In states where it is legal, family-friendly distilleries are becoming commonplace. BY JON PAGE
L
incoln Page was 16 days old the first time he visited a brewery. Long accustomed to seeing families gathering over pints, my wife and I didn’t think twice about ushering Lincoln to one of our favorite brewpubs weeks after he was born. But when it came to distilleries, Carie and I were hesitant to make the leap. We couldn’t recall seeing parents with young children in a distillery tasting room. Weren’t they all 21-and-
over establishments? Would we make it through the door? And even if we did, would we receive skeptical side eyes from bartenders and fellow drinkers? We clung to those fears for more than a year until we nervously carried Lincoln through the doors of Elkins Distilling Co. in Estes Park, Colorado. Even though online reviews said the distillery was kid friendly, and even though it was the middle of the
PHOTOGRAPHS: (THIS PAGE) JON PAGE; (OPPOSITE PAGE) COURTESY OF ELKINS DISTILLING CO. AND JON PAGE
The Kids Are Alright
1350 Distilling