Meet Jeff Ruhle & Justin Bley of Idlewild spirits

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Ruhle & Justin Bley.

Hi Jeff & Justin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Founded by Master Distiller and Owner, Jeff Ruhle in 2015 with a vision to produce best in class New American spirits using 100% local Colorado grown grains, Idlewild Spirits began milling, mashing, distilling, barreling and bottling at 8,787 ft high in the Rocky Mountains in Winter Park Colorado. 11 years later, the original vision remains strong. During that time we’ve brought a full suite of grain-to-glass spirits to market along with introducing a line of ready to drink, craft canned-cocktails made with our spirits and freshly juiced & zested ingredients.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t always been smooth, we had just started a relationship with our distributor, when Covid hit. That definitely presented a lot of challenges not only within the supply chain, but also with being able to share our craft beverages with potential customers and consumers. We firmly believe that our level of quality along with the partnerships with Colorado grain farmers we’ve developed is what has allowed Idlewild to keep moving forward through the challenges that the market has presented.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Idlewild Spirits is a 100% Colorado grain-to-glass distillery that is most known for our craft Whiskies and New American Gin. We have an exquisite 6-year 4 grain straight Bourbon, a 6 year Rye and a 5 -year Single malt. One of our proudest moments was releasing our Bottled-in Bond straight Bourbon aged 5 years last year. We recently re-branded in 2025 giving our bottles a more rustic industrial feel with an art-deco theme that has really resonated with our fans.

We also offer a line of ready-to-drink craft canned cocktails made with our spirits, hand zested or juiced fresh fruits that are refreshingly bold and lavishly quenching. The unexpected depth and beautifully balanced layered flavors feel both wild and refined and truly sets Idlewild’s craft cocktails apart in a category with so many choices.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
While the market compression for mass produced spirits is being felt across the industry, we see consumer behavior gravitating towards local, sustainable, craft brands and products. We plan on staying true to our roots, remaining independent, strengthening our local farming partnerships and only sourcing the freshest, highest quality ingredients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://idlewildspirits.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idlewildspirits
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/idlewildspirits

Image Credits
Photos by Justin Bley, quotes from Jeff Ruhle and Justin Bley