Wyoming Whiskey With David DeFazio

Cocktails Distilled

When you think of Wyoming, you probably think of towering mountain peaks, wild rivers, and wide-open plains. It is a land of National Parks, of prairies and of cowboys. It is big sky country.

But near the centre of the state, near a little town called Kirby, this land is also gaining a reputation for bourbon. And while this liquid will seem familiar, it is not your typical Kentucky bourbon, but instead of liquid that reflects its environment.

It is a whiskey that's true to the land from which it comes forged from the dry summer heat and sub-zero winters. It is a whiskey that reflects the plains, the skies, and a pioneering spirit.

To understand more about the barrels and the liquid they create. We talked to David DeFazio from Wyoming Whiskey.

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1. Wyoming Whiskey With David DeFazio (00:00:00)

2. Now you're a lawyer by trade and the founders, Kate and Brad Mead are ranches. How did you all end up in whiskey? (00:01:41)

3. And that must've been quite a steep learning curve for you. (00:02:57)

4. What do you think actually was in their mind? What made them think that bourbon would be a good thing to produce? (00:03:26)

5. Now, obviously you had the task of working out how it was all going to work. How did you go about it? (00:04:31)

6. I imagine the landscape for bourbon distilleries would have been very different back then than it is now. (00:05:32)

7. So even though you’re a thousand miles away, there is a little bit of Kentucky in your DNA (00:06:29)

8. And did it end up being a lot more work and a lot more money than you thought it was going to be? (00:07:25)

9. Wyoming is a very different state to Kentucky setting up everything and the amount you're ageing and every part of the process would have been different. (00:09:53)

10. Now you are a state of extremes, both in terms of landscape and also climate. How do you think that has changed the liquid that you produce? (00:11:26)

11. If people are used to tasting something that is more in a Kentucky style. How will they find your liquid different? (00:13:35)

12. Now let's talk about some of your products. You've just released your 2021 single barrel bourbon. What is it about these barrels? (00:15:52)

13. It's interesting. When you talk about the flavour being different, depending on where the barrels are racked, have you ever thought of doing a Solera system? (00:18:37)

14. You mentioned that it is a wheated bourbon. Why did you choose that road rather than a rye base? (00:21:56)

15. Now you mentioned the Outryder, which is particularly interesting because it is a bit more of a cocktail bourbon, but I believe it started as a bit of a mistake. (00:23:58)

16. Now, if the liquid is not quite Rye, it's not quite bourbon. What will people expect from it? (00:29:58)

17. Now, what drinks do you like to make with this (00:32:21)

18. Completely changed direction, you guys have done a lot of work with the National Park Foundation. Do you want to talk to us about that? (00:33:01)

19. Now the distillery has been going for 12 years. Has the experience been what you thought it would be? (00:35:21)

20. Now, speaking of distribution, are you available in all 50 states? (00:36:49)

21. And are you thinking at any point of exporting? (00:37:34)

22. What do you want people to take away from their experience with Wyoming Whiskey? (00:39:23)