If you enjoy a drink now and then, chances are you’ve sipped your fair share of gin. (Looking at you, Dad).
Despite gin’s popularity, its star ingredient — juniper berries — remains something of a mystery to most drinkers. For starters, juniper berries aren’t actually berries, and harvesting these tiny imposters is no easy task. To get just a handful, you have to shove your hand deep into a needle-filled, scratchy tangle of juniper branches.
It’s not exactly glamorous work.
But before we forage down that prickly path, let’s talk Whisky Wenches.
Behind Spirit Hound Distillers’ latest liquor release is a group that knows a thing or two about spirits and the hard work that’s poured into them.
The Whisky Wenches Spirits Society, founded by Amanda Engelhorn, has spent years bringing women into the conversation around distilling, creating a space for education, connection and community.
Amanda, who spent years slinging drinks behind the bar before managing Spirit Hound Distillers’ tasting room, saw the gender imbalance in the industry firsthand. Spirit Hound, 4196 Ute Highway, Lyons, a craft distillery known for its award-winning whisky and gin, was co-founded in 2012 by her husband, Craig Engelhorn, who serves as the master distiller. (The distillery also concocts rum and vodka, and has been known to churn out some sambuca, too.)
While Amanda built up an extensive knowledge of spirits, she noticed that some people she came across — mainly men — weren’t exactly eager to hear it from her.
“In the early days, the spirits industry was very much a man’s world,” Amanda said. “When I bartended, some men wouldn’t take me seriously when I talked about spirits. But as soon as my husband — boyfriend at the time — walked in, they’d listen.”
The real turning point arrived during a 2018 spirits conference. Amanda had gone to listen to Craig give a speech on a panel, and as she looked around the room, she noticed something disconcerting: she was the sole female in attendance.
“I wasn’t even there as a speaker,” she said. “I had just come to listen, and was still the only woman. That moment made me realize that something needed to change. We needed to get more women involved.”
Determined to create a space where women could explore spirits without a side of condescension, Amanda launched Whisky Wenches that same year.
What started as a small gathering of curious drinkers has since grown into a full-fledged community, where the goal is equal parts education and good company. Whisky Wenches meetings blend hands-on learning with a laid-back, social atmosphere, making the gatherings as much about friendship as they are about spirits. Meetings range from deep dives into whiskey aging and gin botanicals to creative events, like pairing cocktails with Girl Scout Cookies.
Because while whisky might be best enjoyed neat, the experience of discovering it shouldn’t be stiff.
After a pandemic hiatus, and Amanda’s demanding schedule managing Spirit Hound’s tasting room, the group reemerged in 2022 with chapters in Lyons and Denver, drawing an even wider mix of newcomers and seasoned enthusiasts.
“When someone at a Whisky Wench meeting says they don’t like gin, I remind them it’s just vodka distilled with botanicals,” Amanda said. “If we pick botanicals you like, we’ll probably find a gin you enjoy. Or last month, we did a Scotch tasting, and most women there didn’t know Scotch doesn’t have to taste smoky.”
At every meeting, education is key. Amanda encourages women to explore spirits confidently, breaking down misconceptions and making an industry long dominated by men feel more approachable.
“Spirits aren’t just for men,” Amanda said.
The Whisky Wenches keep meetings accessible and inclusive, with no membership fees required. Anyone with an interest in distilling, in spirits education, or simply looking for which spirit pairs well with their favorite cookie can attend.
Spirit Hound’s latest release, a hand-crafted gin made with Rocky Mountain juniper berries, honors a very special woman who has been quietly shaping Spirit Hound’s botanicals for years.
It’s called Eleanor Gin and its signature Colorado evergreen aroma, hand-built and prepared by members of Whisky Wenches, can be attributed to Eleanor Suttle, a 90-year-old Lyons local who has supplied the distillery with bags brimming full of carefully harvested juniper berries for the last eight years.
“We thought, ‘We should name this gin after Eleanor,’” Amanda said. Initially, the Whisky Wenches crafted a gin named Revelry in 2019, but after a naming dispute in 2022, Amanda saw an opportunity to honor the longtime local. “It was the perfect chance to tweak the recipe and do something special.”
Though the group’s name might suggest otherwise, Whisky Wenches chose to create a gin over a whiskey for practical reasons: Gin is ready immediately after distillation, unlike whiskey, which requires years of aging.
