Distillery 291

Distillery 291 is a Colorado Springs craft distillery founded by photographer Michael Myers in 2011, producing small-batch bourbon and rye whiskey using locally grown Colorado grains and a distinctive Aspen stave finishing process that imparts a characteristically American Rocky Mountain terroir to the spirit.

Myers brings a photographer’s eye for detail and craft to the distillery — small-batch production, hand-selected barrels, and the use of locally harvested Aspen wood staves for finishing differentiate Distillery 291 from most American craft whiskey. The Aspen stave finishing adds a subtle creamy, almost coconut-like sweetness and a delicate woodiness distinct from the vanilla and caramel of American oak. The award record is strong: multiple double gold and best-in-class recognitions at major spirits competitions.

The Distillery 291 Lineup

291 Colorado Bourbon — The flagship. Colorado grain, new American oak, finished with Aspen staves. Vanilla, caramel, and a subtle creamy Aspen sweetness. Multiple double gold medals. 291 Colorado Rye Whiskey — High-rye mashbill, Aspen stave finished. Bold spice, dried fruit, and the distinctive 291 Aspen character. 291 Colorado Whiskey Bad Guy — A higher-proof, bolder expression of the house style. 291 White Dog — The unaged new make Colorado grain spirit, unfiltered straight from the still. 291 Single Barrel Expressions — Limited individual barrel selections showing the range of character within the 291 house style.

Browse all bourbon and American whiskey at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Aspen stave finishing process?

After aging in new American oak barrels, 291 whiskeys are finished by adding locally harvested Colorado Aspen wood staves to the barrel. Aspen is a deciduous hardwood distinct from oak — it contributes a subtle creamy, almost coconut-like sweetness and a delicate woodiness that complements rather than replaces the vanilla and caramel from the American oak aging. It is the defining flavor signature of the 291 house style.

Where does 291 source its grain?

Locally grown Colorado grain — corn, rye, and malted barley from Colorado farms. The high-altitude Rocky Mountain terroir of the grain combined with the Aspen stave finishing produces a whiskey character genuinely specific to Colorado, rather than the Kentucky-sourced product approach of most American craft whiskey.