Colorado-based Laws Whiskey House President and Founder Al Laws makes whiskey that reflects the local and regional terroir.

Laws Whiskey House was founded in Denver in 2009 and its
first barrel was filled on July 4th, 2011. The distillery’s grain-forward style whiskeys are made with corn and heirloom wheat, barley, and rye grown by two Colorado family farms.

Al is in charge of refining every aspect of operations and production. On top of that, he is responsible for building the Laws Whiskey House “village” of diverse individuals he credits as the soul of Laws Whiskey House.

In our ongoing series Five Questions, we caught up with Laws. Here’s what he had to say:

What was your gateway whiskey – the one that made you love whiskey?

Whiskey has always been my favorite social sipper. Like many, the intro was Jack Old #7, Old Forester and/or Wild Turkey (gobble gobble). I’d say the move to finer bourbon was through Basil Hayden and then Lot B Van Winkle (which you could get any day). It took off from there, chasing the next nuanced flavor and hasn’t stopped.

What is your favorite part of the whiskey making process?  

I have two favorites: first, the cook. Just love the aromas of the various grains and the swirling mash as it comes together. The second is hand filling barrels. There is something about the smell in the air that is different for rye than it is for bourbon or wheat whiskey and the sound of the hammer as you seal it up for its journey becoming real whiskey.

What trends do you believe are forthcoming in the spirits industry?

There are plenty of established trends in spirits like finishing spirits in other barrels, canned cocktails and RTDs. One of the trends we like in whiskey has been the cross blending of whiskey types to create interesting and uniquely flavored American Whiskey. Bourbon with rye or bourbon with wheat whiskey combos are expressions we have been working on. “Double oaking” an aged whiskey has also been interesting. There are a number of examples out there from the big and independent whiskey companies that our team has tried and enjoyed.

Other than your own brand, do you currently have a favorite bourbon, whiskey or other spirit?

Most certainly. I am not parochial enough to stay with the Laws Whiskey brands, although our flagship Four Grain Bourbon is poured the most. You have to keep trying many things to stay inspired by the array of flavors out there. I enjoy many different brands and different spirits every week. As we in the fall, I have been enjoying more Armagnac brandy from a few different producers. It just tastes better as the leaves are falling. In bourbon and rye, I have tried a number of store picks and single barrels from around the country that have not disappointed. Most recently a Makers Mark and a Still Austin were remarkable. That said, for a slow sipper to enjoy with our production crew, I am always on the lookout for an Old Forester Birthday Bourbon this time of year. It is my favorite hard-to-get bottle from the majors.

Neat, rocks or cocktail?

Sorry to be so plain, but I always prefer whiskey heavily-poured, neat and in a solid rocks glass. I will splash expressions over 100 proof with water. I know, so avant garde! That said, The Whiskey Sanctuary at Laws Whiskey House Is finally opening this November. Here we will have our Whiskey Church education center (with all the gothic architecture and classic decor including hand carved pews to match) and a top tier cocktail bar with innovative mixologists, all of whom have all vowed to convert me to a whiskey cocktail lover.

Read more: Five Questions With 15 Stars’ Rick and Ricky Johnson

About Five Questions

Five Questions is a series on Fredminnick.com in which professionals in the whiskey business offer insights into trends, favorite spirits and more.