Perched atop a dramatic mesa in historic Black Hawk, Colorado, the Rick Thomas Distillery is a ground-up construction project that masterfully blends rugged mountain character with precision craft production. BUILT. Construction delivered this 6,700 square foot facility from the ground up, creating a destination that is as functional as it is breathtaking, with sweeping views of the surrounding Rocky Mountain landscape framing every aspect of the guest experience.
At the heart of the facility is a full distillery production area engineered for serious craft spirits production. The centerpiece of the operation is a pair of custom 5,000 liter Scottish copper pot stills, chosen for their ability to produce the complex, refined spirit profiles that define the Rick Thomas Whiskey brand. These are paired with a state-of-the-art Brewmation production system, giving the distillery precise control over every stage of the production process from grain to glass.
The project scope extended well beyond the production floor. A warm and inviting tasting room welcomes visitors to experience the spirits firsthand, while a dedicated event space provides an elevated setting for private gatherings and corporate functions — all set against those remarkable mesa-top views. An adjacent 4,800 square foot Barrel Storage building was constructed to house the distillery’s aging inventory, providing the controlled environment essential for developing quality aged whiskey.
One of the most technically sophisticated aspects of the project was its mechanical system design. BUILT. integrated an energy-efficient system that connects the production heating and cooling loads directly with the building conditioning system — meaning the heat generated by the stills is captured and repurposed rather than wasted. It is the kind of thoughtful, systems-level thinking that reduces operating costs and environmental impact simultaneously.
From site work on a challenging mesa-top location through final finishes, BUILT. delivered a facility worthy of the landscape it inhabits.
