A finishing-forward bourbon that prioritizes balance over bravado.
About NoCo Distillery
Located in Fort Collins, Colorado — at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains — NoCo Distillery operates with a clear philosophy: high proof handled deliberately, never disguised.
The distillery sources pristine alpine water from the Rockies and works exclusively with copper stills, using both pot and column configurations. Fermentations often extend beyond four weeks, allowing deeper flavor development before distillation even begins. Slow distillation, extended runs, and increased copper contact create higher reflux and allow for tighter, more selective cuts. Every spirit is distilled a minimum of three times.
Maturation is treated with equal intent. NoCo ages its spirits in some of the finest American oak casks available, using a wide range of barrel sizes — from small-format casks to full-sized barrels. Staves are seasoned between 12 and 48 months, depending on supplier and application. For finishing, the distillery incorporates additional wood types when appropriate — particularly in rum and agave spirits — placing NoCo among a small group of producers pushing maturation and finishing beyond convention.
The result is a portfolio that balances power, structure, and clarity, even at extreme ABV. Today, NoCo Distillery produces more than 25 distinct spirits, making it one of the most technically versatile craft distilleries in the country.
Socially Responsible by Design
NoCo Distillery prioritizes local collaboration wherever possible. Portions of wash production are outsourced to nearby breweries before fermentation is completed in-house — supporting local business while maintaining quality control. Grains, fruits, and botanicals are sourced from Colorado producers whenever available, reducing transportation impact and strengthening the regional economy.
Sustainability is built into daily operations. The distillery reuses and recycles most production materials, employs heat exchangers to reduce energy consumption, and operates a closed-circuit cooling system during winter months using reclaimed water from its reverse osmosis system. NoCo also offers a bottle return program—providing a credit for each bottle returned — making it one of the only distilleries in Colorado to do so.
When possible, organic and non-GMO raw materials are used and clearly labeled.
Rocky Mountain Water
The Rocky Mountains supply the same clean spring and runoff water credited by Fort Collins brewers for decades. That water—clear, mineral-balanced, and consistent—forms the foundation of every NoCo spirit, contributing texture and balance that remain present even at hazmat-level proof.
Stats
- Age: 4 year
- Proof: 131 (65.5% ABV)
- Mashbill: at least 51% Corn │40+% Rye
- Origin: NoCo Distillery — Fort Collins, CO
- Distillation: 3x on pot still, 2.5 week slow fermentation
- Finish: Ruby Port & PX Sherry
- Release: Limited release, single barrel, cask strength
- MSRP: Not provided
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Rice Krispies treats with melted butter lead, followed by maraschino cherry syrup and faint cocoa powder. The finishing barrels are present but composed.
- Palate: Toasted marshmallow carries forward, joined by milk chocolate and molasses. Compared to Bourbon IV, the texture is smoother and more cohesive. Sweetness unfolds gradually rather than in spikes, with the high-rye backbone providing quiet structure.
- Finish: Clove and tobacco leaf emerge late, layered with strawberry preserves. The finish settles low and lingers warmly without aggressive tannin.
This bourbon trades aggression for cohesion — which is wild at 130+ proof. The double finish doesn’t mask the whiskey; it rounds it.
Where many finished bourbons feel disjointed, this feels integrated. Simpler than Bourbon IV in structure, but more complete in execution. It favors harmony over spectacle — and that restraint works.
Distinctiveness
Like Bourbon IV, this whiskey carries a recognizable NoCo signature: toasted marshmallow, chocolate, and cereal sweetness form a common throughline across the lineup. That consistency alone sets these bourbons apart from most contemporary releases.
More importantly, this is not Kentucky bourbon — and it doesn’t try to be. The triple pot distillation, extended fermentation, and dual port-and-sherry finish work in concert rather than competition. Where many finished bourbons feel layered on top of a weak base, this one feels integrated from start to finish. The result is cohesion, not camouflage.
Transparency
NoCo Distillery is unusually forthcoming for a craft producer operating at this proof level.
Details around fermentation length, distillation passes, barrel selection, and finishing methodology were provided proactively with the samples. Follow-up questions — such as mashbill specifics or time spent in finishing casks — were answered promptly when requested.
Nothing about these releases feels obscured or selectively framed. Processes are disclosed because they matter, not because they’re convenient. That level of openness builds trust, especially in a space where high proof can sometimes mask shortcuts.
This is a distillery with nothing to hide — and no reason to.
Authors Note: Presentation was omitted due to samples only provided. Value was omitted due to no MSRP being provided or available online.
Buy if:
- You want a more cohesive, finishing-driven bourbon
- Rich sweetness and balance matter more than aggression
- You enjoy port or sherry influence done with restraint
Skip if:
- You prefer raw distillate character over finishing
- You’re chasing extreme complexity over harmony
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 6 / 7
- Palate: 5.8 / 7
- Finish: 5.8 / 7
- Presentation: N/A (samples)
- Distinctiveness: 6.25 / 7
- Transparency: 7 / 7
- Value: N/A
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 6.17 / 7 – Holy Heaven
Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn.
| Score | Descriptor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Hell No | Drain pour. Seriously undrinkable |
| 1.1–2 | Purgatory | Bad, but could be worse. Only in extreme cases. |
| 2.1–3 | Only Earthly | Just okay. Best used as a mixer. |
| 3.1–4 | Bliss | Passable sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. High value for the price. |
| 5.1–6 | Divine | Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style. |
| 6.1–7 | Holy Heaven | Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn. |
Disclosure: This sample was provided to me free of charge for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
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