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The overlaps between beer and whiskey are plentiful. Both rely on craftsmanship and quality ingredients, and share certain production methods in common. Modern makers in either category have the luxury of looking at tradition while pushing the boundaries of innovation for the future. But it\u2019s the differences between the two that keep things interesting.

Single malt whiskey producer Stranahan\u2019s in Denver, Colorado is one such modern maker, one that\u2019s helping to define the budding American single malt whiskey category against Scotch and other international players. A visit in 2018 led writer Gabby Pharms to dive into their process, history, and position as Colorado\u2019s first new legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition for her latest piece in Good Beer Hunting titled \u201cWhiskey and the Mile High City \u2014 The Distillery Making Single Malt in the Rocky Mountains,\u201d which was published on June 16, 2021.

In our conversation about her piece\u2014which was written for our Beer and a Shot series, made in partnership with Miller High Life\u2014Gabby reveals what led her to spotlight a producer who she feels is at the forefront of an American spirits revolution. Not only does their early entry into the category position Stranahan\u2019s at the vanguard, but their literal mile high location also serves to shape their products in a unique way. In our conversation, Gabby discusses how she prefers her single malt whiskey (neat, or perhaps with one cube) and which beverages she tends to pair with barbecue (it\u2019s not Light Lager, as I incorrectly presupposed). She also muses on what the future holds for American whiskey makers, finds some silver linings in the wake of COVID, and believes there\u2019s truly a whiskey for everyone. If American single malt whiskey has a cheerleader, it\u2019s Gabby Pharms.