Denver-based Locke + Co. has released Big Blaze Bourbon, a new whiskey aged with aspen trees burned in Colorado’s East Troublesome Fire of 2020.
According to Thirst Colorado, the whiskey commemorates Grand County’s firefighters and first responders who battled the wildfire.
Locke + Co. is donating $3 from each bottle sold to the Grand Fire Protection District No. 1 in Granby to support firefighting assessment and prevention initiatives.
The East Troublesome Fire, which began in October 2020, burned more than 193,000 acres in Grand and Larimer counties, becoming the second-largest wildfire in Colorado history.
The whiskey’s development drew inspiration from the C Lazy U Ranch in Granby, where burned aspen trees were initially used for a private whiskey release.
Locke + Co. incorporated aspen wood affected by the fire into the bourbon’s aging process.
Co-founder Rick Talley explained the effort to source aspen trees from burned properties in Grand County.
“We reached out to residents whose aspen groves were burned in the fire,” Talley said.
“We hand-cut the aspen logs into discs to use for the whiskey’s final aging step.”
Big Blaze Bourbon is crafted from a blend of high rye and high wheat mash builds, aged for over two years in oak barrels.
The naturally burned aspen wood imparts a distinct smokiness to the bourbon, which balances with maple staves to enhance its depth and richness.
Big Blaze Bourbon features tasting notes of honey, vanilla, dried berries, and walnuts.
It offers a balance of smokiness and smooth maple undertones, complemented by flavors of chocolate, cinnamon, and white pepper.
At 95 proof, the whiskey delivers a long finish, highlighted by caramel, toffee, light brown sugar, and a hint of cinnamon.
Talley described the whiskey as having “a slightly chocolatey richness, complemented by smooth maple undertones.”
Locke + Co. Distilling has been producing small-batch whiskey in Denver since 2010.
Founders Talley and Owen Locke, Colorado natives and lifelong friends, were inspired to start their distillery after discovering the flavor-enhancing effects of charred aspen in whiskey.
Big Blaze Bourbon builds on the distillery’s tradition while honoring the Grand County community and first responders impacted by the East Troublesome Fire.
Big Blaze Bourbon by Locke + Co. Distilling is a new whiskey crafted using aspen trees burned during Colorado’s East Troublesome Fire.
Released to honor first responders, the whiskey supports Grand County’s firefighting efforts with $3 donated from each bottle sold.
The 95-proof bourbon is aged with burned aspen wood, offering a smoky flavor profile with notes of maple, chocolate, and spices.
Locke + Co., a Denver-based distillery founded in 2010, developed the whiskey to commemorate the wildfire’s impact and assist in future fire prevention initiatives.
