The 2013 Stills in the Hills Festival

The 1st Annual Stills in the Hills Festival was a huge success, thanks to everyone who came out to show their support. We look forward to many years to come and making this a staple festival that will out do itself each and every year.

13 Colorado Distilleries Sweep Main Street with Their Spirits With Torrential Rains, Spirits Remained Unbroken - Distilled and Human

Saturday, July 13th, 2013, Main Street, Central City, CO:  On a warm summer morning on historic Main Street in downtown Central City one would think they stepped back into time.  A perfect setting to portray circa 1929 during the Prohibition Era when bootleggers and speakeasies were working behind the scenes to maintain the flow of moonshine and hooch to the masses.

As Model A Tudors from the Model A Ford Club and a 1929 Mercedes Gazelle rolled into parking spaces and whiskey barrels, wooden signs, burlap sacks of mock grains and crates of ‘moonshine’ were staged, 13 of Colorado’s finest distilleries set up to provide tastings before the inaugural Stills in the Hills event commenced.

Each with their very unique flavors, these distillers shared an obvious passion for their alchemical genius transforming grains, roots, potatoes and corn.  From Absinthe to gin, whiskey, coffee liqueurs, bourbon and moonshine, there was something for all spirit connoisseurs.  Mouth tantalizing spirits were offered from Breckenridge Distillery, Black Canyon Distillery, Boulder Distillery – 303 Vodka, Dancing Pines Distillery, Deer Hammer, Downslope Distillery, Golden Moon Distillery, J&L Distilling, Leopold Bros, Mile High Spirits, Mystic Mountain Distillery, Spirit Hound Distillers and Syntax Spirits.

Festival guests noshed on food from local Central City vendors, enjoyed the music from Ethyl and the Regulars, Big Sandy and His Fly Rite Boys, and Grammy Award winner, Dave Alvin and the Guilty Ones, and were able to commemorate their visit with photos compliments of Black Diamond Photo-booth and Shawn Stewart.

By mid afternoon a light drizzle quickly morphed as the heavy skies unloaded rain of monsoon proportions.  The downpour unleashed flash floods encouraging festival guests to seek shelter, many under the protection of tents.  The party was not halted as tastings continued, smiles broadened and the sense of comaraderie deepened. 

As quickly as the rains came, they stopped leaving behind pools of cool water, mounds of dirt and chilled patrons.  Rounds of hot coffee were shared with distillers as everyone pitched in to restore displays and the music of Grammy Award winner, Dave Alvin and the Guilty Ones filled the air (the Long White Cadillac never showed up).  The evening finished with guests enjoying spirits until last call and dancing before the stage.

Historic Main Street in Central City has found its niche.
Join us June 25, 2022 when Central City will be adding more distillers and more fun!

Entertaining the attendees of the 2013 Stills in the Hills Festival were...