CURRENTS of SUCCESS SPRING44 DISTILLING WRITTEN BY AMBER G. CHRISTENSEN-SMITH
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PHOTOGRAPH BY MARIA LANSKY
he Hungarian Physiologist, Albert Szent-Gyorgyl once
of 60% water—Spring44 has been able to distinguish
stated, “Water is life’s mater and matrix, mother
itself in the US craft distilling market, as the flavor found
and medium. There is no life without water.” Water is the
in this Rockies spring is exceptionally fresh. They pride
essential life force necessary to all our existence. It is pure
themselves in their number one ingredient and the smooth
and simple. Perhaps that simplicity is what initially drew
quality it gives to their spirits.
Russ Wall and Jeff Lindauer, longtime friends, to the spring in the Northern Colorado Rocky Mountains as young men.
Spring44’s vodka was recently ranked number two in the world by Paul Pacult, a well-known spirit aficionado, who
Just outside Loveland, Colorado, Spring44, the namesake
called it the best domestic vodka he had tasted. Getting
of Wall and Lindauer’s birthed idea, was brought forth as a
noticed like this is something that not only brings them
way to share with the world the incredible fresh water source
an enormous smile for doing something right, but also
that they often enjoyed on moonlit nights. The spring was
helps them gain some market share. Lindauer explains
purchased by Lindauer’s father in 1969, then merely known
that, “The Premium-and-above category in vodka and gin
as Spring 9044, and was a coveted place by the men in
is huge—somewhere north of $12 billion in US consumer
their youth. It was a place where two boys could hang out
consumption, and north of $3.5 billion in supplier
and explore, as the spring is surrounded by the gorgeous
revenue. Imported brands dominate this space and own
Roosevelt National Forest in the Rockies. It was here, one
about 96 percent market share in the US.” Spring 44’s team
night, that Russ exclaimed: “This is the best water on earth;
is working hard to pull in at least a little more of the market
it’s liquid energy! Do you know what we have here?” and an
share with locally sourced goods and the craftsmanship and
idea was born.
art of distilling at the core of their company.
By starting with great ingredients—Vodka is composed
Beyond their notable vodka, the fellas at Spring44 also
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