Axe and the Oak: Crafting Colorado Whiskey
Axe and the Oak bourbon
Nestled along the Front Range of Colorado Springs, CO lies the Axe and the Oak Distillery. In the shade of Pike’s Peak, the distillery was surprisingly born out of another handcrafting experience, roasting coffee beans. Founder, Jason Jackson, was sipping on some whiskey one evening while playing live music and roasting his coffee beans when it occurred to him that if others were able to make whiskey, he could too. With that, he invited some of his friends to the table who became investors — a decade later, Axe and the Oak is going strong.
Background of Axe and the Oak
Axe and the Oak co-owner, Casey Ross
Axe and the Oak co-owner, Casey Ross, describes the origins of the distillery founded in 2013 as a magical mix. Jackson, Ross, and Eric Baldini teamed up to launch what became one of Colorado Springs’ first distilleries. Three months after starting to age whisky in barrels, their Colorado Mountain Bourbon Whiskey won a silver award at an international spirits competition.
Since then Axe and the Oak have gone on to win more than 40 awards around the world for their spirits since then including gold medals in the NY International Spirits Competition in 2023 for both their Colorado Mountain Bourbon Whiskey and Dream Stream Barrel Aged Gin.
The distillery’s name is derived from a bit of distilling history. “We love whiskey history! During prohibition, all of the federal agents would carry an axe with them to puncture all of the distillery equipment and to bust all of the oak barrels,” Ross said. “That’s how we got Axe and the Oak.”
Axe and the Oak still
A Distillery with A View
Nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains, the Axe and the Oak’s distillery in Colorado Springs is less than 4,000 square feet. They have distilled and blended in this building since its inception. They originally selected the location because it was affordable.
“We don’t do many tours in the space but we have several people pop by and we’re always eager to talk whiskey,” Ross said. “Although the Colorado distillery location is cramped, we’ve been super grateful for the space. It has allowed us to bottle over 250,000 bottles and we have filled a lot of barrels along the way as well.”
While the production side of things is small, their tasting room is a whole different story. The Axe and the Oak Whiskey House at 1604 S. Cascade Ave. opened 7 years ago in the historical Ivywild School. The historic 106-year-old elementary school was converted into an iconic space to serve up spirits and food to visitors.
The Axe & The Oak Portfolio
Axe and the Oak whiskey
For the first four years after launching, the Axe and the Oak made all of their whiskey onsite in Colorado Springs. Since then, they have tripled production and quadrupled sales. Struggling to keep pace with growth, they started blending to keep the doors open and the whiskey flowing.
“I’m happy with our decision. I just wish we did it sooner,” Ross said. “We have a strong, highly award-winning lineup of delicious brown and clear spirits.”
The list of offerings includes a cask-strength bourbon called The First Stake clocking in between 108 and 128 proofs. They also have a 92-proof bourbon called Colorado Mountain Bourbon Whiskey, and a 98-proof Colorado Mountain Incline Rye.
The Axe and the Oak also offer gin and vodka, including their 90-proof Colorado Mountain Citra Gin, 100-proof Dream Stream, which is a barrel-aged citra gin, and the 80-proof Colorado Mountain Wheat Vodka.
“We do a special barrel finish release at least every two months,” Ross notes. “We are lucky enough to be next door to Local Relic brewery, Boxing Brothers Ciderhouse, and Monte Cervino winery. We like to pass barrels around so you’re always getting something unique.”
The most popular cocktail that they offer onsite at the Ivywild is the Tobacco Old Fashioned, created by one of the distillery’s first employees and friend, Jacob Pfund.
Looking Forward
The small distillery has big plans. In December of 2022, they purchased a 49,000-square-foot building on 5 acres in Fort Smith, AR. There the distillery is expanding with what Ross dubs, “Axe and the Oak, part two.”
“We hope to open in late 2024. We also now co-own Tahwahkaro Distillery in Palestine, TX. We will have an Axe and the Oak distilled spirit license in three states. We’re trying to set everything up for a strong and diverse future in spirits,” Ross shares. “When we have Arkansas and Texas built out, we will be putting 500-1500 barrels away in each location.”
Until then, those looking to explore the Centennial State are invited to stop by the distillery Whiskey House to enjoy a beverage or two with some good friends and live music. The Axe and the Oak Distillery offers bottling tours by appointment.