Cocktails Distilled
Cocktails Distilled
Bringing Sustainability Into Your Glass With Aspen Vodka
When you think about Aspen, your mind probably goes to beautiful snow-covered ski runs and the jet-set taking their winter holidays on the slopes.
And why not? Aspen has some of the best and most prestigious mountains for skiing and snowboarding in the world.
But what if your mind instead went to Vodka? This is what Aspen Vodka is hoping your mind will do.
With their use of pure ingredients and their deep appreciation for the mountain terroir, Aspen Vodka is looking to embody the essence of sustainability and luxury at one of the world's leading carbon-negative distilleries.
To find out more, we talk to Jerod Day, Aspen Vodka’s Director of Distilling Operations, about purity, sustainability, and creating a luxury Vodka in an overcrowded market.
Tiff Christie (00:02.345)
When you think about Aspen, your mind probably goes to beautiful snow covered ski runs and the jet set taking their winter holidays on the slopes. And why not? Aspen has some of the best and most prestigious mountains for skiing and snowboarding in the world. But what if your mind instead went to vodka? This is what Aspen Vodka is hoping your mind will do. And with their use of pure ingredients and their deep appreciation for the mountain terroir, Aspen Vodka is looking to embody the essence of sustainability and luxury at one of the world's leading carbon negative distilleries. To find out more, we talked to Jared Day, Aspen Vodka's Director of Distilling Operations about purity, sustainability and creating a luxury vodka in an overcrowded market.
Thank you for joining us, Jared.
Jerod Day (01:06.773)
Yeah, thank you for having me.
Tiff Christie (01:10.301)
Now vodka is by definition tasteless and odorless, but anyone who knows vodka knows that's not the whole story. How would you describe the flavour of Aspen vodka?
Jerod Day (01:27.222)
Well, I would describe it as clean, crisp, a little bit of minerality for mouthfeel with it. We get a little bit of sweetness on the back end from the Red Winter wheat that we use, but mostly just clean and crisp, very smooth.
Tiff Christie (01:46.683)
Now, explain what you mean by minerality
Jerod Day (01:51.61)
I feel is more of a, like a texture, a mouth feel to the vodka. It just leaves a little bit of a, like a little bit of a coating on the tongue. but pleasant, you know, but, more of the mouth feel of the vodka itself.
Tiff Christie (02:09.513)
Okay, well let's go to taste a little bit more then and talk about how the terroir of the area comes through in what people would be tasting with this vodka.
Jerod Day (02:22.517)
Well, for one just with the Roanfork River and the snow melt water that we get that goes in with the fermentation process and the interaction with the yeast and everything that we have and then also the Redwinter wheat that we have is grown out in Eastern Colorado. It's an heirloom wheat that we use and we are the only ones that actually get that wheat from that provider that we have out there in Eastern Colorado.
Definitely very unique in that product that we're receiving from out there because we're the only ones that are using that to make our product.
Tiff Christie (02:57.567)
Tell us a little bit more about the wheat then. What sort of, you mentioned that it was an heirloom wheat varietal.
Jerod Day (03:15.577)
It imparts a sweetness, just a tad bit of sweetness to the back end when we get it off of the still. Just imparts a nice flavour. Being an heirloom wheat, it's not as modified or hasn't gone through a bunch of different things that some of the American wheat styles may have. So that heirloom variety is just a little bit more traditional, I guess, and hasn't gone through some of the different modifications that some of the other wheats have.
Tiff Christie (03:44.765)
Okay. Now the other thing that sets you guys apart is the fact that you have just been awarded a LEED V4 DB plus C platinum certification. Explain to us exactly what that means.
Jerod Day (04:02.396)
Well, LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Building Design and Construction. And then the platinum portion of it, the V4 platinum portion is the highest level in which you can receive, you know, for that, you know, for that for that certification. So that's the highest level at the moment. We are the only distillery in the world actually with that certification. So.
Tiff Christie (04:23.647)
Thank
Jerod Day (04:32.402)
That goes into just what we do here on site, how everything for the wood was sustainably received. And also we have all solar, we're all electric. We don't have any gas on site or anything like that. So we have backup batteries. We actually give more power back to the grid than we actually take, you know, from the grid. We recycle all of our wastewater on-site and everything like that. And we're a carbon-negative facility.
