Algodones Distillery sits in the small historic village of Algodones, New Mexico, along the Rio Grande between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Founded by husband-and-wife team John and Lisa Koko in 2015, this craft distillery emerged from John’s background in engineering and Lisa’s hospitality experience, combined with their shared love for premium spirits. They converted a former art studio into their production facility, installing custom copper stills and creating a tasting room that reflects the region’s adobe architecture. The Kokos spent two years perfecting their recipes before opening to the public, focusing on small-batch bourbon, rye whiskey, and agave spirits that incorporate local New Mexican ingredients. John handles the distillation process using traditional methods combined with his engineering precision, while Lisa manages the visitor experience and business operations. Their approach emphasizes quality over quantity, with annual production limited to what their 250-gallon copper still can produce. Visitors find themselves in an intimate setting where the owners often personally conduct tastings and tours. The facility showcases the entire production process in one compact space, from grain-to-glass operations that include milling, mashing, fermentation, distillation, and barrel aging. The tasting room features local artwork and handcrafted furniture, creating an atmosphere that feels more like visiting friends than a commercial operation.