Shop Local: Give Colorado-Made Goods to Loved Ones For the Holidays

As we travel from town to town, the routes we take introduce us to new people as well as places: There’s a wealth of talented Coloradan artisans and creators who hang their shingles in every corner of the state.

Here are some gift ideas to help you make your list as you shop Colorado this season. Bonus: Most of these shops have online storefronts and offer out-of-state shipping if you want to send a little Centennial State love to friends, family or yourself!

Festive Foodies

From sweet to savory and back again, you’ll find a cornucopia of gift options for everyone’s palate.

• Scaff Brothers, La Junta: Jellies, relishes, sauces and salsas — including Cantaloupe Salsa made from Colorado Rocky Ford melons
• Telluride Truffle, Telluride: An array of fine chocolates, including The Fourteener: A sampler pack of mountain-shaped, ski-themed truffles
• FATTY™ Smoked Meat Sticks, Steamboat Springs: Slow-smoked, all-natural meat snacks in flavors like jalapeño, honey barbecue and teriyaki
• Enstrom’s Toffee & Confectionary, Grand Junction: Traditional English toffee, sour gummies, chocolates and other sweet treats
• The Real Dill, Denver: From flavor-infused pickles (think caraway garlic and habanero horseradish) to DIY Bloody Mary kits with house-made mixers and hot sauce (Use code CO20 for 20 percent off all full-priced items!)
• Nuance Chocolate, Fort Collins: Small-batch truffles, goat-milk chocolate (and regular cow-milk and dark chocolate, too), cocoa nibs, brewing chocolate and more
• Mulay’s Sausage, Longmont: Specialty boxes brimming with antibiotic- and gluten-free meatballs, Italian sausage, bratwurst and chorizo
• Blanco Cellars & The little Cheese Shop, Meeker: Higher State of Mind box with Colorado-made treats like Nita Crisp crackers, goat cheese, salami, vodka soda and ale
• Helliemae’s, Denver: Locally loved caramels in flavors like apple cider, sea salt, whiskey, espresso and candy cane

Libation Lovers

Whether you have an amateur mixologist on your shopping list or take the phrase “holiday spirit” literally, you’ll find the Colorado Liquid Arts™ scene won’t leave you high and dry.

• Deviation Distilling, Denver: Coffee-infused whiskeys and herbaceous gins
• The Family Jones, Denver: Award-winning whiskeys and ready-to-pour cocktails
• Pikes Peak Brewing Co., Colorado Springs: Colorado craft beers, from seasonal stouts and holiday ales to year-round IPAs and Belgians
• Colterris Wines, Palisade: Award-winning varietals like white cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot, all made from Colorado grapes
• The Happy Hour Handbook, Denver: Compilation of appetizer and cocktail recipes from locally loved favorites like Steuben’s, Dimestore Delibar and Osaka Ramen
• Big B’s Hard Cider, Hotchkiss: Ciders like One Night Fruit Stand and Orchard Original, all made with produce grown by Colorado farmers
• Dos Luces, Denver: Gluten-free beers such as the porter-like Black is Beautiful Black Chicha and others with flavors like mango, arbol chilies and Peruvian purple corn
• Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, Cañon City: Award-winning wines, including buttery chardonnays and peppery cabernet francs
• Rising Sun Distillery, Denver: Small-batch and organic spirits in unique flavors — like Colorado Chili White Whiskey and Colorado Peach Brandy — and DIY cocktail kits

Outdoor Adventurers       

Shopping for a gear guru with particular tastes? There’s no better place to look than Colorado, the nirvana of nature enthusiasts.

• Knotty Tie, Denver: Ethically and locally made neck gaiters emblazoned with Colorado parks and scenes
• VOORMI, Pagosa Springs: Natural-fiber-based clothing built to work hard and last forever
• Grass Sticks, Steamboat Springs: Environmentally conscious bamboo ski poles and canoe/SUP paddles
• Wagner Skis, Mountain Village: Customized, Colorado-made skis and accessories
• ICONI, Greenwood Village: Motivational activewear for men and women (Featured on the 2020 edition of Oprah's Favorite Things!)
• Otterbox, Fort Collins: Shock- and drop-resistant cases for mobile devices, as well as antimicrobial accessories
• FrictionLabs, Denver: Hand care for climbers, including the new Secret Stuff Hygienic Liquid Chalk

Health & Wellness Enthusiasts       

Find plenty of ways to help friends and loved ones indulge in self-care — the gift that keeps on giving. Snag some restorative goodies for yourself, too. You deserve it! 

• The Springs Resort & Spa, Pagosa Springs: Soaks, bath salts and sprays made with minerals from the springs
• Osmia, Carbondale: Skin-care kits and products made from organic, Colorado products
• Apothecary Company, Denver: Small-batch holistic bath and body products made from crystals, botanicals and essential oils
• Boulder Dushanbe Tea House, Boulder: Large variety of premium loose-leaf teas and sachets, as well as traditional and modern tea ware

Connoisseurs of Creativity

If your “nice” list is overflowing with folks who love arts and creativity, gifts from these makers are sure to inspire.

• Avery Lee Design, Boulder: Sustainably sourced jewelry featuring organic shapes, recycled metals and earthy semi-precious stones
• Love, Emma Ceramics, Denver: Handmade bespoke pottery mugs, planters and more
• Liberty Puzzles, Boulder: Handmade wooden puzzles featuring artistic works and renderings of Colorado landscapes
• Studio 8369, Grand Lake: Fine artworks in various mediums inspired by Colorado landscapes and natural spaces
• Artisans of Mancos, Mancos: Artist co-op featuring works in mediums ranging from metal, mirrors, mixed media, calligraphy, leather, jewelry and more

Fashion Fanatics

Surprise fashion-forward friends and fam with Colorado apparel that will have them looking and feeling as good as a Rocky Mountain sunset.

• Yo Colorado, Golden: Stylish and fun Colorado-themed apparel
• Western Rise, Telluride: High-quality men’s clothing made for every season and occasion
• Rockmount Ranch Wear, Denver: Traditional Western wear, including iconic snap-button shirts that have been featured in films and in the Smithsonian Institution
• Aspen Hatter, Aspen: One-of-a-kind custom hats crafted with vintage fabrics, ribbons, bandanas and feathers
• Outdoor DIVAS, Vail: Stylish women’s clothing for every season and activity (be it running, skiing or leisurely pursuits)

Want More?

Shop local experiences that support your fellow Coloradans >>

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