Our Story

Several months into the complete renovation of a little mountain cabin Kristian & Kimberly were at their wits end. They had dealt with frozen pipes, a leaking roof, and the local wildlife. That winter of record snowfall they were forced to take a break from the work because of a massive blizzard. With music playing in the background, they looked out the little window and there were the trees. Weighed down with snow; they were dancing, each one swaying in perfect rhythm with the music. There in the midst of chaos and a little despair, humor weaved with complete serenity.

From that moment on those dancing pines took on a special meaning. They became the subject of a song Kimberly wrote for Kristian. The memory of them and that place is never far.

After several years as a Paramedic Firefighter Kristian decided he had had too much reality and needed a little more humor and serenity. He had tried his hand at making beer, but after some travel decided his real passion was for the hard stuff. And not just any hard liquor, the good stuff. Kristian then shared his aspirations with his dad, Christopher (and I was intrigued). Quickly the dream was realized. With a lot of hard work, here we are, distilling fine quality artisan beverages. And remembering that within the chaos of everyday we can always find humor; sometimes serenity.

I hope you enjoy our craftsmanship,

Christopher McNay

Half full or half empty… it should be distilled.

Handcrafted, artisan… what do these words mean to you? Dancing Pines Distillery puts meaning into these words for the world of spirits. We create top shelf spirits in a manner consistent with the way we enjoy life. Natural, local, high quality ingredients are used to create delightful beverages by hand. As a craft distillery, artisanal small batch distilled spirits is our passion and we produce rums, whiskeys and liqueurs. Enjoy!

Finely Distilled

What is your favorite? You may have one but we don’t. Ask us that question and it may result in a different answer everytime. It’s insanity by definition but we prefer the term passion. All of our spirits are made with that very passion, obsessively crafted and finely distilled. Pick your favorite with caution because it may change…

Chai

Our most popular liqueur for a reason, there is truly nothing else like it. Dancing Pines Chai Liqueur is painstakingly created as an authentic Chai tea. We carefully balance the flavors from whole leaf black tea and five spices. The result is a delightful liqueur worth enjoying neat or adding to your next favorite cocktail!  Winner of a Double Gold Medal at the San Fransisco World Spirits Competition.

Espresso

Bold but not bitter. Espresso Liqueur is made with real espresso beans roasted by Cafe Richesse in Fort Collins Colorado. We selected this Brazilian Coffee roaster for two reasons; flavor and passion. They roast espresso beans that have the perfect flavor for our liqueur and they do it with the same passion we have for our spirits. Whether served hot or cold Espresso Liqueur is sure to delight coffee connoisseurs!

Brûlée

A unique and delightful liqueur made from carmelized cane sugars.  Sweet like the candied topping of Crême Brûlée. This is the perfect addition to many desserts and cocktails. Winner of a Silver Medal at the New York Wine & Spirits Competition.

Cherry Tart

This tangy Liqueur treat is made from tart pie cherries.  Just the right amount of sweetness makes every sip like a taste of cherry pie.