Alan Laws

“The Banker and the Barrel”

Before he became one of Colorado’s leading bourbon makers, Alan Laws was not a distiller but a financier. Originally from Canada, later settling in Denver, Laws spent years working in private equity and telecommunications finance, building a successful career across corporate boardrooms rather than mash tuns. But throughout his professional life, one passion remained constant: a deep love for bourbon and rye whiskey. He was not a collector in the casual sense. He immersed himself in flavor profiles, production history, and regional methods, developing an analytical appreciation for whiskey that would later serve him well.

In the late 2000s, Laws decided that passion alone was no longer enough. He wanted to make whiskey, not just drink it. Inspired by early visits to Kentucky distilleries and tasting experiences that tracked barrel age against tasting notes, he began studying distillation science with methodical precision. By 2011, he made the leap, leaving his corporate career to found Laws Whiskey House in Denver, Colorado.

Rather than source whiskey like many young brands, Laws committed to grain-to-glass production, making everything from scratch — milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling, and aging in-house. He believed that true transparency in whiskey required full control of the process. To that end, he partnered with Colorado family farms, sourcing heirloom varietals of corn, rye, wheat, and barley, many grown at altitude in the San Luis Valley, where extreme temperature swings stress the grains into developing dense flavor compounds.

In 2014, Laws Whiskey House released its first product: A.D. Laws Four Grain Bourbon, named after its unique mash bill of 60% corn, 20% heirloom rye, 10% wheat, and 10% malted barley. Unlike most early-stage brands, Laws chose not to release whiskey under two years old; he refused to compromise on maturity. The initial release was met with intrigue and respect, standing out for its spicy, earthy, and grain-forward profile, a contrast to sweeter Kentucky-style bourbons.

Laws continued refining his approach, expanding into Straight Rye Whiskey made from 100% heirloom San Luis Valley rye, a bold and historically inspired move. In 2016, his rye whiskey gained national recognition when it won awards at top spirits competitions. He followed with Barrel Select Single Barrels, Bonded releases, and Cask Strength editions, positioning Laws Whiskey House among a new wave of American distilleries pushing toward terroir-driven whiskey, the concept that regional grain and climate should directly express themselves in the flavor.

Alan has spoken openly that his decision to leave finance for whiskey required not just entrepreneurial courage but the support of his wife, Marianne, whom he has credited as his partner in helping launch and stabilize the business. The couple has children, and Laws has often mentioned balancing family responsibilities with long hours at the distillery in its early years. Though he avoids oversharing, he emphasizes that Laws Whiskey House is a family-supported venture, not a solo pursuit.

By the early 2020s, Laws Whiskey House had been recognized nationally as one of the most respected grain-to-glass operations in the country. In 2022, its Bonded Rye and Bonded Bourbon won high honors at the American Whiskey Masters and were featured in Whisky Advocate’s Top 20 Whiskies of the Year. Laws has been vocal in advocating for Bottled-in-Bond standards among craft producers, arguing that stronger transparency builds long-term credibility for the category.