Laws Whiskey House Releases Second Expression In The Headwaters Series

The Rio Grande Rye Edition, the second installment of the distillery’s Headwaters Series, supports the protection and preservation of Colorado’s vital Rio Grande River

Denver, CO, May 2025 — Laws Whiskey House proudly introduces The 2025 Headwaters Series - Rio Grande Rye Edition, the second release in its annual Headwaters Series—a collection of limited-edition whiskeys, each crafted to honor a different Colorado river and raise awareness for water conservation across the state. The series is designed to spark conversation and support organizations dedicated to safeguarding Colorado's rivers by donating 10% percent of sales to Colorado’s leading water conservation programs.

The Rio Grande River, which sustains millions across the Southwest and supports multi-generational farms in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, serves as the inspiration for this second release. Distilled from 100% heirloom rye grown in the valley and proofed with purified water from the Rio Grande itself, this rye whiskey is a reflection of the region’s unique terroir. It opens with aromas of sandalwood, cola syrup, and lemon zest, and offers a balanced palate of pear, allspice, honey, graham cracker, and citrus, finishing with a dry complexity layered in oak sweetness, mint, and orange. The whiskey not only showcases the unique mineral influence of the Rio Grande but also underscores Laws’ ongoing commitment to protecting Colorado’s rivers through education, storytelling, and charitable giving.

To support the health of this vital waterway, 10% of proceeds from this release benefit the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project, focused on stabilizing riverbanks, improving irrigation infrastructure, and protecting habitat while maintaining critical water use for agriculture and recreation.

“Water is essential not only to our whiskey-making process but to the communities and ecosystems that rely on these rivers,” shares Al Laws, founder of Laws Whiskey House. “The Rio Grande Edition is our way of honoring the river that nourishes the grains we use and giving back to ensure its vitality for future generations.”

The Headwaters Series Includes:

1. Colorado River Four Grain Bourbon

Released June 2024

Honors the Colorado River and supports the Shoshone Water Right Preservation Coalition. Available online and in stores. 

2. Rio Grande Edition San Luis Valley Straight Rye Whiskey

Released May 2025

Honors the Rio Grande River and benefits the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project. Released as a distillery-exclusive, available at Denver-based Laws Whiskey Sanctuary

Laws Headwaters Series: The Rio Grande Rye Edition is available exclusively at the Denver-based Laws Whiskey Sanctuary for $84.99, honoring the water that keeps the farms going, the crops thriving, and our community rooted and giving back to the source.

About the Rio Grande River

The Rio Grande River not only supplies water to numerous multi-generational family farms—including the Cody Family Farm where the heirloom grains for this whiskey are grown—but was recently named one of  America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2025 by the leading non-profit American Rivers, making this mission more critical than ever. In recent years, the San Luis Valley has faced increasingly severe dustbowl conditions, with aquifer levels reaching record lows in 2024. This year, the region is also experiencing one of the lowest snowpacks on record, heightening concerns for the summer. This puts pressure on farmers in the region as they work to preserve both their agricultural heritage and the river itself. A healthy economy depends on a healthy environment—and the agricultural economy of the San Luis Valley depends on the Rio Grande.

About Laws Whiskey House

Founded in 2011, Laws Whiskey House makes intentionally bold and terroir-driven whiskeys from Colorado. The distillery’s grain-forward style whiskeys are made with the highest quality corn and heirloom wheat, barley, and rye grown by two Colorado family farms. Laws uses time-tested production techniques that showcase each individual grain's terroir, resulting in singular and novel whiskeys.