FROM
HIGH -TECH
TO
HIGH SPIRITS INTERVIEW BY JASON BARRETT ||| WRITTEN BY ROCKWELL RUTTER ||| PHOTOGRAPHS BY BLIGH GILLIES
E
very distiller has a unique background, but few are as combining science and technology but with distilling it still is an unique as David Monahan. He’s spent his early career art, as well. Plus, I have always loved cooking so everything just
working in various hi-tech companies, which was a great fit sort of all came together with distilling over the last few years.” considering his engineering education (David holds a Ph.D from Even for a well-connected guy like David, though, getting into the Purdue University in Industrial Engineering). More than just an business wasn’t easy. He still had to go through the same legal engineer, however, David has also worked in marketing roles and financing issues as everyone else. In fact, it took David well for such industry giants as Hewlett-Packard, not to mention he over a year just to get through the DSP licensing process. helped co-found a pre-manufactured,
Now that Feisty Spirits is up and
sustainable housing company called
running, David is creating some pretty
Better Building Systems. Now he’s
interesting products in the distillery.
branching out into a very different
For example, his Blue Corn Bourbon
industry with his new company, Feisty
uses a blue corn strain, which leaves
Spirits Distillery.
the end result with a more scotch-
How does a multi-talented man
like profile. He’s also experimenting
like David get into craft distilling,
with flavored oat whiskies like his
anyway? According to him, “You find
cinnamon
a great business partner, surround
options. His love of the industry
yourself with good people, and use
extends farther than just the products,
the best ingredients.” David and co-
however. David says, “There are a lot
founder Jamie Gulden share a high-
of opportunities for creativity in craft
blackberry
infused
spirits. I also like being in a business
tech background, an entrepreneurial instinct and a fondness for good craft
or
PHOTO BY DESIRÉE INC
where folks are friendly to each other.
whiskey. And it doesn’t hurt to live in the middle of Colorado’s You can call another craft distillery and they will actually call you thriving craft beer industry, which inspired David and Jamie to back and help you work through what is holding you up. Plus, in launch the first craft distillery in Fort Collins. David says, “Living what other job do you get to taste whiskey all day?” in Colorado we have a lot of craft beer. I have always liked
The rest of the community is following suit. According to
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