Meet Josh Hunt

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Hunt.

Hi Josh, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Branch & Barrel began with three friends, a dream, and a small residential hot water heater. When owners Scott, Ryan, and Tom met through their day jobs, they bonded over the idea of creating a project that would produce high-quality authentic Colorado craft Bourbon. They didn’t have a still, a facility, barrels, or a recipe, but what they did have was good old American ingenuity.

Through skills acquired from time in plumbing and construction, the team put their heads together and got to work. They ran various recipes through their little water heater still until they produced something they considered “drinkable,” then aged the spirit in mason jars with charred tree trimmings from their own backyards.

Because our first “barrels” were branches, it only made sense to adopt the moniker as a company name. Seven years later, Branch & Barrel Distilling produces a variety of award-winning whiskies, unique barrel finishes, and experimental spirits, still using handbuilt equipment and local Colorado grains to this day.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Branch & Barrel took a rather nontraditional approach to opening a distillery. Rather than sourcing spirits from out of state or beginning with clear spirits to push the product out quickly, we decided we wanted to make one thing: authentic Colorado craft bourbon. We honed our recipe, crossed our fingers, and got to work. Our initial years were largely dedicated to production and aging, which thankfully began to yield bottles of delicious whiskey after just a short time.

Establishing distribution was one of our biggest challenges, and growing our presence as a relative unknown without a tasting room was difficult as well. Despite all of this, we have evolved from a small operation making whiskey on an upcycled Campbell’s soup cooking machine to a respected industry presence producing over 400 barrels each year.

As of 2022, we have a fully functioning tasting room and cocktail bar concept. Over the years, we have won awards for both our whiskies and our cocktails, and have become known as a friendly down-to-earth hangout for South Metro locals seeking an elevated spirit and mixology experience.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
If I were to hang my hat on one singular thing from my professional background, it would be an incredibly in-depth understanding of the small business world after working in it for nearly 18 years. Aside from a brief foray into corporate sales, I have dedicated my career to learning the ins and outs of local business operations and growth.

From bakeries to bike shops to gyms to escape rooms, the earlier part of my work journey was about gathering as many experiences as possible in the world of locally owned ventures. Around 2019, I made the transition over to the hospitality side, working in a number of breweries, taprooms, and bars throughout Denver’s South Metro area.

After deciding the alcohol industry was where I wanted to put down more permanent roots, I made the jump from bartending to spirit sales, which is when I joined the Branch & Barrel team. My sales experience and passion for whiskey allowed me to accelerate immediately, and my small business operations background laid a pathway to an elevated role with more responsibilities. As I look in the mirror now, I am incredibly thankful for where I am, the team I work with, and the positive changes I have helped to affect since I started with this company.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Good whiskey brings good people together, plain and simple. From our highly skilled team to our awesome customers, we feel very lucky to be surrounded by such great folks. At the end of the day, we don’t just want to provide whiskey – we want to provide an experience. We want our drinkers to feel the same passion we do when imbibing our wonderful whiskies. We want them to feel like they are part of the family.

Pricing:

• Core Portfolio Bottles – $60 (Flagship, Honey, Cafe Miel, 3-Way, Plumwood)
• Special Releases – $65 (Wheated Bourbon, 4 Grain, etc.)
• Single Barrel Whiskies – $75
• Premium Selections- $85-100

Contact Info:

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

Image Credits
Jay Piper (J Piper Designs or Branch & Barrel Distilling)