We tasted Peyton Manning's bourbon brand Sweetens Cove

If you thought football was the only thing NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning could dominate, think again.

Driving the news: The former Denver Broncos quarterback and current Mile High City resident is now behind the top-shelf Tennessee bourbon brand Sweetens Cove, deemed some of the smoothest whiskey around.

Why it matters: Colorado is one of less than a dozen states where Manning's limited-edition, luxury spirit is available.

What to know: We recently tried Manning's bourbon — which runs $200 a bottle — at a private event hosted by the 5280 Whiskey Society, an exclusive, members-only club in Denver.

• The bourbon is a blend of 4, 6 and 16-year-old Tennessee whiskeys — meaning each sip swirls with complexity and offers notes of oak, fruit, spices and vanilla.

Of note: Most of the magic comes from master blender and industry legend Marianne Eaves, who tasted and smelled more than 250 barrels to develop his hooch.

• Eaves is Kentucky's first female master distiller and Sweetens Cove's "secret weapon," Manning tells Axios Denver.

What they're saying: "She has been the quarterback, calling the shots on the product and creating our bourbons," Manning says. "It’s been a great experience to learn from her and see her work. She's a star."

This story first appeared in the Axios Denver newsletter, designed to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news unfolding in their own backyard. Subscribe here.