SPOKANE, Wash. — Over the past 17 years, Dry Fly Distilling has grown to one of the Inland Northwest's most recognizable brands.
From the ingredients that go into their spirits to the community they serve, Dry Fly is deeply rooted in the Inland Northwest.
While the business is not going anywhere, it is getting some new blood.
It was a big announcement from a Spokane staple.
Don Poffenroth, founder of Dry Fly Distilling, the state's first distillery since prohibition, made it public: he's sold a majority stake in the company he started 17 years ago.
"So, a passing of the torch so to speak at the same time a partnership, or we call it a marriage now made in spirits-heaven, I think is the term with [the] Wagner family of wines with Charlie," Poffenroth said.
The partnership will be with Charlie Wagner of Caymus Vineyards out of California. Poffenroth said the move has been in the works for months, and the relationship with the Wagner's dates back even further.
"As we have gotten to the point where I've gotten old, it's time for me to retire and at the same time [and] looking for whatever the best possible partner could be for us moving forward," Poffenroth said.
"This just kind of came to be very organically I'd say," Wagner said.
While Wagner says his expertise lies in wine, he's been collaborating with Dry Fly for years on specialty projects.
In the future, he hopes to bring more Dry Fly products to market while staying true to Dry Fly's Inland Northwest roots.
"We have family in St. John and they grow wheat," Wagner said "They're wheat farmers, and they've been there for 112 years, so we have a connection here too, we don't want to change a thing. This is a crown jewel I think of [in] Spokane."
Wagner does hope to expand Dry Fly's national footprint beyond the 35 states their spirits are sold in and potentially add to Dry Fly's growing list of Ready To Drink cocktails that have soared in popularity.
Long-time employee and now Dry Fly President Patrick Donovan said he's excited for the future.
"This is a big step for us to realize what we all think the potential for Dry Fly can be and this helps us get there and it helps us add more staff, add more crew as we grow and get bigger and really represent, like we said our community and what we've been doing," Donovan said
As for Poffenroth, he plans to stay connected to the Distillery, but he's looking forward to more fishing in his future, and he's confident Dry Fly will continue to thrive in the city it started in.
"I don't ever see Dry Fly leaving Spokane," Poffenroth said. "I'm as excited to see what happens, as anyone else is.