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…