Northern Colorado in middle of distillery boom
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“It’s a lot different making 500 gallons than a half a liter,” he said. Naslund estimates they have invested about $200,000 in the distillery to date, but notes they paid off all debts and simplified their lives before launching the distillery.
While Dancing Pines made a small profit in its first year, Naslund said they have reinvested everything back into the business and he only makes a quarter of what he used to.
At the same time, Dancing Pines passed its five-year projection in its first year. Working in uncharted territory, Naslund said they take it six months at a time now.
“If you are starting a distillery, plan on working a lot, being broke and changing hats often,” Naslund said. “I am a distiller, janitor and marketing. I do bottling, PR and everything else you can imagine.”
Jason Houston, 35, of Longmont is still working to open his new art house and distillery called Still Cellars.
Houston has been working on the distillery for a year and has been in his location at 1115 Colorado Ave. in Longmont for about six months.
“My ultimate goal is to create a comfortable tasting room and art house where people can come and relax and enjoy fine spirits,” Houston said.
Still Cellars will produce certified organic grain whiskey and vodka to start. Houston said he would like to incorporate local Colorado apples and other fruits into the distilling process.
Houston said he has his state and local license and is waiting on his federal license to open in an estimated six months.
A technology designer for Namaste Solar, Houston has funded the distillery along with his wife through savings, credit cards and a loan he plans to take.
He plans to invest about $75,000 in the distillery and has already put in about $20,000 to date.
“Pretty much by starting on a small scale with smaller equipment and less of it,” he said of the smaller budget. “Other than that, it’s mostly doing stuff ourselves. Between the two of us we have a wide skill set.”
On the flipside Jeff Lindauer, 50, is in the process of opening a multimillion-dollar distillery in Loveland.
