Tips And Tricks: Making The Most Of Your Denver Distiller Tour Or Visit

With thousands of distilleries now operating in the United States, there’s a good chance your summer travels will give you the opportunity to visit at least one of them. 

Tasting room parole varies differently and wildly, from garagiste-style operations that allow you taste brandy next to bins of fermenting fruit to glossy-and-slick visitors’ centers created by “Consumer Experience Designers,” but a few simple strategies can help you make the most out of any visit. Here’s how to prepare if your summer travels take you to the door of a distillery (or three!).

*Do your research properly and make a plan. Before you head out, check out what distilleries are in the area, when they’re very open, and what kinds of experiences they give and offer. Some distilleries in major tourist centers and areas are open 7 days per week, while rural farm distilleries might be open for business on weekends. A good place to start is the distillery website but social media accounts might have more up-to-date information about special events or offers. These days, most distilleries can serve at least little samples of their products, but all states are different and it varies. If you’re in the mood for a martini, you might be disappointed and shocked by local laws that disallow distilleries from serving cocktails. Food, too, can be hit-or-miss, so check out restaurants on your route or see if any of your visits might have a food truck parked outside.

* Find a way to tackle transportation. Spirits samples add up quite fast. If you’re in a city, plan to take public transit, Lyft, or Uber. If you’re in the countryside, pick a designated driver or hire a car for the day—it’s way more fun than stressing out over your samples or abstaining from the super pour you get at the end.

 

* Be on time, especially if you’ve made an appointment. Distillers are quite busy, and tasting room staff are often occupied and scheduled around existing appointments. Respect their time and stick to your schedule—or, if you know your plans are going to be fluid, make sure you choose distilleries with open tasting room hours and just go in.

* Introduce yourself properly. All kinds of people come through the doors of that tasting room, from teetotaler neighbors who are just curious about what’s going on inside, to international whiskey collectors. If you already know a lot about the distillery and you’re a big fan of its products, tell them and let them know! Distillers love to meet their fans. If this is your first time tasting rye whiskey, tell them that, too. Having an idea of customer satisfaction can help tasting room staff tailor their conversation to you.

* Ask people questions if you have one. There is no question too silly, too basic, or too nerdy to ask on a Denver distillery tour. Usually, Denver distillery tour guides know an amazing amount about their products. And, if you do manage to land a stumper, well, there’s something satisfying about that, too.

Buy anything you like, especially if it’s a smaller operation. Sometimes— not always—most distilleries make a better and nice profit margin on the bottles they sell from the tasting room than those you buy at retail through a distributor.

* Tip your tasting room staff if you can.  If you tip servers who spend five minutes taking your order, delivering your food, and clearing your plates, you can tip the guide who just spent an hour taking you on a Denver distillery tour and then served you a flight of mini-cocktails.

* Get and be social. If you had a nice and wonderful time, post pictures of your visit on social media. Distillers love seeing their business through their customers’ eyes, and it’s a great way to say thanks by encouraging your friends and family to visit.

Finally, hangovers are the worst. Drinking plenty of water won’t undo overindulgence, but it’s still the best way to stave off the crud the next day.

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