Breckenridge Distillery is blending whiskey and art in the first Collectors Art Series release, a collaboration with artist Thomas “Detour” Evans.
Breckenridge founder Bryan Nolt, an avid art collector, chose Evans as the first artist to be featured in the new series. He gave the Denver muralist, known for his brightly-hued portraits, a very special canvas earlier this year – 10 of their white oak bourbon barrels, stacked five by two. “When I first started to paint on the barrels… working with the actual surface was different,” explains Evans. “But for me, it’s sort of like you just roll with the punches.”

“Proper blending of whiskey is an art, not easily learned, and something I’m sincerely passionate about,” said Nolt. “With this project, we want to emphasize this connection with another type of art that people can identify with and hopefully pause for a second or two, connect the dots, and really enjoy the art in their dram. Smell and taste are just as powerful as vision, and we think focus helps you to intensify these subtle pleasures.”
“Blending sort of happens everywhere around us,” said Evans of his work and the collaboration with Nolt. “So from countries, people, religion, background, language, upbringing… just family, we have all these different elements that are blended together.” His full mural will be on display at the distillery through the first week of October.
“Each bottle will have a special label highlighting the collaboration, artwork and hopefully the passion behind our business at the Breckenridge Distillery,” added Nolt.

The purple-topped bottles will be full of the distillery’s own flagship high rye bourbon whiskey, bottled at 92 proof. Breckenridge has helpfully listed the specific stores that will have both Collectors Art Series bottles for sale (at a suggested retail price of around $125) and one of the barrels on display later this month. Read on to find yours!
Total Wine & More / 3905 E. Evans Ave Denver, CO 80210
Daveco Beer, Wine & Spirits / 16434 N Washington St Thornton, CO 80020
Davidson’s Liquors / 5555 Boatworks Drive Highland Ranch, CO 80126
Molly’s Liquor / 5809 W. 44th Ave Wheatridge, CO 80212
Big Bear Wine and Liquor / 2037 S Pueblo Blvd, Pueblo, CO 81005
Big Bear Wine and Liquor / 940 Hailey Lane, Pueblo West, CO 81007
Dillon Ridge Liquor / 294 US Hwy 6 Unit B Dillon, CO 80435
Breckenridge Distillery / 1925 Airport Rd, Breckenridge, CO 80424
Breckenridge Distillery Main Street Tasting Room / 137 S. Main Street, Breckenridge, CO 80424