Branch & Barrel Distilling Enters the Rye Category, Bringing a Bourbon Maker's Approach to Colorado Rye

Branch & Barrel Distilling, known for its award-winning Colorado Bourbon, is entering the rye category with the release of its first Straight Rye Whiskey. Built on a 51% rye, 40% corn, 9% barley mash bill and aged three years, the whiskey reflects Branch & Barrel's bourbon-first sensibility applied to a rye release. A corn-forward ratio and extended barrel time push the spirit toward more sweetness and roundness than is typical of the category.

The rye is sourced from the San Luis Valley, where hard winter rye is grown as a winter cover crop, protecting topsoil from erosion during the off-season. Branch & Barrel draws its water from the Arapahoe Aquifer, a Colorado groundwater source naturally filtered through sandstone and shale over millions of years.

“This build is a bit corn-heavy for a rye, but we're bourbon people, so we're bringing those bourbon sensibilities to this bottle to create something uncommonly smooth and drinkable,” said Mitchell Nester, Branch & Barrel's Master Blender. “Straight Rye Whiskey has all the dynamic flavor attributes of rye with the smoothness and balance of bourbon. The time spent aging this spirit in Colorado’s dramatic climate has resulted in a profile that showcases more sweetness than your typical rye, adding dessert-like crème brûlée flavors atop notes of herbs and spices.”

The release lands as Colorado continues to build a distinct identity within the national whiskey category, with high-altitude climate, hyper-local grain sourcing, and a growing wave of craft distilling innovation positioning the state as an emerging counterpoint to traditional whiskey regions. Branch & Barrel's move into rye extends that story, applying the same terroir-driven approach that has defined its bourbon program to a new style.

Straight Rye Whiskey is now in limited distribution across Colorado.

###

About Branch & Barrel

Branch & Barrel Distilling exists to make the perfect Colorado bourbon. The Centennial, Colorado-based distillery grew out of the state's terroir. With Colorado-sourced ingredients and an intentional distilling process, Branch & Barrel has built bourbon around Colorado, leaning into the elevation and climate to help uniquely shape bourbon to perfection. Branch & Barrel started experimental and small in the late 2000s, aging spirits on branches, before opening the distillery in 2016. Today, the distillery is crafting award-winning bourbons in barrels with the same authentic and hands-on approach. To learn more about Branch & Barrel, find a bottle, or visit the Tasting Room in Centennial, check out babdistilling.com.