There's something fitting about a bourbon coming out of Wyoming to mark 250 years of the country's independence. The state itself wasn't even part of the original union — it didn't join until 1890, becoming the 44th state to sign on. But if there's one place in America that still runs on the same stubborn, self-reliant streak that got this country started in the first place, it's the wide-open plains of the West.
That's the thinking behind Wyoming Whiskey's newest release, a limited-edition straight bourbon called State of the Union. The distillery — which holds the title of being the first legal one ever established in the state — built this bottle specifically to honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a milestone the whole country will be marking in 2026.
Why This Anniversary Matters to a Whiskey Maker
Two hundred fifty years is a long time for anything to stick around, let alone an idea. Back when the Declaration was signed, it was just thirteen states trying to figure out how to govern themselves without a king telling them what to do. Over the generations, that same stubborn resolve pushed people further west, through territory that wasn't easy to settle and wasn't going to hand anybody anything for free.
Wyoming is a product of that push. The land is rugged, the winters are brutal, and the people who ended up staying there had to be the type who could handle both. That's the culture Wyoming Whiskey says it's tapping into with this release — not just a historical nod, but a nod to a way of life that's still very much alive in that part of the country.
Wyoming Whiskey Co-Founder David DeFazio put it simply when talking about why the company decided to build a whiskey around this particular anniversary. "This anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on what endures—the land, the people, and the spirit of independence that continues to define America," he said. He added that the release is meant as a way of "raising a glass to that shared history and the values that helped shape the West."
What's Actually in the Bottle
Talk of history and heritage is nice, but at the end of the day this is a whiskey, and people are going to want to know what it tastes like and how it was made. State of the Union spent six years aging before it was bottled, and it comes in strong at 98 proof — that's 49% alcohol by volume, for anyone doing the math.
Image credit: Wyoming Whiskey
On the nose, the whiskey opens up with raspberry and a soft lemon character, with a little bit of sweet tea rounding things out underneath. That's not the kind of profile you get from just anywhere — it comes from a combination of grain selection, water source, and the barrel aging process, and Wyoming Whiskey has built its whole identity around controlling those variables carefully.
Taking a sip, drinkers can expect peaches and raspberries up front, layered over notes of white chocolate and brown sugar. Then on the finish, things shift into candied ginger and cherry, which come on strong before settling into a smoother milk chocolate note that ties the whole thing together.
Here's the tasting profile laid out plainly:
- Age: 6 Years
- Nose: Raspberry and soft lemon, rounded out with a touch of sweet tea
- Palate: Peaches and raspberries layered with white chocolate and brown sugar
- Finish: A sharp explosion of candied ginger and cherry, balanced by smooth milk chocolate
- ABV/Proof: 49% ABV, 98 Proof
The Big Horn Basin Connection
Every bottle Wyoming Whiskey puts out carries the fingerprint of the place it comes from, and State of the Union is no exception. The distillery sits in the Big Horn Basin, an area known for wild temperature swings between seasons — something that actually plays a role in how the whiskey develops while it's sitting in the barrel. Those shifts in climate push the liquid in and out of the wood more aggressively than a milder environment would, which affects color, flavor, and overall character over time.
The grains used to make the whiskey are non-GMO and sourced locally from Wyoming farmers, meaning the people growing the corn, wheat, rye, and barley aren't some faceless supplier three states away — they're neighbors. The water used in the process comes from limestone aquifers near the distillery, a detail that whiskey drinkers who pay attention to these things will recognize as important. Limestone-filtered water is prized in whiskey-making circles because it strips out iron and adds calcium and magnesium, which can smooth out the mash and support fermentation.
The whiskey is aged in barrels made of newly charred oak, the standard requirement for anything legally called a straight bourbon, but combined with the Big Horn Basin's climate, that aging process takes on a character unique to that corner of Wyoming.
Where to Actually Find It
This isn't a bottle that's going to show up on shelves nationwide, at least not right away. State of the Union is being released as a limited-edition bottle with a suggested retail price of $79.99, and for now it's only available at a handful of locations: the Whiskey Shop in Kirby, Barrel House in Jackson, and select retailers scattered throughout Wyoming.
For anyone who's been following the bourbon world, limited releases tied to a specific milestone or anniversary tend to become collector pieces over time, especially when the distillery behind them already has a reputation for quality. Given the timing — tied directly to the 250th anniversary of the country's founding — this is shaping up to be one of those bottles people will be talking about long after it's gone from shelves.
The Story Behind Wyoming Whiskey Itself
To understand why this release matters, it helps to know a little about the distillery putting it out. Wyoming Whiskey is based in Kirby, Wyoming, and holds the distinction of being the very first legal distillery in the state's history. It was founded back in 2006 by Brad and Kate Mead, along with partner David DeFazio, with a goal that sounds simple on paper but is anything but easy to pull off: make America's next great bourbon.
Since then, that mission has grown beyond just bourbon to cover the full range of American whiskey styles. But the core philosophy hasn't changed. The company leans heavily on ingredients sourced right from the region — corn, winter wheat, winter rye, and barley grown in the area, combined with water pulled from the Bighorn Basin itself. It's a partnership between the people who founded the company and the land itself, and the distillery has built its whole brand around the idea that every bottle reflects the state it comes from.
For men who appreciate a drink with some actual history and craftsmanship behind it — not just a marketing label slapped on a mass-produced product — Wyoming Whiskey's approach is the kind of thing that tends to earn respect. It's not about flash. It's about grain, water, wood, and time, all sourced from a place that's still as rugged and independent as it was when it joined the union back in 1890.
A Fitting Tribute for a Milestone Year
As the country heads toward its 250th birthday, there's going to be no shortage of commemorative products hitting shelves — coins, flags, merchandise of every kind. But a bottle of bourbon aged six years in the heart of Wyoming's Big Horn Basin, made from grain grown by local farmers and water pulled straight from the ground, feels like it's got a little more substance behind it than most.
Whether it's picked up as a gift, a collector's item, or just something to pour a glass of while thinking about how far the country has come in two and a half centuries, State of the Union is Wyoming Whiskey's way of putting its own stamp on a milestone that belongs to the whole nation.
