“Just like craft beers, craft spirits step it up to a level of quality that mass-market, factory-made products just can’t match,” explains Matthew Baris, a Boulder native who co-founded Altitude Spirits with his father, Mitch. “Tasting is believing, so we thought that we’d create a space where people have the opportunity to taste our spirits.”
The claim that craft necessarily equates to quality is contentious and oft refuted. A recent piece by Naren Young for Food Republic.com largely counters Baris' statement that craft is better just because its craft. As Young puts it:
The claim that craft necessarily equates to quality is contentious and oft refuted. A recent piece by Naren Young for Food Republic.com largely counters Baris' statement that craft is better just because its craft. As Young puts it:
My issue with this ethos, however, is that just because a spirit is labeled “craft” doesn’t mean it’s any good. I’ve tried some remarkable craft spirits, and I’ve tried just as many that I wish had never made it past the development stage. The surging popularity of craft spirits has certainly created a great window of opportunity for a lot (of) would-be craftsmen to enter the business. But sometimes you have to wonder how much time they’ve devoted to the craft itself before rushing a product to market while that window is still open.
The Altitude Spirits tasting room joins other beer and spirits tasting rooms in Boulder where fans can drop in, sample the wares, and test this theory for themselves. Their cocktail menu is a rotating list of original recipes featuring the Altitude Spirits portfolio, which includes vodka, gin, rum, and Scotch whisky. Customers can also buy special-edition bottles and offerings.
The difference between Altitude Spirits and many other craft spirits companies is that their range of small-batch spirits are primarily imported from distillers around the world, rather than produced in-house. This gives Altitude the luxury of sourcing and sharing only those particular spirits that have passed their own stringent assessments. As an added benefit, every single one of these spirits is USDA Certified Organic.
The difference between Altitude Spirits and many other craft spirits companies is that their range of small-batch spirits are primarily imported from distillers around the world, rather than produced in-house. This gives Altitude the luxury of sourcing and sharing only those particular spirits that have passed their own stringent assessments. As an added benefit, every single one of these spirits is USDA Certified Organic.
“We are huge believers in organic,” explains Baris. “People know that when they see that seal, it means a commitment to good environmental practices, certainly,” explains Baris, “but more than that, it means top-notch ingredients, and top-notch ingredients are how you make top-notch spirits.”
Baris is quick to add that if people would like to taste for themselves whether craft means quality, the new Altitude Spirits tasting room is just the place to do it. The tasting room is located at 2805 Wilderness Place, Suite 200, in Boulder and is open 4pm to 8pm Thursday,Friday, and Saturday.
Baris is quick to add that if people would like to taste for themselves whether craft means quality, the new Altitude Spirits tasting room is just the place to do it. The tasting room is located at 2805 Wilderness Place, Suite 200, in Boulder and is open 4pm to 8pm Thursday,Friday, and Saturday.
