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Distiller’s Perspective: Making Agaves Worth Sipping Neat at State 38

In Golden, Colorado, State 38 Distilling recently marked a decade of producing agave spirits. Here, co-owner and managing partner Don Hammond discusses the challenges, process, and goals of producing “drinkably different” American agave.

Don Hammond Dec 13, 2023 - 9 min read

Distiller’s Perspective: Making Agaves Worth Sipping Neat at State 38 Primary Image

Photos: Courtesy State 38 Distilling

When we opened in April 2013, agave was the primary spirit that we produced. It was a niche that nobody was really doing. At a time when there weren’t nearly as many craft distillers around as there are today, we wanted to create something different in the marketplace.

We rebranded the line a few years ago, and it’s now called Hacedor. Hacedor means doer, or maker. And that really came out of original founder Sean Smiley and me—we build things, we do things. Sean built the tasting room; I weld, I paint, I do home construction. We’re just doers, so we wanted to tie it back to our personalities.

At State 38, we sell three types of Hacedor agave:

  • Blanco: This is our silver and our second-best seller. A bottle retails for $39.
  • Reposado: We always age this in our used bourbon barrels for nine to 12 months. This is our best seller by a little bit. A bottle retails for $49.
  • Anejo: We age this in new white American oak barrels for at least a year. This one sells a bit less than the other two, but it’s at a higher price point: $59. Except for our special-release whiskeys, this is our most expensive spirit.

Sourcing Agave

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Don Hammond is co-owner and managing partner of State 38 Distilling in Golden, Colorado.

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