Tiff Christie (05:03.987)
Did you, when you were designing, because the brand's not very old, so when they were conceiving the brand, was this particular focus, the environmental aspect?
Jerod Day (05:21.027)
It was the founder, Matt Patel. That was one of the things that he wanted to do when he wanted to create this product is he wanted to make it the most sustainable distillery in the world. And that was his main focus going into this and you know, how he could create that on this property and make that happen.
Tiff Christie (05:41.607)
Aside from the solar which you mentioned, what other ways does the brand fulfil that?
Jerod Day (05:48.692)
just, you know, we have our spent grain from our mass process, that we have. so that spent grain is, picked up from a local farmer, here in the Valley, Dooley farms. He, takes that uses for compost, feeds his animals with it as well. also just, we have a four acre farm on site as well. And we have, it's called ACEs, which is a local company here called for Aspen center for environmental studies.
And so they actually farm that land for us. So they have, you know, kind of newer, newer farmers or, you know, farmers that are looking to go off onto their own and learn more about it. They bring them here and farm the land on our, on our property.
Tiff Christie (06:31.249)
Okay, so you really are setting a new benchmark.
Jerod Day (06:36.303)
I would say we are in an industry that can tend to be a little bit wasteful with some of the processes that we have and that we do. It's really nice to know working for a company that actually is giving back more to the environment than we're actually taking from it.
Tiff Christie (06:56.223)
How important do you think that the issues around sustainability are actually to vodka consumers?
Jerod Day (07:05.038)
I'm hoping that people are becoming more conscious. I think we see that throughout just many different industries and everything with people becoming, you know, more sustainability, more sustainable conscious with the products that they're purchasing and becoming more aware of it because at the end of the day, we're just trying to, you know, make the world a better place in the future for future generations.
Tiff Christie (07:30.707)
Now, of course, the other thing that consumers look to in a vodka is the way it's distilled. So talk to us a little bit about your distillation.
Jerod Day (09:25.291)
Yeah, so with our distillation process, obviously, we start with our mash and then our, you know, fermentation process with, you know, our water from here and then also with the specific yeast that we use to create those flavours of what we're looking for to go through our still. Our still is a continuous still instead of column or pot still, which other people are more familiar with. It's three columns that we have, and we're all electric so we use steam.
But it's just in continuous distillation as it's going through each column. We heat from the bottom, we cool at the top, and then just kind of circulate through those three columns. And then we really like the product that we have coming off the pair at the end of our distillate.
Tiff Christie (10:13.715)
How would, I mean, how does having a continuous column still change the taste or the flavour of the vodka from what people might be ensued with other types of stills?
Jerod Day (10:28.155)
I would say for me, would just say a much cleaner profile just with the amount of the, with the continuous distillation that's going on throughout the process of it. I just think that that is able to get out a lot of the impurities in my opinion and be able to just have a cleaner product that then is coming off of the, off of the parrot.
Tiff Christie (10:54.971)
Okay. Now, what is silver filtration?
Jerod Day (11:01.635)
so silver filtration, we feel that that adds to the, the minerality, the mouth feel of the product of the final product. so we use that in our process when we are doing our, bottling process. so we have a proprietary way that we use that in our filtration with the silver. it's also kind of a, you know, an homage back to Aspen in general, just because Aspen at one point in time was one of the larger.
silver producers here in the country, you know, back in the mining days of Aspen. So it was just something that we thought was, you know, a really fun fact and something that we did feel contributed to, you know, to the aspect of the final product or flavour of the final product.
Tiff Christie (11:35.231)
Really?
Okay.
Tiff Christie (11:50.961)
All right. Now you come from a brewing background. How has that changed your approach? What has that brought to Aspen Vodka?
Jerod Day (12:05.377)
I think mainly is just for the fermentation and then just the flavours of what we're trying to get with, you know, yeast that we're using, you know, water profile, just all of the different things that go into when you're making beer, because, you know, at the end of the day, you're still making beer that then is going into the still. So it's just, then again, just trying to create what flavours that we can get to be able to, you know, have that in our product and come up and have a very high quality product at the end.
