Nestled in the shadow of Basalt Mountain in Colorado lies Woody Creek Distillers – a distillery with a distinct character shaped by its rugged surroundings. Founded in 2012 by Mary Scanlan, Pat Scanlan, and Mark Kleckner, Woody Creek strives for excellence in every spirit it distills, infusing every product with a distinct Colorado character. Woody Creek is a prime example of an independent distillery in today’s whiskey market, with every part of the process being handled by the distillery. Ingredients are all sourced locally from Colorado, and the first ingredient, cold Rocky Mountain water, flows right into the distillery property. The distillate is mashed and distilled in-house with copper-pot stills by home-grown head distiller Blaine Hudson. The whiskey is aged right on the mountain campus.
For a relatively young distillery, Woody Creek has certainly collected some impressive accolades for its whiskey. Its flagship bourbon won silver at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2020, and its flagship rye won double gold in 2016. William H. Macy, the actor famous for his role in “Shameless,” has become the enthusiastic “spokesdude” of Woody Creek, attaching his rather famous name and likeness to the brand. Woody Creek even has the 10-year-old “William H. Macy Reserve” as its premium product.
Please enjoy getting to know Woody Creek CEO Mary Scanlan with me. I was also graciously provided samples of those award-winning bourbon and rye offerings, and am excited to dive into the work of a distillery that keeps things local and sticks to its mission.
Answers by Mary Scanlan, Co-founder and CEO, Woody Creek Distillers
Why did you choose the spirits industry?
“In a way, you could say it chose me. My husband Pat Scanlan, who is also a co-founder of Woody Creek Distillers, is an engineer by trade. Converse to my experience, it’s pretty easy to draw a straight line between the skills he put to work in his previous job, his hobbies such as farming rye, red corn, and potatoes, and the nuts and bolts of what we do here. My background is largely in arts and education philanthropy.”
What was your first job in the industry?
“This is it! I started off just helping out with the design of the tasting room and my responsibilities grew from there.”
Who has influenced you most in your career?
“Definitely my dad! I always think about what he would have done before making any decision. He passed away when I was 26, so I didn’t get too much time with him as an adult. As annoying as it seemed as a teenager, I’m now grateful for the time I spent with him at his office and in business meetings. He taught me more than he ever realized.”
What is your favorite part of your current role?
“When we started Woody Creek Distillers in 2012, there was no way to know how it was going to go. Being part of an incredible team of hard workers and watching the brand grow steadily and our offerings expand over the years – from distilling vodka and gin, to working with our neighbor and friend William H. Macy, to making bourbon and rye – has been incredibly gratifying. Woody Creek has also presented the opportunity to support organizations that mean a lot to me personally. We’ve given to the United States Bartenders’ Guild National Charity Foundation; sponsored women’s sports, including the Professional Women’s Hockey League; and contributed to organizations focused on the health and safety of our communities, education of our children, and advocacy for the arts.”
What’s next for Woody Creek Distillers?
“You will have to wait and see. We have some fun things in the works!”
What is your current favorite pour?
“I love gin and I love purple. So much so that we infused our Woody Creek Colorado Gin with all-natural butterfly pea blossom, creating a beautifully purple and absolutely delicious gin called Mary’s Select. Try two and a half ounces, a half ounce of dry vermouth, and one to two dashes of orange bitters, stir thirty seconds over fresh ice, and strain into a chilled coupe for Mary’s Martini. I also love it in an Aviation or a French 75.”
Thanks to Mary for taking the time to connect. Next are my thoughts on the whiskey of Woody Creek.
Woody Creek Colorado Straight 100% Rye Whiskey
45% ABV, 90 Proof
Mash bill 100% Colorado Elbon Rye
SRP $54.99 (750ML bottle)
I found the nose on the Woody Creek Rye to be pleasantly sweet, with notes of cream corn, vanilla, and bubblegum being their presence known above the rye spice. The notes of gum translated to the palate where I noticed something akin to Juicy Fruit, along with peppermint and saltwater taffy – a unique palate perhaps reflecting the special environment of the whiskey’s home. There was also a high level of viscosity, almost syrupy, which I was pleasantly surprised by for a four-year-old whiskey. Finally, the finish rolled on for a good bit, flowing with the lighter notes of bubblegum and peppermint found earlier.
Woody Creek Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey
45% ABV, 90 Proof
SRP $54.99 (750ml bottle)
The Woody Creek Bourbon is much more traditional in its flavor profile than the rye. The nose was initially dominated by notes of caramel and vanilla, but searching further revealed pleasant notes of brown sugar and mint (there’s that mint note again – I’m beginning to think that might be a staple of Woody Creek products). The palate shares some notes with the nose, unveiling caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar. I also found something akin to the note many find in Buffalo Trace – artificial grape. Not a note I find often. Finally, the finish stretches the flavors out really well, offering up continued caramel and vanilla, while dropping little hints of dark chocolate.
Both of these products are really solid offerings. The rye is more unique and offers something I haven’t experienced in a rye before, while the bourbon is a more traditional take that delivers.
Any time I get the chance to explore regional offerings from independent distilleries I take it, because that’s often where you find unique and interesting products. There’s a ton of good, independent whiskey being made out there that isn’t just sourced from Indiana (not that there’s anything wrong with that!), but it takes effort to find it. Woody Creek Distillers may not have the largest following yet but is putting itself on the map, and will only continue to grow under Mary and Pat’s leadership. I’ll continue to look for their new releases with anticipation.
Learn more here: woodycreekdistillers.com
