Idlewild Spirits Winter Park, CO
Occasionally you come across a hidden gem! Boy did we discover one while in Winter Park, Colorado.
As you may know, the hubs and I try to find distilleries to visit while traveling (read our Breckenridge, CO recap). It is something we’ve done over the years and enjoy meeting the people and seeing their process. Plus the tasting is always worth a stop. 😉 While in a liquor store near our hotel in Winter Park, Colorado we noticed a display for Idlewild Spirits and asked the staff if it was a Colorado distillery. The staff member replied yes AND they were local…as in down the street. We asked if they gave tours and tastings and she said we needed to stop in for happy hour, because they create wonderful drinks and the place is cozy.
Location
A few days later we found Idlewild Spirits. A small place at the end of a center with restaurants and ski rentals. We knew we had missed happy hour, but wanted to check it out anyway. The interior is masculine and cozy. Kind of how you may imagine a mountain speakeasy. There are tables and small groupings of chairs and sofas for casual conversation spots. Find Idlewild Spirits
Experience
The staff greeted us, gave us a spot by the fire, and explained the menu. We instantly started ordering tastings of the different spirits and a few mixed drinks. Every staff member who came over was nice and very welcoming. We asked one staff member if the master distiller was in and if way might speak with him.
Jeff Ruhle, Idlewild Spirits’ creator, came over and began explaining how he got into the business and what was new at Idlewild Spirits. You could immediately tell he has a passion for what he does and is forward thinking. We saw the production area, chatted about the beautiful bottles he had worked hard to have designed, and of course enjoyed our tastings and drinks.
The products we tried were delicious and high quality, but my personal favorite was the vodka. Each of us bought a bottle, Jeff signed them, and we concluded our visit.
Happy Hour at Idlewild Spirits
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday | 3:00pm – 5:00pm
If you are in the Winter Park area (living or visiting) and enjoy distilleries I highly recommend this hidden gem. Jeff has set this company up to do great things and I know it will grow and be on more shelves (not just in Colorado) very soon. Can’t wait to see Idlewild Spirit in Texas. Thanks for the great visit Jeff and staff!
Until next post…xoxo Becca
This place looks so nice 🙂
With love,
xx
Patricia & Miguel
http://www.freeoversea.com
Hi Patricia & Miguel,
Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment. I enjoyed the vibe of this place. The people were so friendly and hospitable. Loved it!