Colorado Springs’ own 1350 Distilling has a lot to celebrate this weekend. The veteran-, women- and teacher-owned craft distillery will mark five years of business over Veterans Day Weekend. And the downtown distillery is celebrating with a pair of birthday parties: one for itself and one for the U.S. Marine Corps on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 9-10.
Plans for the celebration include typical birthday activities: games, prizes and drink specials. There will be gifts too — if revelers are generous. The Angel Battalion, 1350 Distilling’s charitable arm, will be fundraising for local nonprofits, collecting cash and toy donations for Toys for Tots now through Dec. 7. “Shots for Tots” are back too. If you bring in a new, unwrapped toy, you will receive a complimentary shot of 1350 Distilling spirits.
Through Angel Battalion, the community-minded business donates 10% of its profits to veteran, first responder and other local charities. Each quarter, it selects a different nonprofit to support.
Overcoming a Challenging Start
Lt. Col. Phill Bragg was coming to the end of his military career in the U.S. Marine Corps when he began forming the idea for a small business in his next chapter. He partnered with Jake Weien, who had the design and branding experience to help shape Bragg’s ideas for a military and first responder-themed craft distillery. The name of their entrepreneurial venture represents the 13 stripes and 50 stars of the American flag.
It’s always a challenge to launch a new business, but Bragg and Weien couldn’t have known they would be facing the immense difficulties of the the COVID-19 pandemic just five months after opening the doors of 1350 Distilling on Veterans Day in November 2019.
The original vision was to create a unique spirit for each branch of the U.S. military. At the time of their grand opening, 1350 offered three spirit products: Minuteman Vodka, Blue Jacket Rum and Guardian Bourbon. The business was originally focused on creating a welcoming, living room atmosphere for special events and date nights in their Taste Lounge; but the new business owners quickly had to pivot to keep the venture alive. For the remainder of 2020, 1350 Distilling ramped up its portfolio to include six new products they had not planned on releasing for a few years.
“If it wasn’t for our local liquor stores at that time, who were willing to purchase and offer our otherwise unknown products, we may not have survived that first year,” Bragg says.. “We have a lot to be thankful for in order to reach this hallmark of five years of business. We want to share our joy by celebrating with our guests.”
The 1350 Distilling birthday celebration will take place on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 520 E. Pikes Peak Avenue in downtown Colorado Springs.
Saluting the Marines
It’s fitting that 1350 Distilling also honors the Marine Corps each year with a traditional birthday celebration. The Marines were founded on Nov. 10, 1775, by the Second Continental Congress. Every year since 1925, the founding of the Marine Corps has been celebrated with an official Birthday Ball. And the Marine Corps birthday ceremony is full of traditions, including the cutting of the birthday cake. The first piece goes to the guest of honor. The second piece goes to the oldest Marine present who takes a bite and passes it to the youngest Marine present. The act symbolizes the passing of tradition from the old to the young.
This year’s guest speaker at 1350 Distilling will be Col. Mike Frazier. And past ceremonies have honored local Marine legend, the late Gerald D. (Jay) Cimino, founder of Mt. Carmel Veteran Services.
To honor the Marines, 1350 Distilling released Leatherneck Rye Whiskey in 2020 at the 245th USMC Birthday Celebration. This year, a very limited edition bottle of My Rye-ful Whiskey will be released for purchase. Thanks to the assistance of Mash Mechanix Brewing Co., this 100% rye whiskey has been aging for two years in anticipation of this special occasion.
This special event is open free to the public, offering a unique experience few people outside the Marine Corps have had. This celebration will take place on Sunday, Nov. 10 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1350 Distilling.
You can find more details at 1350distilling.com.
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