Founder Stories

Ryan Thompson didn’t start 10th Mountain Whiskey just to make spirits—he started it to honor a legacy. Inspired by the soldiers who trained in Colorado’s high alpine terrain, his distillery was built as a tribute to the grit and sacrifice of the U.S. military. Over a decade later, the brand stands as both a business and a platform for giving back. In this conversation, Ryan shares what it takes to scale a values-driven company—and why mission has mattered more than marketing.