Root Shoot Brings Award-Winning Colorado Whiskey Statewide In Partnership With Johnson Brothers Maverick Beverage Company of Colorado

Whiskey lovers can now find Root Shoot Spirits’ award-winning whiskeys across the entire state of Colorado thanks to a new distribution partnership with Johnson Brothers Maverick Beverage Company of Colorado! Made with all-Colorado ingredients, including craft malt grown, sown, and malted on Root Shoot’s 100-year family farm in Loveland, the lineup relies on a hyper-local, sustainable supply-chain journey of only about 30 miles from field to bottle. 

Root Shoot Whiskey (50% ABV) was named American Single Malt Whiskey of the Year at the 2025 London Spirits Competition. It also earned second place at the 2025 International Spirits Award in the American Single Malt category. With aromas of cobbler and honey granola followed by flavors of alpine florals and an alpenglow of rich pastry, faint cocoa dust and lingering bright-yet-spicy flavors, Root Shoot Whiskey is Colorado in a glass. 

Also available to retailers statewide is Root Shoot Spirit’s new High Rye Straight Malt Whiskey. Crafted in collaboration with Boulder Spirits, High Rye is distilled from malted Genie barley and malted Bono rye; and characterized by warm aromas of freshly baked rye bread and flavors of bold spice balanced with lightly sweet apricot and ginger snap.

“Our team has been self-distributing on the Front Range, but demand has grown as word gets out about our 100% locally sourced Colorado spirits. With the help of Johnson Brothers Maverick Beverage Company of Colorado, we’ll be able to satisfy incoming requests and reach new retailers and whiskey drinkers statewide,” says Root Shoot Farmer and Founder Todd Olander. 

Johnson Brothers Maverick is a family-owned distributor with a mission to redefine excellence in beverage distribution through world class producers, honest relations, and industry expertise.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Root Shoot Spirits to our portfolio,” said Chris Blacklidge, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Johnson Brothers Maverick Beverage Company of Colorado. “What they’ve built–from soil to snifter–is nothing short of extraordinary. Their dedication to local agriculture, sustainability, and unmatched quality embodies everything we love about Colorado craft. We’re honored to help bring their award-winning whiskeys to more shelves and more glasses across the state.”

Now you can find Root Shoot Spirits’ acclaimed Root Shoot Whiskey and High Rye Straight Malt Whiskey at more Colorado retailers than ever before! Learn more at  rootshootspirits.com.

ABOUT ROOT SHOOT 

Root Shoot Malting is a fifth-generation family farm and a first-generation craft malthouse producing responsibly-raised, caringly-crafted, high-quality malts. We believe farmers are stewards of the land and that responsible agriculture can support a better food and beverage industry. Located on the Olander family farm in Loveland, Colo., Root Shoot produces malts made from barley, wheat, rye, and corn and is working to protect farmland through its conservation easement with Colorado Open Lands. Find our craft malts online at rootshootmalting.com.

Root Shoot Spirits brings Root Shoot Malting’s craft malt from grain to glass. Sown, grown, and malted in Colorado, all ingredients for Root Shoot Spirits are sourced from the 5th generation family run Olander Farms and malted by the sustainability-minded craft maltsters at Root Shoot Malting. Root Shoot Whiskey launched August 2023 and is available throughout Colorado. Follow along at rootshootspirits.com.