A whiskey made from grain grown, malted and distilled within about 30 miles of a single family farm has been named Whisky of the Year at the 2026 London Spirits Competition. Root Shoot Spirits, based in Loveland, Colorado, is now selling that bottle and four other releases online. The shipping is nationwide, though it depends on availability and state laws.
From Field to Bottle in 30 Miles
Most whiskey travels a long way before it reaches a glass. Grain is often grown in one state, malted in another and aged somewhere else. Root Shoot Spirits takes a different route. Its whiskey is made from Colorado-grown and Colorado-malted grain that is sown, grown and malted on a fifth-generation family farm in Loveland. From the field to the bottle, the whiskey travels only about 30 miles.
The company describes this as a hyper-local and sustainable supply chain. Every ingredient comes from Olander Farms, the family-run operation behind the brand. The grain is then malted by Root Shoot Malting, a craft malthouse that sits on the same farm.
The Bottle That Won the Big Prize
The award-winner is the 4-Year Bottled-in-Bond Root Shoot American Single Malt Whiskey. It is bottled at 50% ABV, which is 100 proof, and it was aged four years in American white oak barrels. At the London Spirits Competition it took home three honors: Spirit of the Year USA, Whisky of the Year, and American Single Malt Whiskey of the Year.
It was not a one-time success. The brand also won American Single Malt Whiskey of the Year at the same competition in 2025. Root Shoot Whiskey only launched in August 2023, so the awards have come quickly.
What It Smells and Tastes Like
Image credit: Root Shoot Spirits
The whiskey opens with aromas of cobbler and honey granola. On the palate, the maker describes clean alpine floral notes. The finish brings what the brand calls an alpenglow of rich pastry and faint cocoa dust, followed by long, lingering flavors that are bright but spicy.
The suggested retail price is $64.99. Supply is described as extremely limited, so anyone who wants a bottle may not want to wait.
Four More Bottles Worth a Look
The award-winner is one of five whiskeys now available on the Root Shoot online store. Each of the other four is a limited release, and some come in very small numbers.
Colorado Peach Brandy Cask Finished Whiskey
This bottle is a team-up with Peach Street Distillers. It brings together two well-known Colorado crops: grain and Palisade peaches. Root Shoot's American Single Malt is finished in casks that once held peach brandy from Peach Street Distillers, and that brandy is made from Colorado-grown Palisade peaches.
The result combines the bright, lush character of the peaches with the malt and spice of the Root Shoot whiskey. It is bottled at 49% ABV, or 98 proof. The company says it captures Colorado summer in every sip. It sells for $79.99, and fewer than 120 bottles are available online.
6-Year Single Barrel American Single Malt Whiskey
This one is the strongest of the group at 61.5% ABV, or 123 proof. It was released to celebrate 10 years of Root Shoot Malting. The whiskey was aged for six years in a first-use, medium-char American white oak barrel.
It builds on the award-winning single malt with richer notes of dark cherry, toasted grain, cocoa and baking spice. It still keeps the bright botanical character that the brand is known for.
The label carries original artwork by Loveland artist Mallory Cash. Her picture shows the view of Longs Peak from the window of the Root Shoot malthouse. Fewer than 50 bottles will be sold online, at $89.99 each.
6-Year Small Batch Bottled-in-Bond American Single Malt Whiskey
This is the first six-year Bottled-in-Bond release from Root Shoot, and it marks 100 years of Olander Farms. The barley comes from the Olander family's farm in Loveland, which is permanently conserved. The whiskey was blended from five selected barrels.
The taste leans toward vanilla, chewy caramel candy, dried cherry and baking spice. The cocoa dust character that shows up in other Root Shoot bottles is still there. The nose is soft and nutty, with hints of leather, brown sugar and mascarpone. Subtle camphor and eucalyptus sit in the background.
It is bottled at 50% ABV, or 100 proof, and priced at $84.99. Some bottles are going to select Colorado retailers, and 60 bottles are available on the Root Shoot online store.
Heritage Wheated Bourbon
Root Shoot & The Family Jones Heritage Wheated Bourbon Whiskey is the brand's first bourbon. It is a four-year-old single barrel bottled at 47% ABV, or 94 proof. Everything in it was grown on the Olander family farm.
The grain bill is 75% Abenaki heritage corn, 15% Oland heritage wheat and 10% Root Shoot Light Munich malt. Root Shoot Malting handled the malt. The Family Jones Distillery, also in Loveland, distilled and aged the whiskey. The point of the bottle is to show off heritage grain and the farm that grew it. It sells for $79.99, and only 30 bottles are available online.
A Farm With More Than a Century of History
Behind the whiskey is the Olander family farm, which was recently designated a Centennial Farm. That title goes to farms that have stayed in operation for 100 years or more. This one has been worked by five generations.
Todd Olander, the founder and farmer behind Root Shoot, spoke about what that history means for the whiskey. "Every sip, every nuance, is a reflection not only of Colorado agriculture, but of our family farm, recently designated a Centennial Farm," said Todd Olander, Root Shoot's founder and farmer. "It carries more than 100 years and five generations of hard work, care and commitment to quality, and we're proud to share a piece of that history with whiskey lovers across the country."
How Root Shoot Started With Malt
Root Shoot began as a malting business before it became a whiskey brand. Root Shoot Malting is a fifth-generation family farm and a first-generation craft malthouse. It makes malts from barley, wheat, rye and corn.
The company says farmers are stewards of the land and that responsible agriculture can support a better food and beverage industry. It is also working to protect farmland through a conservation easement with Colorado Open Lands. Root Shoot Spirits then takes that craft malt from grain to glass.
Why Colorado Whiskey Keeps Getting Attention
Colorado has become a serious place for whiskey. The state has several things going for it. Barrels age at high altitude, the Rocky Mountain water is crystal clear, and local grains give the whiskey its own flavor. Award-winning malts are also part of the picture. A win like the one in London adds to that reputation.
How to Order
Whiskey fans outside Colorado no longer need to travel to get a bottle. The Root Shoot Spirits online store is at buy.rootshootspirits.com, and the bottles ship straight to the buyer's door. Along with the five releases above, the store carries other Root Shoot spirits, including The Homestead Series. Root Shoot Spirits are also sold at retailers across Colorado.
Ordering is subject to availability and state laws. Some of these bottles are made in very small numbers, with as few as 30 available online, so they may not last long.
The Bottom Line
A farm that has been in the same family for more than 100 years is now making some of the most talked-about whiskey in the country. The grain is grown in the same place where it is malted, and the distance from field to bottle is about 30 miles. For anyone who likes to know where their whiskey comes from, Root Shoot offers a clear answer, and now the bottles can be ordered from anywhere in the country.
