KOTA Territory NewsSheridan-based Kolts liqueurs still struggle for broad Wyo. base

Sheridan-based Kolts liqueurs still struggle for broad Wyo. base

Wyoming's first legal distillery will roll out its first batch of whiskey at the end of the year.

But there's a company in KOTA Territory that's been making and selling liqueur for the last seven years.

"We sold over a thousand cases last year in the state of Wyoming," said Jason Koltiska, president of manufacturing and distribution at Kolts Fine Spirits. 

And though they buy the grain alcohol from out-of-state distilleries, the company produces two products, Koltiska Original and KO 90.

But brothers Jason and Justin Koltiska say they're still struggling for recognition.

"There's not an empty spot on the shelf," Jason said. "So, in order for yours to go up or for yours to go in the well or on the shelf in the bar or wherever, something else has got to come down."

"We've been seven years on the shelf now," said his brother Justin, "and I bet 50 percent of the people don't even know who we are in the state of Wyoming."

And since they have full time jobs not making liqueur, it can be hard to find time for things like promotion.

"Certain weeks we put a ton of hours in," Justin said. "Other weeks maybe not as many."

One thing they say they have going for them is the unique recipe -- one so secret that their parents don't even know what goes into it.

That also makes it tough to nail down the taste.

"You could have 20 people try and every one of them would say it tastes like this or like that or something similar to this or to that," Justin said.

Getting people to taste it in the first place is the hard part.

But they are optimistic about the future of the family liqueur.

"I always like to say that hopefully we're planting a tree that our kids will sleep under," said Jason.

Kolts Fine Spirits are approved for distribution in several western states.

The brothers, along with CEO and uncle Robert, also recently got the go-ahead to start selling in Yellowstone National Park, a tourist-saturated market that they hope will really boost sales.