Laws Black & Gold Select: CU Athletics Four Grain Bourbon
Laws Whiskey House Black & Gold Select is a limited-release Colorado four grain straight bourbon bottled at 110 proof, produced through the distillery's official partnership with University of Colorado Athletics. The black-and-gold presentation and CU Buffaloes branding get the attention first, but the whiskey inside is a serious high-proof pour built on the same heirloom-grain recipe that made the Laws Four Grain a fixture in Colorado whiskey.
If you have been trying to work out how this bottling differs from the standard Laws Four Grain, this article covers what the distillery has actually confirmed: the mash bill, how barrels are chosen for each annual batch, the official tasting profile, why age composition shifts from year to year, and where the release currently stands on price and availability.
The Laws Whiskey House Black & Gold Select Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey is in stock now at Main Street Liquor.
Product at a Glance
- Product: Laws Whiskey House Black & Gold Select Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Brand: Laws Whiskey House
- Category: Colorado Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Proof: 110 proof (55% ABV)
- Bottle size: 750mL
- Mash bill: 60% corn, 20% heirloom wheat, 10% heirloom rye, 10% heirloom malted barley
- Production: Colorado-grown grain, distilled and aged in Colorado
- Collaboration: Official University of Colorado Athletics partnership
- Release type: Limited selected-barrel blend
- Availability: In stock
- Price: $134.99, marked down from $149.99
What Makes Black & Gold Select Different?
Black & Gold Select sits above the standard lineup as an elevated expression created specifically for the CU Athletics partnership, where Laws Whiskey House is the Official Whiskey of CU Athletics. Rather than a label swap on an existing product, the bourbon is assembled from barrels chosen for this release, then bottled at 110 proof rather than the softer strengths common to collaboration bottlings.
That proof point matters. At 55% ABV the four grain recipe keeps its density instead of thinning out, so the oak, fruit and grain sweetness stay concentrated. It is a bottle that works on a display shelf and still holds up in a Glencairn next to whiskeys people take seriously.
Inside the Four Grain Mash Bill
The recipe is Laws' signature four grain build: 60% corn, 20% heirloom wheat, 10% heirloom rye and 10% heirloom malted barley. Each grain does a specific job. Corn carries the sweetness and body. Heirloom wheat softens the texture and rounds the mid-palate. Rye supplies the spice lift that keeps a wheated-leaning bourbon from turning flat. Malted barley adds a nutty, malty depth underneath everything else.
Using all four in one mash is more work than a two- or three-grain bill, and the heirloom grain sourcing narrows the supply further. The result is a bourbon with more moving parts than a standard high-corn recipe, which is exactly what makes it interesting at high proof.
How the Barrels Are Selected
Laws has selected Black & Gold releases in collaboration with representatives from CU Athletics, including Athletics Director Rick George, working alongside the Laws Whiskey House blending team. Barrels are evaluated for flavor, balance and texture before being married into the final blend.
Because each annual release is assembled from a different set of mature barrels, the exact age composition and barrel count change from year to year. The 2024 release was a five-barrel blend using whiskey aged four to nine years, while the 2025 batch expanded to ten barrels using whiskey aged five to ten years. The distillery has not published a fixed age statement for the expression, and the bold, high-proof character is the constant rather than any single age.
Official Tasting Notes
According to the brand, the nose opens on cherry wood, beeswax, vanilla bean and golden raisin, with oak and warm grain underneath. The palate enters sweet and full-bodied, moving through honey, vanilla, dried fruit, orange-spiced tea, almond butter, caramelized grain and oak. Laws describes the finish as dry, full-bodied and long, with almond, citrus spice and warming bourbon character lingering.
That combination of stone fruit sweetness and dry oak is characteristic of Laws' Colorado maturation. The 110 proof pushes the fruit and spice forward rather than burying them.
Price and Availability
The release is in stock at Main Street Liquor and listed at $134.99, down from a compare-at price of $149.99. Because selected-barrel releases move at their own pace, the product page is always the source of truth for current pricing and availability.
How to Enjoy It
Pour it neat in a Glencairn or tulip-shaped glass first, and give it a few minutes. At 110 proof a few drops of water will open additional vanilla, fruit, honey and spice without flattening the body. One large cube works well for a slower sip.
For cocktails, the proof and concentrated flavor make it a strong base for a Bourbon Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Boulevardier or Gold Rush. Its four grain structure gives cocktails more texture than a standard-proof bourbon would.
Who Should Consider Buying It?
This one lands squarely with Colorado whiskey collectors who already follow what Laws is doing with heirloom grain, and with CU alumni and Buffaloes fans who want something with more substance than standard team merchandise. It also makes a strong gift for game-day gatherings, milestone occasions and anyone building a collection around American craft distilleries.
High-proof drinkers who like their bourbon full-bodied and dry on the finish will find plenty here. If you prefer softer, lower-proof pours, this is one to add water to rather than skip. Laws publishes more background on its grain sourcing and distillation approach on the official Laws Whiskey House website.
Where to Buy Laws Black & Gold Select
Main Street Liquor has the release in stock now. You can also browse the full Laws Whiskey House collection for the rest of the range, or explore more straight bourbon whiskey and recent new releases while you are here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Laws Black & Gold Select?
It is a limited straight bourbon whiskey created through a collaboration between Laws Whiskey House and University of Colorado Athletics. It uses Laws' four grain recipe and is bottled from a selection of mature barrels chosen specifically for the release.
What proof is Black & Gold Select?
The bottle and official product listing identify it at 110 proof, or 55% ABV. That is well above standard bottling strength, so a few drops of water are worth trying.
How old is the whiskey?
There is no fixed age statement, and the composition changes by release. The 2024 five-barrel blend used whiskey aged four to nine years, and the 2025 ten-barrel batch used whiskey aged five to ten years.
Is this an official University of Colorado collaboration?
Yes. Laws Whiskey House is the Official Whiskey of CU Athletics, and Black & Gold Select is part of that official partnership.
What does it cost?
It is currently listed at $134.99, reduced from $149.99. Check the product page for current pricing and availability before ordering.
Final Thoughts
Black & Gold Select is a genuine four grain bourbon at full 110-proof strength that happens to carry CU Buffaloes branding, rather than the other way around. The heirloom mash bill, the hands-on barrel selection and the dry, long finish give it real substance, and the black-and-gold presentation makes it easy to give as a gift or display.
If you drink Colorado whiskey, follow Laws, or have a CU fan on your list, this expression covers all three at once.
Purchasers must be 21 or older. A valid ID and an adult signature may be required at delivery.