Introducing Painted Canyon

A New Era for Heart River Spirits

We are excited to introduce the newest addition to our lineup—Painted Canyon Bourbon, our new bourbon. This carefully crafted bourbon represents years of dedication and passion for creating high-quality spirits. With a smooth, bold profile and a deep connection to our North Dakota roots, Painted Canyon is more than just a bourbon—it's heritage in every glass.

Why Heart River Spirits is Venturing into Bourbon

At Heart River Spirits, our passion has always been crafting high-quality, locally made spirits that tell a story. While our roots are firmly planted in rum, we get asked quite often if we could make a bourbon. Bourbon represents tradition, craftsmanship, and patience—qualities that make up the foundation of Heart River Spirits. After years of asking, your voices have been heard! We are proud to introduce Painted Canyon, our 7-year aged bourbon, created with all the quality of Heart River Spirits as well as the smooth flavor, to our line of handcrafted spirits.

We felt as if our line of handcrafted spirits was a very strong lineup, but there’s always room for more and innovative ideas. Our bourbon fills a hole in our product line while also reaching a demographic of drinkers we’ve never really been able to before.

The History Behind the Name: Painted Canyon

Nestled in the rugged beauty of North Dakota’s Badlands, Painted Canyon is a breathtaking landscape of layered rock formations located in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The name comes from the varying colors of the aforementioned layered rocks that make up the walls of the canyon. Painted Canyon has a colorful history intertwined in those colors beyond name alone. This section of the badlands is rich in colored clays and was the gathering place of materials to make war paint, horse paint and house paint alike.

The canyon showcases its vibrant colors with every breath taking view. Painted Canyon Bourbon is made to do just the same. We felt the bourbon itself was reminiscent of the beautiful colors of the canyon at golden hour. Just like the canyon itself, our bourbon is a reflection of time, patience, and North Dakota heritage. Each bottle pays tribute to this stunning landmark and the state that it heirs from, bringing the spirit of the West into every sip.

What Makes Painted Canyon Bourbon Stand Out?

We believe that every great bourbon should have a bold personality and a smooth finish. Painted Canyon is crafted using a meticulous aging process, spending over seven years in charred white oak barrels, developing a rich flavor profile. On nose you get citrus and a very earthy spice from the 62% corn, 23% rye mash. The beginning notes are bright corn with pepper and oak char coming in towards the end. The big thing we get the most is that it doesn’t taste like a 90 proof bourbon.

The ending notes of char from the oak and the spice from the rye lingers on your tongue well after your last sip leaving you always wanting one more glass and we haven’t even begun to get in the color.

The light caramel color is very attractive. It really reminds one of Painted Canyon at sunset. Painted Canyon is lighter than what you usually think of when picturing a bourbon. Despite that difference the color draws you in with the crystal clear amber aura it has.

Our Goals in Launching a Bourbon

Expanding into bourbon isn’t just about creating something new—it’s about building a legacy. We wanted to craft a bourbon that speaks to both seasoned whiskey lovers and newcomers alike while also not compromising the core values of our brand. We believe keeping everything as handcrafted as possible, that’s the heritage of distilling. We try to honor that sentiment in our current products and will continue to do so with any others to come. Our goal is to highlight North Dakota’s growing craft spirits industry while delivering an experience that matches the high standards we set with our rums. Painted Canyon is the next step in that journey.

What’s Next for Heart River Spirits?

After the launch of Painted Canyon Bourbon, we are probably going to refocus on our ready-to-drink line. There’s some very obvious room for growth there as we only have 1 RTD, Dog Water. Expect to see some innovative new products that continue to push the boundaries of craft distilling. Stay tuned for upcoming events, tastings, and exclusive first-looks at what’s next for Heart River Spirits.

We can’t wait for you to experience Painted Canyon 7-Year Bourbon. Painted Canyon is available at Medora C Store & Liquor, Big Dog Tiki Bar, and Williquors. Stop by, grab a bottle and taste it for yourself. Be sure to share your first sip with us on social media!

Cheers,
The Heart River Spirits Team