Full Throttle Boutique Distillery

Boutique distillery to open in downtown Estes Park

By Tim Mosier Trail-Gazette

While the name Full Throttle Saloon may conjure up images of rowdy bikers, and the exciting events of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Michael Ballard owns multiple brands and what he intends to bring to Elkhorn Avenue is dramatically different from the Saloon.

“The distillery and restaurant concept that we are developing will be unique to Estes Park. Bob and Tony’s Pizza has been a fantastic staple for the community, and while there will be changes, we’ll continue to ser ve their pizza and honor many of their traditions. We have four other boutique distilleries, including ones in Trimble, Tennessee and Deadwood, South Dakota. Our distilleries offer tours and tastings, and we’ll sell ever ything from hats to hot sauces to candles. Full Throttle owns several brands, and this distillery will be very different than our bar concept in Sturgis. We’re continuing to work through the logistics, but we’re excited to be joining the amazing community in Estes Park,” said Ballard.

In a video Ballard posted on Jan. 28, he is seen walking around the Full Throttle Disleast Florida, or Texas, or Arizona where you can ride year round and we’d get more business.”

Of the many positives Ballard hopes to bring to the Estes Park community, the donation of hand sanitizers made in his distilleries will be one of the first impacts he has already planned make. He plans to donate to schools, charities, churches, and facilities in need.

“Estes Park, we’re looking for ward to coming and being part of the community. love it up there, really, really cool up there. We’re really excited. We’re keeping the Bob and Tony’s Pizza and we’re looking for ward to coming up.”

One thing is almost certain, the brand recognition of the Saloon and the distilleries owned by Ballard will drive more tourists to town, and those dollars will overflow into other parts of the community. Ballard says that is what he is hoping for.

“Love ya, looking for ward to coming up and doing some business with you guys and hopefully we are going to bring more business,” Ballard said. “We’ve got a pretty strong brand and hopefully we’re going to bring more business to Estes for you guys.”

Full Throttle / Courtesy photo The entry of a Full Throttle Distillery, in Trimble, Tennessee.

tillery in Tremble, Tenn., talking about and showing the stark contrast between his distilleries and the Saloon in South Dakota.

“We are a family oriented business coming in,” said Ballard. “We’re not the Full Throttle Saloon coming to Estes Park. First off, I would never put a Full Throttle Saloon in Estes Park, you can only ride a motorcycle there about two months out of the year. If I was going to put another Full Throttle Saloon in I would probably do it somewhere like Daytona, or at

Museum from page 23

of a decade, the basic footprint of the town we know today was established by many of the buildings that started out as hotels, schools, private homes, and businesses.

Identical tours are offered on Mondays and Tuesdays from Tuesday, June 1 through Tuesday, Aug. 31. Tours meet at 9 a.m. at the northeast corner of Bond Park (next to the bronze Enos Mills sculpture at MacGregor and Park Avenues). The tour group will walk west through town, and return to the same site by 10:30 a.m., and travel a distance of 0.7 miles. Tours are free, donations are welcome. No reser vations required, tours are filled on a first come, first ser ved basis with space limited to 12 participants. Free parking is available along sections of MacGregor Avenue and in the parking structure.