Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival Celebrates Booming Artisan Spirits Industry – Still on the Hill
Craft distillers will gather in Breckenridge, for the second annual Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival. The weekend features the Still on the Hill grand tasting, restaurant specials, a downtown pub crawl, historic saloon tours and hangover brunches.
Produced by the Breckenridge Restaurant Association (BRA), the Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival was born of Colorado’s – and the nation’s – rapidly-growing artisan spirits industry. The BRA is responding to the strong interest in the inaugural event by this year inviting distilleries from across the U.S.; they expect to more than double the number of participating distillers.
“Those familiar with microbrewing will be pleased to discover that the same care and quality is happening within the craft spirits industry, both in Colorado and across the nation,” said BRA president Ken Nelson. “Colorado has a particularly liberal distilling environment and that’s key to the recent boom. Still on the Hill celebrates the diversity resulting from that boom and we’re excited to welcome a variety of talented craft distillers to Breckenridge.”
- The Still on the Hill grand tasting features samples and specialty cocktails from craft distillers. Talk with distillers at this informal tasting event.
- Dine for $18.59 specials, homage to Breckenridge’s founding year, will be offered at restaurants throughout town.
- The Downtown Poker Run & Pub Crawl lets players sample Breckenridge’s best drinks and pick up cards at each location. Top poker hands garner prizes and cocktails will be awarded to all at a Breckenridge Distillery open house.
- Historic saloon tours with the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance showcase the town’s early-day watering holes and share stories of Breckenridge’s past.
- Hangover brunches close out the weekend with fine food and breakfast cocktails.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS~
Friday, October 7 – Saturday, October, 15
Dine for $18.59 specials, homage to Breckenridge’s founding year, will be offered at restaurants throughout town. Check out the event on Facebook here for a list of participating restaurants and menus, as they become available.
Friday, October 7
4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. – Historic Saloon Tours highlight the historic brewing, distilling and saloon features of Breckenridge’s mining heritage. This walk will be hosted by the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance; 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Departs from the historic Gold Pan Saloon, located at 103 N. Main St.Stop by the Welcome Center (203 S. Main St.) or call 970.453.9767 for historic tour ticketing info.
5:00 p.m. – 2nd Annual Poker Run features the saloons, restaurants and taverns of Breckenridge. Contestants will depart on self-guided tours of Breck’s bar scene and draw a playing card at each stop. Present the best five-card hand the following day at the Poker Showdown for a chance to win top prizes.
Saturday, October 8
2:00 pm. to 4:00 p.m. – Breckenridge Distillery Open House showcases the local distillers and serves as home to the Poker Run Showdown at 3:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for top poker hands and cocktails awarded to all. At the Breckenridge Distillery production facility, located at 1925 Airport Rd.
4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – Still on the Hill Grand Tasting features samples and specialty cocktails from craft distillers. Taste and talk with distillers at an informal, walk-around event. At the Breckenridge Riverwalk Center, located at 150 W. Adams Ave. Purchase tickets online here.
Sunday, October 9
11:00 a.m. – Breckenridge Historic Walking Tour uncovers the treasures of Breckenridge’s National Historic District. Departs from the Breckenridge Welcome Center, located at 203 S. Main St. Throughout the day, Hangover Brunches feature craft-spirit cocktails and brunch menus. Stop by the Welcome Center (203 S. Main St.) or call 970-453-9767 for historic tour ticketing info.
A listing of participants with links follows below:
