Wyoming Whiskey Returns Home: David DeFazio Buys Out Edrington

KIRBY, Wyo. (June 25, 2026) — WW Partners, LLC, a Wyoming-based investment group, has officially acquired Edrington’s 80% stock holdings in Wyoming Whiskey, returning full ownership of the pioneering Rocky Mountain distillery to its home state.

Led by co-founder David DeFazio, the acquisition marks a monumental new chapter for the brand. Scotland-based spirits giant Edrington—the group behind iconic luxury brands like The Macallan—initially invested in Wyoming Whiskey in 2018. During the partnership, Edrington worked alongside the local distilling team to refine and scale production processes, yielding award-winning liquids. The newly independent, Wyoming-led ownership group plans to capitalize on that foundation while steering the brand back to a localized, grassroots focus.

A Pioneer in Western Craft Whiskey

Founded in 2006 with distillation beginning on July 4, 2009, Wyoming Whiskey stands as the first legal distillery in Wyoming history. Every drop of its bourbon, rye, and American straight whiskey is crafted in Kirby using non-GMO grains exclusively grown in the Bighorn Basin.

The distillery has continually earned high critical praise, including its recent Buffalo Bill Cody expression, which was named the Best Non-Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon at the World Whiskies Awards. Coinciding with the ownership announcement, the distillery launched State of the Union, a 6-year-old straight bourbon honoring America’s semiquincentennial (250th anniversary).

“Moving forward, Wyoming Whiskey will re-commit to its roots and return to the culture and constitution that made it the whiskey of the West and a staple of the Rocky Mountain whiskey category,” said co-founder David DeFazio. “We are proud to honor the contributions of our partners at Edrington and look forward to introducing the trade and consumers to a Wyoming Whiskey that represents the very best of what this brand has always been capable of.”

“It has been a pleasure working with the Mead Family and David DeFazio on a brand steeped in heritage and authenticity,” said Mike Zitelli, Head of Legal & Corporate Affairs for Edrington Americas. “We wish Wyoming Whiskey every success under its new ownership and with its more focused localized approach.”

Legendary Master Blender Nancy Fraley Returns

As a primary pillar of its forward strategy, Wyoming Whiskey has announced the return of preeminent Master Blender Nancy Fraley. Fraley was the sensory architect behind some of the brand’s most legendary cult releases, including Outryder and the 10th Anniversary Edition.

“I am enormously excited about resuming my work with Wyoming Whiskey as their Master Blender after a nearly three-year hiatus. And I am particularly pleased to see the company come back home under the leadership of co-founder David Defazio,” noted Nancy Fraley. “Distilleries that are owned and operated by local people who are passionate about the liquid they create are the ones with whom I always prefer to work, and this absolutely informed my decision to come back. I look forward to resuming my close partnership with David and the production team at Wyoming Whiskey to take the brand to new heights.”

“Our successes are a tribute to all of our past and present partners, and we look forward to forging new relationships at home and across our great country, and beyond,” DeFazio concluded.

To learn more about upcoming releases and distillery availability, visit www.wyomingwhiskey.com.

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