Meet Josh Hunt | Company VP

We had the good fortune of connecting with Josh Hunt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Josh, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
In the Colorado Craft industry, there are two very important foundations on which to build one’s reputation: Colorado, and Craft. One thing that many local consumers are unaware of is that not all “Colorado” products are made here. We are not here to call anyone out, and we encourage Colorado whiskey enthusiasts to do their own research. If you want to know whether a given spirit was legitimately made here, look to the verbiage on the bottle. If it says “Distilled in Colorado”, then you are holding a spirit that was truly made locally. “Produced in Colorado” has a different meaning, and carries no actual regional distillation requirement.

All of that said, there are different goals in whiskey production. Some distilleries aim to craft the best versions of their own spirits, while others prefer to establish a reputation for blending a mix of spirits, some of which may be their own, to create exceptional releases. Both practices are very highly regarded within the industry. Branch & Barrel happens to fall into the first category: we have been true Colorado Craft since our inception in 2016. All of our whiskies are distilled by us, and we have always used local Colorado grains in their production. Our version of putting our best foot forward is keeping things local and showing that a true Colorado operation can produce high quality, award winning spirits.

To sum things up, transparency is very important to consumer education. As long as Colorado distilleries are representing their products clearly and authentically, we can all be proud of what we are putting into the market.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I may not have been there with Branch & Barrel’s founders as they dreamed of opening a distillery in the early 2010s, but a decade later, I couldn’t be more proud to be a member of this organization. B&B was founded on passion, innovation, and determination, and every single person involved along the journey has been an integral part of that original plan.

There are not many distilleries in the world that can say they are completely hand-crafted. Not only do we produce our spirits by hand, but almost every piece of equipment and part of our operation was carefully and deliberately designed and built in house. From the electrical systems wired by our own head distiller to the 700 and 1300 gallon stills built and welded by our team, we are about as “craft” as you’ll find in this industry. We can proudly say this was a labor of love, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to watch the fruits of our labor grow and flourish in the Colorado whiskey market years later.

The most poignant lesson one could learn from watching Branch & Barrel evolve over the years is simply that with enough determination and the right people, the word “impossible” never enters the conversation.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If our friends were specifically visiting the Denver South Metro area, we would have to start with our tasting room. We love showing off our unique distilling operation and bar, and we have gained a reputation for fantastic cocktails and spirits in our area. We would also have to visit our friends at Zig Zag Smokin’ Burger for some of the best eats in town, and their own well-reputed mixology department.

We’d be remiss not to check in with Uncorked Kitchen for one of the best wine menus around and a terrific fine-dining experience (not to mention excellent cooking classes and events), as well as Denver Biscuit Company – Centennial’s little slice of Denver right here in our back yard. Working our way West, we’d kick it at Cherry Creek Food Hall for a variety of local kitchens, house-made brews, and more great cocktails, then pop over to Resolute Brewing Co. for some of the best craft beers the south metro has to offer. For those who like a little mystery, head on over to The Clue Room for Colorado’s original Live Escape experience, still family owned and operated after over a decade in business.

Heading further West, we’d visit our friends at Rusty Tapp for some great beers and bbq, then hit up Colorado Pinball pub for some gaming and a terrific whiskey list. Finally, we’d explore downtown Littleton, hanging out with our industry friends at Rocker Distillery for some fantastic CO craft spirits and the local mixology experts at Lazy Greyhound for some of the best cocktails that side of town. There’s a lot to love down here on the South side of Denver!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate this shout-out to my parents: Barbara and Carl. There are any number of other wonderful folks who would fit equally well into this section – my wonderful wife Veronica, my incredible mentor and leader, Ryan Morgan, or Kari Eichhorst, another mentor of mine who I can truly say I wouldn’t be here without.

My parents have supported my goals and aspirations my entire life, despite those dreams sometimes leading me down a less-than-ordinary path. From my college education in exercise science, to a move to Boulder to become a bike technician, to an eventual move to the service and bartending industry, they have always encouraged me to do what makes me happy and fulfilled above all else. They probably never imagined that I would eventually end up in the Colorado distilling industry, but they never waivered in their support and positivity along the way.

One of the most important lessons my folks imparted to me: a little support can make all the difference in a person’s life, regardless of where they are at, where they are going, or where they came from.

Website: www.babdistilling.com

Instagram: @babdistilling

Facebook: www.facebook.com/babdistilling

Image Credits
All image credits go to JPiper Branding & Design Agency or Branch & Barrel Distilling