Award-winning Colorado bourbon finished with wildfire-sourced aspen wood continues its mission to support Grand County firefighters.
DENVER, Colorado (May 27, 2026) — Locke + Co.’s Big Blaze Bourbon has earned a Double Gold Medal at the 2026 Denver International Spirits Competition, adding another major accolade to a release already recognized with Gold at the 2026 Ascot Awards.
The Denver-based distillery’s limited-edition bourbon received unanimous Double Gold scores from a blind tasting panel of industry professionals, placing it among the competition’s highest-rated spirits. While the awards validate the quality of the whiskey itself, Big Blaze Bourbon’s most compelling feature may be the story behind its creation.
Finished with aspen wood sourced from trees burned during Colorado’s historic East Troublesome Fire, the bourbon serves as both a tribute to resilience and a fundraising effort for the firefighters who helped contain one of the state’s most devastating natural disasters.
A Bourbon Born from the Ashes
Few whiskey releases can claim a direct connection to a historic event, but Big Blaze Bourbon was intentionally crafted to preserve the story of the East Troublesome Fire.
The wildfire ignited on October 14, 2020, in Colorado’s Grand County and rapidly expanded under extreme wind conditions. By the time the blaze was finally brought under control, it had scorched more than 193,000 acres, destroyed over 400 homes, and become the second-largest wildfire in Colorado history.
To honor the communities affected by the disaster, Locke + Co. sourced aspen wood directly from the burned region and incorporated it into the whiskey’s finishing process. The result is a bourbon that quite literally carries a piece of Colorado’s recovery story in every bottle.
Even more significantly, 10% of all Big Blaze Bourbon sales are donated to Grand County firefighters and fire prevention efforts, providing ongoing support to the first responders who risked their lives battling the fire.
What Makes Double Gold Significant
The Denver International Spirits Competition is among the largest and most respected spirits judging events in the Rocky Mountain region, attracting entries from producers across the United States and around the world.
A Double Gold Medal represents one of the competition’s highest distinctions and is awarded only when every judge on a tasting panel independently agrees that a spirit merits Gold-level recognition.
For craft producers, unanimous Double Gold recognition can serve as a powerful endorsement of quality, consistency, and innovation. In the case of Big Blaze Bourbon, the award acknowledges not only the whiskey’s unique finishing process but also the successful execution of a concept rooted deeply in Colorado history.
Combined with its recent Gold Medal at the Ascot Awards, the release continues to build momentum as one of Locke + Co.’s most distinctive limited-edition offerings.
The Whiskey
Big Blaze Bourbon begins with a traditional bourbon foundation before undergoing an unconventional finishing process that has become a hallmark of Locke + Co.’s approach to whiskey making.
After aging for more than five years in new American oak barrels, the bourbon is finished with hand-charred aspen discs sourced directly from the East Troublesome Fire region. The process aims to add subtle layers of complexity while maintaining the whiskey’s core bourbon character.
Big Blaze Bourbon Specifications
Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Charred Aspen Wood
Age: More than 5 Years
Proof: 95 (47.5% ABV)
Finish: Charred Aspen Wood Discs from the East Troublesome Fire Region
MSRP: $58.99
Availability: Colorado and online in 48 states
Charitable Contribution: 10% of all sales benefit Grand County firefighters and fire prevention efforts
Brand Provided Tasting Notes
Aroma: Honey, vanilla, dried berries, maple syrup, walnuts, cherry toffee, toasted caramel, crème brûlée, and ripe nectarine.
Palate: Chocolate richness, maple undertones, cinnamon spice, white pepper, and orange peel.
Finish: Long and warming with caramel, black pepper, toffee, brown sugar, and lingering cinnamon.
Why This Release Stands Out
Charity-driven whiskey releases are not uncommon, but few are as closely tied to the event they seek to commemorate.
Big Blaze Bourbon connects consumers directly to a significant chapter in Colorado’s recent history. The whiskey’s finishing wood comes from the very landscape impacted by the fire, while a portion of every purchase helps support those who worked to protect the region during the crisis.
That combination of craftsmanship, storytelling, and community impact helps distinguish the release in an increasingly crowded bourbon market.
For whiskey enthusiasts, the bottle offers a chance to experience an unusual finishing technique. For Colorado residents, it represents a meaningful reminder of resilience and recovery.
“…a bourbon that quite literally carries a piece of Colorado’s recovery story in every bottle.”
Availability
Big Blaze Bourbon is currently available at select bars, restaurants, and retailers throughout Colorado and can also be purchased online in 48 states.
With both Double Gold recognition at the Denver International Spirits Competition and a Gold Medal from the Ascot Awards, interest in the limited-edition release is likely to continue growing among bourbon enthusiasts and collectors.
The Bottom Line
Many award-winning bourbons can point to exceptional maturation, unique finishes, or impressive competition results. Big Blaze Bourbon manages to combine all three.
Its Double Gold victory at the 2026 Denver International Spirits Competition confirms the whiskey’s quality, while its Gold Medal at the Ascot Awards reinforces its standing among notable American whiskey releases this year.
Yet the bourbon’s true significance lies beyond the medals. By transforming wood recovered from one of Colorado’s most destructive wildfires into a meaningful whiskey experience—and directing a portion of every sale toward the firefighters who protected the region—Locke + Co. has created a bottle with a purpose that extends far beyond the glass.
About Locke + Co. Distilling
Founded by longtime friends Owen Locke and Rick Talley, Locke + Co. Distilling is a Denver-based craft whiskey producer built around a distinctly Colorado identity. Drawing inspiration from the state’s outdoor culture, family moonshining traditions, and entrepreneurial spirit, the distillery has become known for its innovative use of locally sourced aspen wood in whiskey maturation and finishing.
The company’s roots trace back to a garage-based hobby that began in 2010, when Locke and Talley started producing small-batch whiskey on a 23-gallon still. Today, Locke + Co. continues to embrace its founders’ vision of creating spirits that reflect Colorado’s landscape, history, and sense of community. Many of its releases incorporate hand-charred aspen wood harvested from family land in the Rocky Mountains, creating a signature profile unlike traditional American whiskeys.
Produced, aged, blended, and bottled in Colorado, Locke + Co.’s portfolio is designed to bring people together—whether around a campfire, a dinner table, or a shared pour among friends. The distillery’s commitment to craftsmanship, local sourcing, and community involvement has helped establish it as one of Colorado’s most distinctive independent whiskey makers.
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