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Dry Fly Partners with Charlie Wagner of Caymus Vineyards for a Marriage Made in Spirits Heaven

Dry Fly Distilling has been a staple of the spirits scene in the Pacific Northwest since launching in 2007. With products now available in 35 states, Dry Fly is hoping to increase their national footprint and is looking to The Wagner family to help with this goal.

Charlie Wagner of Caymus Vineyards and Wagner Family of Wine has purchased a majority interest in Dry Fly Distilling Inc. This is an exciting opportunity for Dry Fly, as Wagner and his team bring decades of experience in the wine industry to a craft distillery located in Spokane, WA.

“While my primary focus is making wine, it’s been thrilling over the past decade to work with Dry Fly on one of my favorite projects – creating a wheat-based whiskey aged in our wine barrels that reflects fine craftsmanship and the highest standards of quality and taste,” said Charlie Wagner. “Now we are taking our collaboration to the next level. Assuming a bigger stake in the company speaks to my excitement over Dry Fly’s vision, passion and expertise, and its ability to make products that truly stand out in the market. I look forward to working more with the whole Dry Fly team.”

“We started working with the Wagner Family more than a decade ago and have loved growing and nurturing this partnership,” said Dry Fly Distilling Founder Don Poffenroth. “The Wagner family is one of true honor. We share the same vision and we are thrilled to put Dry Fly and its future growth in their hands. I have no doubt this will be a great partnership. Also, as I approach retirement, I hope it will free me up to do a little more fishing.”

Over the past ten years, Dry Fly and the Wagner’s have been working together on various projects. One such project – which will be released next year – includes a whiskey finished in wine barrels previously used to make Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon. Through this work together, these two organizations realized they had a great synergy and wanted to make the relationship official. Charlie Wagner and Mike Carlson, V.P. and General Counsel at Caymus Vineyards, have joined the company’s board of directors.

Along with this new partnership come other changes at Dry Fly. Patrick Donovan will move into the role of President of the company. Patrick was Dry Fly’s first employee and has extensive knowledge and deep love of our brands and products. The company also recently conducted a nationwide search for a new national vice president of sales and marketing. After talking to many qualified candidates, they are looking to Donald Kidd to head up their global sales and marketing. Kidd is an industry veteran with 30 years of experience. Most recently, he held the position of Vice President of Sales for Southern Champion/BuzzBallz. Before joining Southern Champion in 2019, he spent 11 years at Hood River Distillers / Pendleton Whiskey, serving in multiple senior leadership roles in sales and marketing.

The Meriwether Group (https://meriwethergroup.com) and The Soffer Law Group advised Dry Fly Distilling Inc. and its shareholders on the transaction while Coblentz Patch Duffy and Bass LLP and Holland and Knight LLP advised Wagner on the transaction.

Image credits: J. Bartholomew Photography