Laws Whiskey House opened its doors in Denver, Colorado’s South Broadway neighborhood back in 2011. Since then, the distillery has gradually built its presence not just in the Centennial State, but around the country, thanks to a wide range of terroir-driven, pot distilled whiskeys that feature strong relationships with local farmers and are made with open-air fermentation and Eldorado Springs water. Now, Laws is taking its game up another notch, with the debut of what it’s calling a “Whiskey Sanctuary.”
Word of founder and president Al Laws’ intent on building a dramatic whiskey gathering site first came in 2022. While construction was slated to wrap up later that year, the space’s grand opening was delayed until last December due to construction complications. But it appears that the Whiskey Sanctuary was well worth the wait—the building is a feat of brutalist architecture, made with steel, glass, stone, and exposed concrete, and it places a Gothic cathedral-inspired “whiskey church” at its center, a striking space that’s punctuated by vaulted ceilings, beautifully arched glass windows, and wooden-pews hand-carved by Laws himself.
The 4,000-square-foot site—located next door to the distillery—now serves as the jumping-off point for all of Laws’ educational tours and tasting experiences; there are numerous tasting rooms scattered throughout the building, with a special sensory tasting room serving as the end-point for every tour. There, the distillery says true master classes take place, with Laws staff members guiding guests through mouthfeel, aromas, color, and more, with a sampling of the four grains that go into its whiskeys on hand. Public tour tickets will set you back $20, while private tours cost $20 more.
A cocktail lounge is located on the second floor—after traveling up a spiral staircase that’s meant to imitate the inside of a barrel, you’ll find panoramic Rocky Mountain views and whiskey flights, single pours, and sundry specialty cocktails, among them are the Orange Whiskey Creamsicle (comprised of Laws Bonded wheat whiskey, fresh orange juice, Jarritos lime soda, and vanilla simple syrup, $12) and Peach Basil Whiskey Smash (a blend of Laws Bonded corn whiskey, peach purée, lemon juice, basil, and soda water, $14), accompanied by classics like the Old Fashioned ($13) and Whiskey Sour ($12). (For the non-whiskey set, there are also cocktails made with the distillery’s house-made rum and agave spirits, plus non-alcoholic options.) Alongside tours and tasting, an expanded retail area is also in the mix.
The Laws Whiskey Sanctuary is now open daily, with hours varying depending on the day.
