Peach Street Distillers

Peach Street Distillers is a privately owned brewery and distillery in Palisade, Colorado. It was established in November 2005 by Rory Donovan with Bill Graham and David Thibodeau, the co-founders of Ska Brewing Company in Durango, Colorado.[1] In August 2025, Ska Brewing sold Peach Street Distillers to Whiskey Biz, LLC,[2] a Palisade, Colorado-based company managed by Desa Loughman, Cody Butters Lewis, Jesse Loughman, and Michael Lewis. The Lewises also own and operate The Homestead,[3] a boutique motel in Palisade, Colorado.

History

Rory Donovan, Bill Graham and David Thibodeau were friends with past brewing and distilling experience who established the company in 2005.[1] Peach Street Distillers holds Colorado's first post-prohibition distiller license, DSP CO 15001.[4] In 2008, they produced the first legal bourbon in the state of Colorado.[5] In 2010 it was one of 13 small-scale distilleries in the state.[6] As of 2009, their products were sold in Colorado and as of 2011 their Goat Vodka and Jackelope Gin were also available in Oregon, California and Kansas.[7][5]

Peach Street Distillers sources corn from Olathe, and pears, plums and peaches locally. They partnered with Debeque Canyon Winery to produce a grappa from Gewürztraminer and Viognier grapes.[8] Peach Street Distillers has participated in the Colorado Distiller's Guild with other small licensed distilling companies to pool resources and cross-promote.[9] For instance, Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey and Peach Street order their barrels together.[6] They also worked with Sauvage Spectrum Winery & Estate Vineyard to produce Devil's Prey,[10] a bourbon-barrel aged red blend.

Awards

Peach Street Distillers has received awards and recognition for its spirits, including:

  • Colorado Distillery of the Year (2012, 2013, 2014) - awarded by the New York International Spirits Competition
  • Brandy Category (silver) (2013) - awarded by the American Distilling Institute[11]
  • Best American Vodka (2015) - awarded to Goat Vodka at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London
  • Brandy Category (silver), Straight Bourbon Category (bronze), Amaro Category (bronze) (2018) - awarded by the American Distilling Institute[12]
  • Brandy Category (bronze) (2019) - awarded by the American Distilling Institute[13]
  • Brandy Category (double gold) (2020) - awarded by the American Distilling Institute[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Durango Herald Online". www.peachstreetdistillers.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15.
  2. ^ Dan.West@gjsentinel.com, DAN WEST (2025-09-26). "Peach Street Distillers in Palisade under new ownership". The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  3. ^ "The Homestead Palisade, About Us". Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  4. ^ "DISTILLED SPIRITS PRODUCERS and BOTTLERS" (XLSX).
  5. ^ a b "whiskymerchants.co.uk". www.whiskymerchants.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2011-10-17. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  6. ^ a b Dorris, Jennie (2010-08-28). "Boost Your Spirits". 5280. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  7. ^ "Peach Street Distillers, artisians of fine liquors". www.peachstreetdistillers.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-05.
  8. ^ "Taste Trotting in the Rockies. | Denver Magazine". Archived from the original on 2010-09-27. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  9. ^ "Colorado Distillers Guild | coloradodistillersguild". Archived from the original on 2011-02-22. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  10. ^ "Sauvage Spectrum and Peach Street Distillers Debut Bourbon Barrel-Aged Red and Red Wine Barrel-Aged Bourbon For Wine Fest in Palisade, Colorado". RadCraft. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  11. ^ "Pear Brandy". American Distilling Institute. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  12. ^ "Peach Street Distillers Wins Three 2018 American Distilling Institute Judging Awards". RadCraft. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  13. ^ "Peach Brandy". American Distilling Institute. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  14. ^ "Pear Brandy". American Distilling Institute. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
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