Black Hawk, CO

Rick Thomas Distillery

American Single Malt Whiskey
Now Available
Join Our Mailing List The Spirit of Islay
Slàinte Mhath
Scottish Stills

The Spirit of Islay
Alive in Colorado

Our whiskey may have been made in Colorado, but its roots are in Scotland. Our stills are custom hand-made in Scotland by a family that has been making them for centuries. To really bring tradition into distilling, our stills are the classic pot-style used to produce whiskey in Scotland. This style has been used to make complex and smooth whiskey for over a thousand years.

Nearly all whiskey made in America uses a column style still, which is a very accurate process. These column style stills typically produce a very clean whiskey, while our pot style stills leave many oils and flavor compounds in the spirit to produce a more robust whiskey. Either process can be used to make incredible whiskeys, they just have different characteristics. We specifically designed ours after the stills used to make our favorite Islay scotches.

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Illustration of Rick Thomas Distillery
RT Distillery

Colorado Spirit

We are a family-owned and run distillery high in the Rocky Mountains sitting above the historic mining and gambling town of Black Hawk, Colorado. Black Hawk was also known for moonshining during prohibition. We are bringing Scottish tradition to distilling using the same technology Scotland has used for hundreds of years.

Our distillery is named after the father and grand-father to the owners, Richard Thomas Watts. He always enjoyed a dram of his favorite scotch, and we strive to make a whiskey that he would be proud of.

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Distilled, Aged & Bottled — Black Hawk, Colorado
Rick Thomas Straight American Single Malt Whiskey
The Journey

Our Legacy

Continuing the tradition of our family business, complete with youthful leadership, today.

George John Hof

In 1874, George John Hof, our Master Distiller’s great-great-great grandfather opened a bar in South St. Louis.

1874
George John Hof's bar in South St. Louis
George John Hof Jr.
1886
John Hof Jr

In 1886, at just 14 years old, George John Hof Jr. took over after his father passed away. The bar served mainly the German and Irish community.

Patrons

The patrons of the bar were mainly factory workers – hats, shoes and other manufacturing were the main economic drivers of the community at that time.

1900s
Patrons of the bar
Pool tables in the bar
Prohibition
Prohibition

With a pool table, a steady stream of patrons, and rooms to rent above the bar, young John Hof Jr., ran a successful bar until Prohibition caused the closure of the bar.

Rick Thomas Distillery

Production began in early 2023 with our first aged whiskey released in July 2026 — a whiskey he would be proud of.

Today
Rick Thomas Distillery at night in Black Hawk, Colorado
Locally Sourced

Grains

Barley field
Single Malt

Barley

Barley is the one and only grain in our single malt whiskey. We use barley in many other whiskeys, but in our single malt, we focus on the complex and bright elements it produces.

Rye field
Rye

Rye

This grain brings a spicy and peppery punch to whiskey. Rye whiskey can either be 100% straight rye for a bright dram, or a whiskey that introduces barley for a combination that is a more mellow and fruity.

Corn field
Bourbon

Corn

Corn is used mainly in our bourbon. It brings out the classic bourbon lingering sweetness it is known for. A truly American grain for a truly American spirit. Both delicious and distinct.

Now Available

Single Malt Whiskey

Rick Thomas Single Malt Whiskey among stenciled barrels
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Contact Us

830 Miners Road
PO Box 29
Black Hawk, Colorado 80422

cheers@rtwhiskey.com

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