With two years under its belt, Longmont-born Dry Land Distillers will soon have more space in which to create its acclaimed spirits.
The distillery — started by friends Aaron Main, Nels Wroe and Marc Staats in October 2018 — next year will move into a bigger space less than a block away from its current home behind La Vita Bella cafe on Main Street.
Dry Land recently announced its “future home at 519 Main Street in beautiful downtown Longmont.” The location most recently was a yoga studio, and it started in the 1930s as the Valley Farm Dairy. At Dry Land’s open house over Thanksgiving weekend, Wroe said restoration and revitalization of the historic brick building are underway, and he hopes the work will be completed by summer or early fall 2021.
At the socially distanced weekend event, Wroe and other Dry Land representatives said the new space will include a much larger tasting room that can seat 50 guests, pandemic allowing. Chalk circles on the floor marked the spots where the stills will be placed in the space that features large windows facing Main Street.
Spirits distilled by Dry Land — which was named the Colorado Manufacturing Awards’ 2020 Craft Distiller of the Year — include Antero Wheat Whiskey, Cane Rum and Native Colorado Gin, along with Cactus Spirit, which won a bronze medal in the 2018 International London Spirits Competition.
Because of coronavirus pandemic restrictions, the Dry Land tasting room is closed, but outdoor service and cocktails and bottles to go are available from 3 to 9 p.m. Fridays and 2 to 9 p.m. Saturdays at the existing 471 Main St. location. To make a reservation for outdoor seating, click here. For more information on ordering to-go, which also is available from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, click here.
