Locke + Co. Announces Expanded Distribution of Big Catch Bourbon

Locke + Co. Announces Expanded Distribution of

Big Catch Bourbon 

Just in time for National Bourbon Month, find Big Catch Bourbon online and at select retailers nationwide 

Denver, Colo.— Denver distiller Locke + Co. expands distribution of its award-winning Big Catch Bourbon. Released in late 2023, Big Catch Bourbon pays homage to a favorite Colorado pastime and the people who help preserve the state’s rivers and lakes. The label features artwork by Erie artist Garrison Doctor, who co-founded the angler apparel and conservation company RepYourWater. 

Big Catch Bourbon (95 proof--SRP $49.99) won a gold medal at the 2024 Denver International Spirits Competition. Big Catch is bold with a slightly higher alcohol content than average bourbon. Aromas of honey and vanilla with hints of dried berries, maple syrup, and walnuts greet the nose followed by full-bodied flavors of caramel, honey, and vanilla. Rye spice and peppercorn round out the palate. Its finish is long with lingering notes of caramel, black pepper, toffee, light brown sugar, and cinnamon. 

Co-founded by high school friends and Colorado natives Rick Talley and Owen Locke, Locke + Co. makes bourbon whiskey aged for two-plus years in new 53-gallon oak barrels. It uses high rye and high wheat mash builds for a confluence of great-tasting whiskey. Each batch is finished with hand-cut and charred aspen wood discs to create a bourbon with a taste like none other.

Locke + Co.’s story is one of friendship and memories. Owen comes from a family of moonshiners and is a sixth-generation Coloradan. He had been keeping the tradition alive with homebrew creations when he reconnected with Rick at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business where they were both working through their MBA. Their aspen-aged whiskey was created by accident one fall when, after closing a family cabin, they put a piece of charred aspen in a jar of whiskey and left it on a south-facing windowsill. The following spring when they discovered how good it tasted, they began collaborating. They realized they could create something bolder and wilder than the premier spirits offered at countless tastings. In 2010, the pair bought a 23-gallon still and turned a garage hobby into a lifestyle with their first batches of whiskey aged in small barrels.

They already had successful business careers and philanthropic pursuits — Rick on the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Giving Club Council; Owen on the board of the nonprofit Geneva Glen Camp. The excitement of creating something new through careful selection helped both extract a common element from their busy working lives: Celebrating the best of what life in Colorado has to offer.

THE WHISKEY YOU WANT AND NEED: Enjoy Big Catch Bourbon with other Locke & Co. Whiskeys: 

Locke + Co. Flagship Rye (90 proof|SRP $60-$69) Released in late September 2018, Flagship Rye was Locke & Co.’s first release and its only product for three years. It is a three-time gold medal winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and at the Denver International Spirits Competition. 

The flagship Aspen Aged Rye Whiskey is aged in brand-new 30-gallon oak barrels from the Barrel Mill of Minnesota. After two-plus years of aging, the barrels are blended in large tanks. It’s finished with hand-cut and charred aspen wood discs that continue aging the whiskey for eight additional months.

Aroma: Baking bread; caramel and toffee notes; light brown sugar; hints of cinnamon, baking spices, dry fig, honey and bananas.

Taste: Sweet with hints of cherry pits and vanilla followed by the spice of the rye on the tip of the tongue, but it has a soft mouthfeel to it.

Mid-palate: Subtle notes of caramel and golden maple syrup with slight notes of tobacco and cinnamon; buttery smooth and well-rounded with a balance of sweet and spicy characteristics.

Finish: Clean with ginger, black pepper spice, moderate warmth, and a dry sawdust bite.

Locke + Co. Rye Single Barrel (126-132 proof|SRP $99.99) Rye Single Barrel Aspen-Aged Whiskey is aged for three years in new 30-gallon oak barrels from Minnesota’s Barrel Mill. Each barrel is transferred to individual 30-gallon drums where it’s finished with the hand-cut and charred aspen wood discs for an additional eight months. Rye Single Barrel is a double gold medal winner.

Aroma: floral; fruity; rye spice; figs; cinnamon

Taste: A strong Colorado rye punch followed by calm vanilla, pepper, and leather notes. 

Finish: Rich vanilla with notes of leather and oak lasting roughly 8-11 seconds.

Locke + Co. Aspen Aged Landmark Series Pikes Peak Release  (127 proof|SRP $99.99) Released in April 2024, in extremely limited quantities, the Pikes Peak Release is a harmonious blend crafted from three distinct rye single barrels carefully selected for their rich chocolate, baking spice, and pepper characteristics complemented by a Nebbiolo finished rye. It is the first in a new collection showcasing the unique blend of Locke + Co.’s finest barrels. Silver medal winner in its first competition at the 2024 International Spirits Competition. 

Aroma: Enticing notes of red plum and berries accentuated by warm baking spices.

Taste: Full-bodied, revealing layers of sweet red fruit, hints of cola, chocolate notes, and a subtle leather undertone with traditional rye spice across the palate.

Finish: Lingering and adorned with nuances of cinnamon, birch beer, and a delicate touch of pink pepper spice.

Locke + Co. Aspen Aged Port Wine Rye Whiskey (123 proof|SRP $99.99) This port-finished rye showcases a distinctive blend of 95% rye grain and 5% malted barley. Aged for two years in new 30-gallon American oak barrels, this rye then experiences an additional eight months of maturation in aspen wood. The final touch is a twelve-month finishing period in 59-gallon Portuguese port barrels. It is bottled unfiltered at cask strength, boasting a robust 123.24 proof. Silver medal winner at the 2024 International Spirits Competition.

Aroma: A harmonious blend of stone fruit, jam, grape, and caramel aromas enhanced by subtle floral undertones and the comforting warmth of rye spice.

Taste: A delightful balance with a mellow rye spice that gently coats the palate, complemented by notes of cinnamon and delicate hints of chocolate.

Finish: Reflecting its cask strength, the finish is enduring, featuring lingering notes of cinnamon and chocolate. Subtle fruit and wine undertones gracefully round out the exceptional tasting experience.

HOW TO BUY: Order Big Catch Bourbon and Flagship 90 Proof Rye from Locke + Co. Distilling or visit our store locator to find it in CO, CT, GA, FL, and CA.

Locke + Co. Distilling in Denver, Colorado, is a premium small-batch whiskey distiller that changes the understanding of what makes a "good whiskey.” Locke + Co. welcomes everyone and everyone is welcome, whether around a campfire or a fine dining table. Remarkably smooth and flavorful, Locke + Co.’s small-barrel, aspen-aged craft spirits create the warmth and personal connection that makes good times and great memories. Aged, bottled, and blended by sixth-generation Coloradans, Locke + Co. whiskey results from the secrets and traditions of moonshiners on a mission: to make a whiskey among the best in the West.

###