A Denver film company is working on a movie about the distillers and entrepreneurs behind American Whiskey.
Traverse Image LLC announced "The Whiskey Film" Wednesday during a casting call for up to eight more distilleries to feature in the documentary film. The company has a deal with an undisclosed online streaming company to distribute the movie in 2018.
Traverse's 2013 documentary on the craft brewing industry, "Crafting a Nation," was released by Netflix.
"'The Whiskey Film' features the new generation of whiskey craftsmen and women and dives deep into the agriculture ties behind the end result,” said Thomas Kolicko, film director and founder of Traverse Image, in a statement.
Alamosa-based Colorado Malting Co., Buena Vista-based Deerhammer Distilling Co. and Colorado Springs-based Distillery 291 have already signed on with the project, according to the film company.
"The Whiskey Film" will be funded through a crowdsourced Indiegogo campaign launching March 15. The first funding goal is set at $5,000. Altogether, $100,000 is needed.
“The whiskey industry in the United States is over 200 years old and when a Congressional Resolution declared Bourbon Whiskey as America’s native spirit in 1964, it gained a legitimacy in heritage," Kolicko said. "We’re telling the story of the modern day distiller.”
Whiskey was the second-most sold spirit in the U.S. last year, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. American Whiskey was the most popular variety sold, accounting for 35 percent of whiskey sales and 10 percent of spirit sales overall.
Business & data reporter Adrian D. Garcia can be reached via email at [email protected] or twitter.com/adriandgarcia.
