A few months ago, we were having dinner at a friend’s house when they offered Dan some whiskey. I overheard him say, “Karen won’t want whiskey,” and I couldn’t help but laugh—“What? I want a shot!” Back in the day during our TDYs, Jerome and I had our fair share of whiskey shots. Last month, while we were up in Denver, I decided to set up a tour of Stranahan’s Distillery. It was absolutely fabulous! We took a ton of pictures, and after the tour, we headed to the bar to enjoy a couple of drinks. In case you didn’t know, Stranahan’s holds a special place in Colorado history. Established in downtown Denver, it became the state’s first legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition. Known for its small-batch production and hands-on process, each bottle is crafted with care and hand-bottled original single malt whiskey, making every sip a true taste of Colorado craftsmanship.
When we headed to Westcliffe, we brought a bottle of Stranahan’s with us—and wow, it was so smooth! You can tell just how much we enjoyed it by the big smile on my face in the pictures and by the completely empty bottle at the end of the trip. Stranahan’s definitely lived up to the hype, and now I can see why it has such a loyal following, including Dan and me.
Well, to say the least, Dan and I are enjoying discovering local distilleries—and our first one in Colorado Springs was Black Hat Distillery. A few unique things stood out: Black Hat focuses on small-batch whiskey and rum. Black Hat is located in the former Alexander Film Company complex, often called the “Hollywood of the West.” Founded in 1919 in Spokane, the company moved to Colorado Springs in 1928 and became the world’s largest producer of theatrical-film advertising—creating thousands of short ads shown before movies across the country. At its peak, the studio employed hundreds and even had its own airfield nearby. In 2021, Black Hat moved into this historic property, breathing new life into a place built on cinematic artistry. I liked their bar room, lots of wonderful choices and to say the least we bought several bottles.
Dan and I are really enjoying exploring Colorado’s local distilleries, and our next stop was Distillery 291 right here in Colorado Springs. If you’re not familiar with 291, here’s a bit of their story. Founded on September 11, 2011, by former New York fashion photographer Michael Myers, 291 began in a tiny space with a still crafted from copper photogravure plates—repurposed from his photography work. 291 uses Colorado plains grain and pure Pikes Peak water, keeping everything local and handcrafted. Their unique mash is soured in open-air fermenters and triple-distilled in copper pot stills. After aging in charred oak barrels, each batch is finished with toasted Aspen staves, giving the whiskey its signature Colorado character. From milling to bottling, every step is done entirely by hand. As for our tour, it was absolutely fabulous. Our guide walked us through every stage of the process—starting with grinding the grain, letting us peek into the containers, smell the fermenting mash, and even see the bottling line. Getting that behind-the-scenes look really deepened our appreciation for the craftsmanship behind every bottle.
One of my absolute favorite parts of the tour was getting to take a pull straight from an actual barrel. OMG, it was so smooth—pure liquid gold! You could really taste the depth and richness that comes from their handcrafted process. And yes, if you’re wondering, Dan somehow managed to get two pulls. I can’t blame him though—it was that delicious!
Another part of the tour that really stood out was seeing how they bottle the 291 whiskey. It’s amazing to watch the entire process happen right there on-site. Everything—from milling the grain to sealing the finished bottles—is done in that one building. There’s something so fascinating about knowing every drop of whiskey is truly handcrafted under one roof.
One of the most fascinating things we saw on the tour was their ancient printing press. It’s this massive old machine—held together with duct tape and pure determination—that they still use to print their labels. There’s only one person who knows how to run it, and he comes to town every few months to do a big printing run. I absolutely loved seeing that mix of old-school craftsmanship and modern distilling—it gives the whole place such character. You can even see one of the embossed copper template used for their labels.
After the tour, we headed to the bar to enjoy a couple of drinks and ended up having some great conversations with our tour mates. They turned out to be Marines, while of course my husband and I were Air Force—so you can imagine the good-natured ribbing that went back and forth! They were such great guys, and it was one of those moments where you’re just reminded how small the world can be when you meet fellow service members. God bless all of our troops, but especially Chris and Nick for making the night even more memorable.
I’m sure you’re wondering, “Okay Karen, so you’ve found a new love of whiskey—but what does that have to do with fusing glass?” Well… actually, a lot! I’ve always loved working with recycled glass, and many of my projects start with wine bottles. Here are a few of the recycled glass trivets and cheese platters I’ve created using wine bottles. It’s such a fun way to combine my passion for glass with my new appreciation for fine spirits—and to give these bottles a second life as functional, artistic pieces.
I’ve also made some beautiful pendants from recycled bottles. For a different look and feel, I sometimes tumble the glass, which gives it a gorgeous matte, sea-glass-like finish. It’s amazing how something as simple as an empty bottle can be transformed into wearable art with a soft, elegant texture. Every piece feels like it carries a little story with it, and I love that touch of character recycled glass brings to my jewelry.
Recycled bottles have inspired me to make all kinds of fun and functional pieces beyond platters and pendants. I’ve shaped them into vases, whimsical little mushrooms, and even tiny toothpick holders. There’s something so satisfying about taking what would otherwise be tossed away and turning it into a unique piece of art or a useful item for the home. Every recycled glass project reminds me that creativity really has no limits—sometimes it just takes looking at something ordinary in a new way.
And just for fun, check out what I did with three of my empty whiskey bottles—I turned them into lights! They make such unique décor pieces and add a warm glow to any room. Of course, that project left me completely out of empty whiskey bottles… so I guess that means we need to drink faster. Just kidding! Everything in moderation, of course—but at least now I have a great excuse to keep “collecting” bottles for future projects.
Exploring local distilleries has been such a fun adventure for Dan and me—not just for the whiskey. It’s also inspiration for my glass work. From creating recycled trivets and platters to whimsical pendants, vases, mushrooms, and even glowing whiskey bottle lights, it’s reminded me how creativity can come from anywhere—even an empty bottle. Whether it’s savoring a smooth pour or giving glass a second life in the kiln, these projects combine two of my favorite things: good memories and handmade art. I can’t wait to see what my next bottle—or next tour—will inspire!
If you would like to see more of my fused glass work, please refer to my website Elegant Fused Glass by Karen. If you get a chance, check out all my site and my Elegant Fused Glass by Karen YouTube. If you would like to stay abreast of what I’m up-to and learn a little more about fused glass, check out my newsletter. If you would like to take a class with me check out my class information. It is published the last day of each month.
Keeping my kilns warm,
Karen