This allowed the group to quickly experience and celebrate their own creation while honoring the nonagenarian berry forager.
Eleanor’s berries
Nearly a decade ago, Craig and Amanda met Suttle when she first dropped off gallon-sized Ziploc bags packed tight with locally foraged Rocky Mountain juniper berries. While many people in the Lyons area had brought in berries before, it was Eleanor who stood out immediately — not just for the sheer volume of berries she delivered, but for her infectious personality.
“It started as a casual thing — we’d trade people a gin drink for berries,” said Craig. “But after Eleanor started bringing in so many, we realized a cocktail wasn’t enough. We started sending her home with a full bottle instead.
“She never stays at the distillery long to drink, but every time she pops in, it’s so much fun.”
Eleanor used to hike the wooded property west of Lyons, gathering junipers as a way to stay active. Today, at 90, Eleanor’s son-in-law trims branches and delivers them to her, allowing her to continue her careful work from the comfort of her own home.
Craig’s favorite Eleanor story captures her adventurous spirit perfectly. He said he recalled the day Eleanor pulled into Spirit Hound’s parking lot in her Jeep Liberty. Out she stepped, then 85, along with her 91-year-old sister, Barb, fresh off a flight from Minneapolis.
“I asked what brought them in,” Craig said. “Eleanor told me they were headed to Italy soon. When I assumed they’d be sightseeing in Florence or Rome, Eleanor just smiled and said, ‘Oh honey, we’ve already done that. We’re going to drink wine and talk to people.’
“If I’m that adventurous at her age, I’ll have done something right.”
Spirit Hound’s Eleanor Gin features Eleanor’s hand-foraged juniper berries alongside botanicals thoughtfully chosen to support women’s wellness — including orange, angelica root and warm Ceylon cinnamon. Craig describes the flavor as approachable, aromatic and perfect for sipping neat or mixing in cocktails.
When the moment came for Eleanor to taste the spirit named in her honor, both Amanda and Craig recall how nervous she was.
“Eleanor already loved our original gin, so she was a little nervous about this one,” Craig said. “She told me, ‘What if I don’t like it? How would I tell you?’ But as soon as she took a sip, she was grinning ear to ear. ‘Oh no, it’s OK — I love it!’”
For Amanda, Eleanor Gin symbolizes much more than just a delicious new spirit. It represents her broader mission through Whisky Wenches: to educate women, build lasting friendships and highlight female contributions in an industry traditionally dominated by men.
“Spirits are intimidating at first,” Amanda said. “My favorite part about Whisky Wenches is inspiring women to go out and try, ask questions, and discover their own tastes without criticism. I wanted to be able to have a place where friendships can be made on the basis of loving this beautiful craft.”
She added: “To me, this gin is about honoring Eleanor and all women like her,” Amanda said, “women who quietly enrich their communities and who never ask for the spotlight, but deserve it.”
The public is invited to celebrate the official release of Eleanor Gin on Thursday at Spirit Hound Distillers, where attendees can taste the final product, meet some of the Whisky Wenches who helped craft it, and honor Eleanor’s remarkable contributions. Eleanor will be in attendance at 5 p.m., so swing by to raise a glass to the gin’s namesake. Bottles of Eleanor Gin will be available to purchase directly from the distillery during and after the event. Learn more about Spirit Hound at spirithounds.com.
Eleanor Gin
90 proof
Developed by the women’s spirit club the Whisky Wenches.
This floral and spicy Colorado craft gin is named after Spirit Hound’s juniper berry supplier, Eleanor Suttle. Eleanor Gin features botanicals known for their support of women’s health, including zesty orange, fragrant angelica root and the subtle warmth of Ceylon cinnamon. The gin is certified Gluten Free.
Nose: Citrus forward (orange), spicy, bright juniper.
Taste: Floral, botanicals, rose petals, spicy and crisp.
Finish: Long, lingering finish, lemon oil.
Lady Eleanor cocktail
• 2 ounces of Spirit Hound Eleanor Gin
• 1/2 ounce of lemon juice
• Lime cordial mixer
• Watermelon garnish
• Splash of soda water
Shake ingredients over ice and strain into rocks glass. Garnish with a watermelon slice.
Source: spirithounds.com
