In these increasingly scattered and frenetic times, patience has almost turned into an art form that only masters of craft are capable of finding under the layers predisposed bullshit. We want everything in an instant, from our fame to our fortune to our ultimate decline. Equanimity is an attribute so scarce that it seemingly goes unnoticed. Maybe that is the way it is supposed to be. I mean, why would anyone notice something moving slowly when the information superhighway is flying by? It doesn’t have that glitz and glam that the world wants us to see. It is simply the act of knowing that that thing you are doing will get better with time. But we need it now more than ever. And while I am horrendous at taking things slow and I have to practice daily to keep myself from bouncing off the walls I have the ridiculous privilege to figure out how it works by talking to the folks at Tighe Brothers Distillery who are exceptional at waiting the madness out and soaking it all in.
Tucked away, in one of the last un-gentrified areas of Denver called Elyria-Swansea, lies Tighe Brothers Distillery. With plenty of parking, the location feels off the beaten path and secluded but it’s only a few blocks away from the A-Line Lightrail in one direction and Five Points and River North neighborhoods in the other. It is close to all the luxury that comes with newly constructed watering holes in that area of town but there isn’t the pretense that permeates throughout RiNo.
Tighe Brothers Distillery wasn’t open on the first day I stopped in but Paul Tighe was available to talk and show me around. The atmosphere is laid back and inviting. Leather sofas, light wood grain, and a concrete countertop bring a feeling that is easy going yet slightly elegant. In single-man-terms, I think their atmosphere is a great place for a first date. Time to download Tinder again and start swiping again. Oh, Joy!
We tried a sip of their gin. It contained nine botanicals and comes with just of enough floridity to make it stand distinct but not overwhelming. I love when folks create gins that inspire the mind and get weird with their approach but I also love the simple things. Of all the distilleries I have written about for The Denver Hopper, I enjoyed Tighe Brothers Distillery’s Peacock Gin the most for how goddamn sippable it was and the botanicals they used kept me intrigued.
As we sat on barstools and delighted in the killer old fashioned from their menu – made with local bitters and maple syrup — this drink was as refreshing and mellow as one could need. Paul and I talked about life and how one might get to the juncture of owning a distillery. He started his first business at seventeen years old and bought his first property at twenty-two years old. Retirement was almost always on his mind. But he brought passion to all of his ventures in life, from real estate to entrepreneurship, and now to distilling. He is in his early 50’s and Tighe Brothers Distillery is his semi-retirement job. I tried to think of myself at seventeen years old and what I was doing with my life. Like most folks, I was just fucking around and getting wild with friends. It’s incredibly inspiring to see that kind of patience and foresight in someone and it reminds you to keep on your grind. And that resiliency shines through their products.
The road was long to get to this point but it all started with their Grandpa who loved good bourbon. The man cherished high-end bourbons and with that influence, the appreciation for aged spirits seemed inevitable for the third generation Denver natives, Paul and Danny Tighe. The old fashioned that I mentioned earlier uses the Tighe Brothers handcrafted bourbon. Mellow, oaky and full of flavor – a whiskey that gets right to the heart of the matter after aging for over a year. Like all of their spirits, the bourbon is made from only Colorado grains from the Whiskey Sisters in Burlington, CO. I got the feeling as we carried on in conversation this distillery would eventually be a Denver institution and a staple of the craft-spirits scene in Denver.
Towards the end of my visit, Paul excitedly brought me in the back and showed me the still in all its magnificence. His passion was infectious as he talked about the process of distilling and the time it takes and the rewards it provides. Then he let me sample some of their rye whiskey out of the barrel. It hadn’t been proofed down but By God, it was wandering array of delicious and spicy and captivating. The next time I come through I am buying a bottle.
Just for good measure, I stopped in the next day to see what the atmosphere was like when people besides me were there. Hannah and Jennette Tighe were behind the bar keeping everyone entertained and the vibe was that of a local pub where you were always welcome. I had another old fashion and waited for a friend to show. I ended up in a conversation with a kind fella that is a favorite local of theirs. The experience connected the dots on the constellation that is Tighe Brothers Distillery.
I learned a vivid lesson on the correlation between patience and quality during my trip to Tighe Brothers Distillery that I think we could all digest. And the lesson being: we just need to remember that when you feel rushed in your existence and overwhelmed — you have a lifetime to get through, so, there is no reason to hurry things or cut corners. The flavor really comes out of this life if you take your time and let it all sink in. So, just sit down on a regular basis with a glass of handcrafted spirits and have a nice conversation with the universe. It’s better that way. I promise.
The Denver Hopper Notes:
Tighe Brothers Distillery has a growing number of events. They offer tours starting at $20. Find out the details on their Facebook and website!
Wednesday 4pm-8pm
Thursday 4pm-8pm
Friday 4pm-8pm
Saturday 4pm-9pm
Give them a follow on IG: @tighe.bros.distillery, FB: @tighebrothersdistillery, Twitter: @denverdistiller
Tighe Brothers Distillery
Website: tighedistillery.com
Address: 4200 Milwaukee St, Denver, CO 80216
