#Breckenridge, Colorado.
 |
| Liam Doran / Special to the Daily |
Embrace the growing craft distilling trend this weekend with the fifth-annual Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival, Friday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Oct. 26.
Founded during Colorado’s gold rush in 1859, Breckenridge is no stranger to distilling. Stills kept miners’ thirsts quenched during its first heyday, and now the town is home to the original Still on the Hill event. Activities for the festival include a poker run and bar mix-off at restaurants and bars throughout town, a historic saloon tour, shot glass art, a spirited cooking class, an open house at the Breckenridge Distillery, the Grand Tasting with distillers from around the country and a Hangover Brunch.
TOURS AND POKER
The Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival kicks off Friday, Oct. 24, with a pair of tours led by theBreckenridge Heritage Alliance. Discover the ghost town and gold mine of Preston in the morning, weather dependent, or join the Historic Saloon Tour in the afternoon. The saloon walking tour highlights the historic brewing, distilling and saloon features of Breckenridge’s mining heritage.
Indulge your creative side by designing your own personalized shot glass at the Ceramic Studio in the Breckenridge Arts District. Watch local artists throw shot glasses off a large hump of clay. During the demonstration, you are invited to personalize your own pre-made ceramic shot glass using colorful glazes. Each creation will be fired that night and ready for pick up on Saturday, Oct. 25, during open studio hours from 5 to 8 p.m.
The evening closes with the fifth-annual Poker Run and, new this year, Bar Mix-off, showcasing Breckenridge bartenders’ creativity with a cocktail throwdown utilizing craft spirits as a base. For the Poker Run, contestants will depart on self-guided tours of saloons, restaurants and taverns in Breckenridge, drawing playing cards at each stop, and then present their best five-card hand the following day at the Poker Showdown at the Still on the Hill Grand Tasting.
GRAND TASTING
The highlight of the weekend is the Grand Tasting on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Riverwalk Center, which will showcase the various products of 30 craft distillers. The public can meet the distillers, try the various spirits and vote for their favorite spirit. Many of the distillers make up cocktails featuring their spirits so that guests may experience how the products can be used.
Artisan snacks will also be served during the Grand Tasting, and the Honey Gitters will play background bluegrass music. Tickets include a tasting glass and entry to the Grand Tasting (must be 21 to enter; this is a no-pet event). The party moves to the Gold Pan Saloon at 9 p.m., where the Honey Gitters will play with their full band sound.
Wrap up the weekend with the Hangover Brunch on Sunday, Oct. 26, when various restaurants around town will be featuring craft-spirit cocktails and brunch menus.
Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.
