Check Out Owen Locke’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Owen Locke.

Owen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The Locke’s family roots in Colorado moonshining go back several generations. Owen Locke kept the craft tradition alive with an early knack for brewing that continued through college to graduate school, where he reconnected with Rick Talley

The high school friends and lacrosse teammates immediately recognized that their collaborative styles complimented each other well, working through MBA degrees together at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business as hand sale experts for Beam Suntory. It didn’t take them long to realize they could create something bolder and wilder than the premier spirits they offered at countless tastings. In 2010, the team bought a 23-gallon still that turned a garage hobby into a lifestyle with their first whiskey batches aged in small barrels.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Numerous struggles along the way. We are a small team navigating a large and competitive industry. Everything from sales strategies, production issues, deliveries, Supply chain, spelling, and more.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At Locke + Co Distilling, we craft award-winning Colorado whiskeys and zero proof alternatives. Our whiskies are aged with hand-harvested aspen wood—an approach as unique as the story behind it. I’m a sixth-generation Coloradan with deep roots in this state and in the spirits world—my family ran liquor stores and made bath tub gin during Prohibition, and I started brewing beer at 15. What began as a garage hobby turned into a full-fledged distillery grounded in craft, sustainability, and community.

We specialize in small-batch, aspen-aged rye and bourbon, blending tradition with innovation. Our process includes aging in new 30-gallon oak barrels for two years, followed by a signature three-month finish with toasted aspen wood, giving our whiskey a flavor profile that sets us apart.

But what I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built. The “+ Co” in Locke + Co symbolizes connection—between people, generations, and shared experiences. That spirit of community extends beyond our bottles: from supporting local farmers and sustainability efforts to helping raise funds for wildfire recovery. Just like the aspens, we’re stronger because we’re interconnected

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I think myself and Rick and very outgoing and love to share our experiences. Growing up in Colorado and being avid skiers there is a saying “no friends on a powder day” I think Rick and I would prefer to have friends and share the experiences. Love having fun and being outdoors, fishing, skiing hiking and lots of family time. Sports and lacrosse and teamwork were a major part of growing up.

Pricing:

• Unique aging with aspen wood discs, not staves
• Colorado natives
• Community focused
• award winning
• Family history of moonshining and liquor

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lockeandcodistilling.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockecodistilling/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LockeCoDistilling/
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=locke+%2B+co+distilling&fetchDeterministicClustersOnly=true&heroEntityKey=urn%3Ali%3Aorganization%3A33186162&position=0&origin=RICH_QUERY_SUGGESTION&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_people%3Bgrk0Tb5OSfadbsgsQ4xR%2Fg%3D%3D
• Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/LockeCoDistilling/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY0idhseExRAtC2AqdHw7kA?app=desktop
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockecodistilling?_t=8VvnDCtvtMM&_r=1