Root Shoot Spirits has released the inaugural vintage of its Homestead Series, a rotating limited release line of high-proof American single malt whiskey crafted entirely from grain grown and malted on the company’s fifth-generation family farm in Loveland, Colorado. The 2026 vintage, now available in limited quantities across Colorado, is a blend of four- and five-year-old American single malt whiskey bottled at 120 proof.
The Homestead Series represents a deeper exploration of Root Shoot’s hyper-local production model. All grain is sourced and malted on-site at Root Shoot Malting’s farm, with the finished whiskey traveling only about 30 miles from field to bottle.
The release is a blend of five American single malt barrels — three five-year and two four-year — built from three distinct mash bills incorporating eight Root Shoot malts. All barrels were distilled in 2020 and 2021 using a traditional pot still, fermented off grain, and aged in first-use, medium-char American oak barrels.
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READ THE STORY"The Homestead Series is our way of celebrating the barrels and malts we love most," said Root Shoot farmer and founder Todd Olander. "Whether mashed together from the beginning or blended after years in barrels, it’s a deeper look into what craft malt can bring to American Single Malt whiskey."
Olander added: "The Homestead Series gives us a place to really showcase the depth and individuality of our malts. By working with multiple mash bills and a higher proof, we’re able to pull more nuance from the whiskey while highlighting the flavor that comes from growing and malting our own grain here on the farm."
Official tasting notes from the brand describe the 2026 vintage as opening with orchard fruit that mingles with cocoa and herbal notes of camphor and eucalyptus. The oak structure offers vanilla paired with fire-roasted marshmallows and warming baking spice.
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The launch follows a standout performance for Root Shoot’s flagship whiskey at the 2026 London Spirits Competition, where it earned Spirit of the Year U.S.A., Whisky of the Year, and American Single Malt Whiskey of the Year.
American single malt whiskey has gained significant momentum in recent years, culminating in the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau’s establishment of formal standards of identity for the category in 2025. The designation requires the spirit to be mashed, distilled, and aged entirely in the United States from 100% malted barley.
The Homestead Series is available at retailers across Colorado. Consumers can locate bottles via the whiskey finder at rootshootspirits.com. A limited single-barrel release of Root Shoot five-year American single malt is also available for nationwide delivery through Whiskey Slickers.