Tiff Christie (12:39.645)
And speaking of that, mean, vodka is one of the few spirits where you can't really rely on things like aging or botanicals or things like that to change the flavor. So that means you're really relying on the water and the wheat that you use, aren't you?
Jerod Day (13:00.11)
Yes, we are. That is one of the things that we rely on a lot. And I think that's where that like we were talking about before that terroir from, you know, that wheat that we get that's grown out in Eastern Colorado, we're the only ones that are using, you know, that wheat that is grown at that facility. And I think that really does contribute to the uniqueness of the flavor of the profile of vodka that we have.
Tiff Christie (13:27.155)
Now if someone is looking for a vodka, why should they pick up Aspen?
Jerod Day (13:34.531)
Well, first and foremost, I think it's a great product. We put a lot of time and effort, a lot of hard work into it, and we think we've created a very good vodka. I also think with just the sustainability aspect of what we are doing here at the distillery and trying to give back to the environment and not just take away from it. So I think it's a very good package. It's not necessarily one or the other. think we kind of hit the mark on both points.
Tiff Christie (14:06.707)
Now, as I mentioned earlier, you're still a relatively young distillery. How difficult has it been to get the word out about your vodka?
Jerod Day (14:16.97)
it hasn't been difficult. have a really good presence here in Aspen in the roaring fork Valley area that we're in. you know, Aspen is a tourist destination. People come from all over the country and all over the world. And so they're coming here and they're finding our product, tasting our product, enjoying it, and then going back out to where, where they're from and seeking out the product in, their areas.
Tiff Christie (14:44.799)
So I imagine the reaction from consumers has been fairly good to the vodka.
Jerod Day (14:51.063)
Yeah, it's been very positive. When you get somebody to taste it and try it, they enjoy it a lot and yeah, have turned some people into big fans. So that's always encouraging and very exciting.
Tiff Christie (15:06.127)
And when you're distilling, do you do it with a mind to how the consumer is going to actually be drinking the liquid?
Jerod Day (15:18.435)
I wouldn't say, mean to a certain degree yes. I mean I think that what we're trying to do is create a product that can be drinking straight just on the rocks. That it can stand up to that on its own. That it doesn't need to necessarily be in a cocktail or anything like that. But I think that you know obviously it works well in cocktails. You know for me personally.
I just like it with a little bit of soda water and a lemon. And I like to keep it pretty simple because I like the flavour and I like the profile of it. And I don't want to really mess with it too much when I'm drinking it personally.
Tiff Christie (15:56.355)
Now there are so many cocktails that use vodka as a base. Which style of drinks, if you're going to go to the effort of making a cocktail, what works best with Aspen Vodka?
Jerod Day (16:11.841)
I think one of the best ways that we have and that we do here is just as a martini. And just keep it simple and just enjoy the flavour of the vodka itself.
Tiff Christie (16:29.749)
So quite a dry Martini then?
Jerod Day (16:32.217)
you don't have to go too dry, but, you know, but I just think just, yeah, I, that's the way that, I would see, you know, the profile or what I would like to see it with the vodka. Cause I think it's a very good product and I think it stands very well on itself.
Tiff Christie (16:51.381)
Now, what about bartenders? What has the reaction been from industry to the vodka you've produced?
Jerod Day (16:59.262)
Yeah, we've had a lot of great support. They really like the product. They like the story behind the product with the sustainability and everything like that. yeah, I mean, we've had a lot of positive feedback from bartenders.
Tiff Christie (17:15.305)
Have there been any unusual or extraordinary drinks that they've created with the vodka that you've seen so far?
Jerod Day (17:24.855)
that would be, I have seen some, different ones at some different locations that we have. I apologize. I cannot remember a name of any of them off the top of my head right now. But, but yes, I mean, they, they have done some amazing, some amazing things with our vodka and, you know, and continue to progress and do different ones as well. So.
Tiff Christie (17:50.568)
What flavours do you think work well with the vodka? mean, does it lean towards more citrus notes or more floral notes or...
Jerod Day (18:03.008)
I would say citrus. I think it leans itself towards citrus a little bit more.
I wouldn't say Mediterranean, but, I just think that that's just what, you know, goes with that texture, the minerality, you know, just the different flavors that we kind of talked about that hint of sweetness that you get from the wheat. that's where I just think that, that goes a little bit better with that, you know, with the vodka.
