Denver is about to get its first distillery-restaurant; the Family Jones Spirit House will open on Saturday, November 11, brought to us by a group of entrepreneurs who have already helped shape the modern landscape of Lower Highland.

Paul Tamburello, owner of Little Man Ice Cream and Generator Development, is collaborating with Justin Cucci, the chef/restaurateur behind the neighborhood's Linger and Root Down, to deliver the Family Jones Spirit House, a restaurant and craft distillery in a space that was once Mancinelli's Market.  Read more.

Most longtime Denverites are familiar with 119 S. Broadway. For years, it bore the large, instantly recognizable marquis of Kitty's South adult theater. Before that, it was the Webber Theater. The building, originally constructed in 1917, has sat vacant since Kitty's shuttered in 2007, but now, it's almost curtain time for kitty's next life: In a matter of weeks, Archetype Distillery, a 7,000-square foot, two-level distillery, tasting room, and event space, will open its doors.

Despite winning a certificate of nonhistoric status from the city, the new owners opted-to the relief of Baker residents-not to tear the building down. Instead, they gutted it, preserving the marquis outside (minus the Kitty's signage, of course) and the old brick inside (which required a thorough cleaning).  Read more.

Located in the heart of Jacksonville's Sports District, Manifest Distilling is an enlightened offshoot of this country's local craft distilling movement. Launched last year by David Cohen, Scott Kennelly, Trey Mills and Tom Johnson, the partners are committed to nothing less than "the resurgence of independent American craftsmanship." They are accomplishing this by the use of non-GMO and organic ingredients, informed and precise distillation techniques, and an unwavering search for quality.  Read more.

Not far from downtown Fort Wayne, [Indiana] is a place that is soon to become a city destination spot for residents and tourists who love a good bourbon or whiskey.

Three Rivers Distilling Co., in a 1940s building that was originally built for Holsum Bakery, is already expanding after nearly two years in business. It is adding a 7,000-square-foot tasting room that the owners hope will be open and serving customers by Thanksgiving, says Aaron Pence, vice president of sales and marketing.

Pence gives visitors a tour of the business as a construction crew works on the new area. He adds that although the tasting room is under construction, people could walk into the craft distillery now and buy a bottle of bourbon, vodka, gin or rum thanks to a change in state law that allows Three Rivers Distilling to serve its creations after only 18 months in business, instead of three years.  Read more.

Darius Paczuski is just coming off the slopes after a powder-filled day of skiing at Northstar California. Meeting at Copper Lane Café in the resort's village, people are milling about buying coffee, beer and après ski snacks. A grocery section in the corner displays tall bottles of Rocket Vodka - Paczuski's brainchild spirit that was inspired by a trip to Lake Tahoe.

Being an avid outdoorsman, Paczuski came up with the idea of Rocket Vodka while skiing at Heavenly in 2006. His friend gave him the nickname "The Polish Rocket" because he skied so fast.

"I think it represents aspiration and achievement," Paczuski said.
Paczuski was born in Poland but then moved to Norway with his parents. In his childhood, Paczuski picked ground apples for his father's moonshine formula, in which he took fresh apples and smashed and fermented them, and then aged the liquid in oak barrels to create a sweet, potent drink.  Read more.