Meet Zach Pearson | Colorado Whiskey Afficionado and IT Specialist.

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

Hi Zach, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work/Life Balance is something that, especially recently, has been on the forefront of my mind quite often. I spent more than a decade working in the retail industry, with the last couple of years working approximately 70-80 hours a week. I worked holidays, birthdays, weekends, and even ended up working on a lot of the days off I had, including vacation time. During the pandemic, I consider myself lucky enough to have been in a position to continue working, but quickly I felt like the last year of my retail career was as long and tiring as the entire previous 10. I decided it was time to change that, switch careers, and re-focus on Mile High Bourbon. Since that point, I have made sure to have time for family. While I still work full time and run Mile High Bourbon and Rye, I have spent weekends with my family, coaching my daughter’s flag football team, and even spent the holidays being at home much more. I love cooking, and I was able to make Thanksgiving dinner, as well as a Christmas dinner. The great part of this is that I have had time to do all of these things, work my job, and regularly be active on MHBR without feeling that same burn out level. This has allowed me to also visit a distillery I hadn’t before, as well as make the St. Patrick’s day festivities at Talnua Distillery in Arvada. Success to me is determined by being able to do all of these things, and since really focusing on a better work/life balance, I feel I have been significantly more successful in my life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Mile High Bourbon and Rye came about as a way to help promote the starting to boom Colorado Craft spirits scene. In a discussion at a brewery tour, there was discussion over flavor profiles where the tour guide told someone they were wrong in what notes they got from a particular barrel aged beer. Tasting is subjective, and everyone can get different notes and can greatly enjoy something that another person does not. The original idea behind MHBR was to promote that discussion, encourage people to try locally crafted spirits, and find what they truly enjoy drinking.

Since it’s initial inception, the idea has grown to begin to involve the community more, including raising money for people affected by the Boulder Fires at the end of 2021, with plans to donate a portion of all sales to local charities and causes once the shop goes live.

Whiskey and spirits are best when shared with friends and family, and we want to share a dram while giving back to the community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
That’s not the easiest to answer, because there is so much in Denver and the surrounding area that I would want to show off. Personally, my favorites revolve around sports, outdoor views, food, and drink. Given the opportunity, I would make sure my friend could take in an Avalanche game. Afterwards, walk towards downtown and find any of the fantastic restaurants and bars to grab some food. I would also make sure they can see Red Rocks, preferably for a concert but even to just go check out the Amphitheatre is worth it. There isn’t much that can compare to a show at Red Rocks. We’d have to check out some of the distilleries Denver and the surrounding area has to offer as well. There are too many to list, but choosing a few to see over the course of a couple days is a must. Top it off with some slight drives up to Estes Park and probably out to Idaho Springs as well. Again, the options for food, drink, and spectacular views just in and around the Denver area makes it hard to really nail down a few favorites.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
None of Mile High Bourbon and Rye would be possible without the immense support that comes from my Wife Angela. Her constant encouragement, joining me in reviews, and providing behind the scenes support are the reason I am able to do this, and I appreciate everything she does in her career, at home, and supporting me more than I can put into words.

Website: milehighbourbon.com

Instagram: instagram.com/milehighbourbon/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/milehighbourbon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MileHighBourbonRye/