Tiff Christie (18:38.269)
Okay. Now, the distillery has won several awards. What effect has that had? And how important are those awards to the brand?
Jerod Day (18:53.374)
I think they're very important, very rewarding for us for making it. We won double gold at the San Francisco Spirit Awards and something that we take a lot of pride in and knowing that we're making a very good product. And I think it also just shows the consumer that they're getting a high quality product when they are drinking it.
Tiff Christie (19:20.945)
No, vodka is a, let's face it, a fairly crowded market, especially in the luxury end, is a good vodka with environmentally, an environmental conscience, enough to break through.
Jerod Day (19:42.225)
I hope it is. mean, I think it is. think the consumer out there is becoming more conscious of what they are purchasing and the products that they are purchasing. you know, they are looking at the sustainability and what the companies are doing and if they, you know, are giving more back to the environment. So I do think there is room for that because I believe there is that consumer out there that is looking for something like that.
Tiff Christie (20:13.073)
Is there also a of a reliance on the name Aspen as well? I mean, when you think of Aspen, it does bring up a bit more of a jet set than some places. Does that work in your favour?
Jerod Day (20:35.228)
I mean, yeah, I mean, it doesn't hurt. mean, at the same time, it is where we are located and, you know, where we have the opportunity to be able to produce the product. I think there's a little bit of both with that, you know, that we have the name Aspen, but it is also just where it is made as well.
Tiff Christie (20:35.751)
in terms of being a legacy of the ground.
Tiff Christie (21:01.415)
Now the bottle that you've used is beautiful in its simplicity and I suppose is the physical definition of what you were talking about with the purity of the liquid. How did the design for that come about?
Jerod Day (21:21.412)
Well, I actually have one right here if we want to take a look at it here. so yeah, I mean, just with, you know, the simplicity of the label itself, but also the silver that comes down through on the label here is actually just a representation of the Roaring Fork River, which is just right across the street from the distillery. So it just takes from what we have in our environment around us, but then also just keeps it very nice and clean and classic looking label as well.
Tiff Christie (21:52.221)
Okay. Now if people are going to Aspen this winter, are they actually able to come and visit the distillery? Is it open to the public?
Jerod Day (22:04.218)
It is not open to the public. So yeah, we are not open to the public currently.
Tiff Christie (22:11.643)
OK. So they can't do a distillery ritual or... No.
Jerod Day (22:13.751)
Yeah, no, we don't have the capabilities to be able to do that as of yet.
Tiff Christie (22:22.375)
Is that something that you're planning for in the future?
Jerod Day (22:26.808)
Not at the moment, but you never you never know and see how things go, but not not at the moment we are not
Tiff Christie (22:36.181)
Tell us a little bit more about the future plans though for the distillery. Where to next?
What are your future plans?
Jerod Day (22:47.312)
yeah, just to continue to grow within different markets. you know, we're in, many States already. you know, or most States I should say, and, we're also available online at the Aspen vodka .com, but, it's just to try and continue to grow the markets that we're in and, you know, just, grow, grow the brand itself and get more people, you know, turned on to, Aspen vodka and the quality product that we make.
Tiff Christie (23:18.473)
Now, I believe you've just expanded your distribution. Where exactly is Aspen Vodka to be found?
Jerod Day (23:28.407)
Like I said, most states, you know, I would be, it'd take me a while to go through and name every state that we're in currently. But yeah, I mean, we're in most states at the moment, you know, all of our larger markets. And then, like I said, just available online at theaspenvodka .com.
Tiff Christie (23:47.623)
Okay. Do you have plans to take it overseas?
Jerod Day (23:53.219)
At the moment, I not at the moment, but I would see something probably in the future at some point in time that, that, that, could occur for sure.
Tiff Christie (24:04.969)
Okay. Now, if people want more information, they can of course go to the website, which as you mentioned is the aspenvodka.com or connect with the brand via your socials.
Jerod Day (24:21.686)
Yeah, through Instagram and you know and the website and everything they can you know follow the brand and you know be able to see what see what we have going on
Tiff Christie (24:34.577)
Excellent. Alright, Jerod, thank you so much for taking the time.
Jerod Day (24:39.668)
Yeah, thank you for having me. I enjoyed it very much.