of producing unique, ecologically sustainable spirits, the distillery is now known for putting farmer’s first when sourcing the grains that go into their heirloom wheat whiskeys.

“We are one of the premier distillers in the West, I believe, that specifically selects the ingredients and the grains to be specific to place and to do good at the same time we’re making good product,” explains Dry Land co-founder Nels Wroe.

To accomplish this, Wroe and his team go directly to the growers—Arnusch Farms in nearby Keenesburg and Family Jones in the San Luis Valley—to produce heirloom varieties of wheat that use less water and help improve soil health. 

“By doing this, getting more and more growers on board, we do see a path to drive change in the agricultural system in Colorado,” Wroe says. “That’s a big motivator for us.”

That desire for locally sourced ingredients and environmentally ethical products carries over to their tasting room—a restored and refurbished historical building in Longmont that has been redesigned with stone and wood from across Colorado—and the ingredients in their delicious cocktails. Their practices include sourcing local rosehips to make a rosehip syrup, working with local apothecaries for the right components in their bitters and finding collaborations with breweries, cideries and distillers throughout the state to build a strong community.

In creating a community-driven, curated experience, the Dry Land team aims for both an interactive and educational experience for their guests. From the resident female-led distilling and cocktail series, called the Distilling Dames, to the annual eggnog competition, Dry Land aims to set a high standard in their tasting room.

That standard is evidenced in their frequent awards and accolades, which includes the 2023 Good Food Award for their Cactus spirit and repeat appearances on lists in the Denver Post, Westword and other publications exalting spirits and cocktails alike.

“We’re always looking at ways to celebrate the world around us,” Wroe says. “We’re shooting for creating something original, delicious and genuinely represents where we live.”

The staff of Dry Land are making as much as they can in-house, including liqueurs, shrubs and bitters, to produce sumptuous cocktails like their mezcal-inspired Spicy Margarita or current seasonal special, Autumn Campfire, a smoky Cactus spirit cut through with spiced maple syrup and apple cider.

A cold weather favorite, the Autumn Campfire is simple and delicious. The smokiness of Dry Land’s signature Cactus spirit cuts through the sweetness of the cider and maple syrup. Spice sits lightly on the tongue, elevated by the tartness of citrus, while the alcohol is nigh-imperceptible until the flush touches your cheeks.

Although known for their distinct originals like the Autumn Campfire, Lilac Blush, Brush Fire and other unique sippers, Dry Land’s twists on classics are worth seeking out as well. From the Bee’s Knees and Clover Club made with their own gin, itself distilled with botanicals only native to Colorado, to the variety of Old-Fashioneds available on request, the choices are endless.

Of course, one can’t go wrong with a winter classic either, and Dry Land’s Hot Buttered Rum is sure to please the most discerning palate with a creamy texture and luxurious blend of spices and sweetness.

Visit Dry Land’s tasting room at 519 Main Street in Longmont to sample these sustainably delicious spirits for yourself.