Laws Whiskey House is a distillery based in Denver, Colorado. As a terroir-driven distillery that showcases the flavour of grain, the distillery team aims to make 100 per cent expressions of every type of grain used. This objective has resulted in the creation of San Luis Valley Straight Rye, Centennial Straight Wheat, and Henry Road Straight Malt.

American Whiskey: When did your involvement with the ASMWC begin?

Alan Laws (Founder and president): We have been closely following the progress of the ASMWC, especially given that Colorado is home to so many outstanding American single malts. We had previously held off on labeling it as an American single malt, waiting for the ASMW to become an official category. However, we produced it in a way we believed would align with a future American single malt designation. We have been proud to support our Colorado colleagues in advocating for this category and continue to highlight Colorado whiskeys as a key player in the American whiskey scene.

AW: How did the distillery’s journey into creating American single malt begin? Was creating ASMW in the plans from the beginning?

AL: We wanted to highlight each individual grain we use in our four grain bourbon mash bill, so we began distilling 100 per cent malted barley mash bills early on. While bourbon and rye have been our primary focus, our last release of henry road malt — a bottled in bond expression aged six years — debuted in 2022. Fans of Laws Whiskey House frequently ask when this release will return, and it has become a highly soughtafter expression in our lineup. Since the last release, we have been continuing to age malt in our rackhouse, eagerly awaiting the passage of the designation. Now that it has finally arrived, we are excited to announce the future 2025 release of Henry Road Malt, which will now proudly be labeled as an American single malt.

AM: Could you talk me through your process of creation?

AL: The barley used in our malt whiskey was literally saved from extinction. The Cody family preserved an ancestral variety of two-row barley that their family had grown for generations. While commercial farmers found it too low-yield, the Codys believed its unstripped flavor was too exceptional to let go. This bold character drives the flavor in both our Henry Road Malt whiskey and our Four Grain Bourbon. Our open-air fermentation and on-grain distillation further enhance the whiskey’s complexity.

AW: What would you say is the key differentiator for your American single malts in the market?

AL: One major differentiator is the unique environment in which our barley is grown and malted, as well as the distinct flavors that result from that terroir. The San Luis Valley provides ideal conditions for growing heirloom grains, with its high elevation (7,500 feet above sea level), warm days, and cool nights during the summer growing season. This natural stress on the grains enhances their flavor complexity. Additionally, the valley was once a prehistoric lake, leaving behind mineral-rich soil that further influences the character of the grain. Another key factor is that the Cody family malts their grains on-site at their Colorado malting company operation. It is incredibly rare for a farm to also malt its own grains, and the Codys were among the first to do so. Lastly, our on-grain process adds another layer of distinction. We use open-air fermentation and distill twice in pot stills, with the first distillation being on-grain.

AW: How has the recent ratification of ASMW impacted your distillery?

AL: There is a lot of excitement among our production team, both on the distilling and blending sides, as we prepare to shine the spotlight on our henry road expression once again. We have already started sampling our current stock of aging malt barrels for upcoming 2025 projects. Not only will we release the next iteration of Henry Road Malt, but our most exclusive yearly release, the laws origins series, will also feature an American single malt expression this year.

AW: Have you noticed an uptick in interest in ASMW since the ratification was announced?

AL: Absolutely. There is a palpable buzz, especially here in Colorado, where American single malt is already a beloved whiskey style. We have received numerous inquiries from Laws Whiskey House fans about what this means for our aging malted barley barrels. People are excited — and so are we.