OURAY DISTILLERY FIELD GUIDE
Whiskey at Elevation: A 4x4 Tasting Through the San Juans from Ouray
A four‑hour Alpine Scenic 4x4 Tours specialty outing that departs downtown Ouray from K J Wood Distillers, samples craft Colorado whiskies at high‑mountain viewpoints, and returns to town for an optional distillery tour and cocktails.
Whiskey at Elevation: A 4x4 Tasting Through the San Juans from Ouray.
The Colorado Western Whiskey Tour layers two distinct San Juan experiences: a guided 4x4 rally into surreal mountain terrain and a curated flight of craft Colorado whiskies. The outing begins in downtown Ouray at the K J Wood Distillers building and is guided by a whiskey sommelier who also pilots the truck, tailoring tasting stops across the region’s Jeep trails.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
San Juan Jeep Trails and Elevated Views
The route rides Alpine’s legendary 4x4 trucks onto San Juan Jeep trails with tasting destinations that may include Twin Falls, Corkscrew Pass, Governor Basin and Yellow Rose Falls, and the guide tailors the exact stop based on local expertise.
Craft Colorado Whiskey Flights
On site you’ll be offered samples exclusively from craft Colorado distilleries — a focused tasting led by your whiskey sommelier that showcases regional distilling talent.
Distillery Return, Bottle Sales and a Sunset Cocktail
After the tasting and return trip to town, guests may take a brief distillery tour, purchase bottles of whiskies sampled (with an additional 10% off bottle purchases), and enjoy a craft cocktail upstairs in Cahoots with views of the San Juan sunset.
What the day feels like
What the day feels like
This is a compact, four‑hour specialty tour that begins with a downtown rally at K J Wood Distillers, launches at 2:00pm in Alpine’s tour truck, climbs into the San Juan backcountry for a guided whiskey flight at a scenic pull‑out, and then returns to Ouray by the early evening for distillery access and cocktails.
THE ROUTE
San Juan Jeep Trails and Elevated Views
The route rides Alpine’s legendary 4x4 trucks onto San Juan Jeep trails with tasting destinations that may include Twin Falls, Corkscrew Pass, Governor Basin and Yellow Rose Falls, and the guide tailors the exact stop based on local expertise.
THE SPIRITS
Craft Colorado Whiskey Flights
On site you’ll be offered samples exclusively from craft Colorado distilleries — a focused tasting led by your whiskey sommelier that showcases regional distilling talent.
THE MOMENT
Distillery Return, Bottle Sales and a Sunset Cocktail
After the tasting and return trip to town, guests may take a brief distillery tour, purchase bottles of whiskies sampled (with an additional 10% off bottle purchases), and enjoy a craft cocktail upstairs in Cahoots with views of the San Juan sunset.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this outing suits best
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The advertised duration is four hours with a scheduled 2:00pm departure and a 6:00pm return to K J Wood Distillers; other timeline items are approximate.
Meet at the K J Wood Distillers building in downtown Ouray between 1:00 and 1:30pm prior to the scheduled 2:00pm departure.
After the tasting and return, guests may take a brief distillery tour and have the option to purchase bottles of the whiskies sampled with an additional 10% off bottle purchases.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Where and when do we meet for the tour?
Meet at K J Wood Distillers in downtown Ouray between 1:00 and 1:30pm; the tour departs at 2:00pm.
How long is the Colorado Western Whiskey Tour?
The tour is four hours in duration, with the scheduled return to K J Wood Distillers at 6:00pm.
How many guests are on each tour?
Tours are limited to a maximum of nine guests and may be purchased by the seat or privately by reserving the entire truck.
Will I be able to buy bottles of the whiskies we taste?
Yes — there is an option to purchase bottles of whiskies sampled after the tour, and all tour guests enjoy an additional 10% off bottle purchases.
Where does the tasting take place?
Tasting destinations could include, but are not limited to, Twin Falls, Corkscrew Pass, Governor Basin and Yellow Rose Falls; the guide selects the final tasting stop based on expertise.
Are the listed times exact?
Only the 2:00pm departure and the 6:00pm return are specified; other times in the itinerary are approximate and may vary during the tour.