Distilled with Intention: How Dry Fly Turned a Love of Fly Fishing into a Legacy in Spirits
- The Fly Box LLC
- Apr 21, 2025
- 4 min read
This interview was conducted by The Fly Box and featured in Casts That Care, our charity-driven fly fishing newsletter.
Casts That Care brings you real stories, big ideas, and the heart of the fly fishing world—all while donating 50% of subscriber fees to a different fly fishing charity each month.
Subscribe today and use promo code: "DryFly15" at checkout for 15% off your first month, and we’ll donate 25% more to conservation efforts supported by Dry Fly Distilling.
What do fly fishing and whiskey have in common? If you ask Don Poffenroth, founder of Dry Fly Distilling, the answer is everything.
Founded in Spokane, Washington in 2007, Dry Fly Distilling became the first legal distillery in the state since Prohibition. But unlike most brands chasing trends, Dry Fly was built on something else entirely: a lifelong passion for fly fishing and the deliberate, patient, and deeply personal way it teaches you to move through the world.
Sticking In Spokane—with a Fly Rod
Before launching Dry Fly, Don worked in the food industry. His career had him eyeing a move to Los Angeles, but one glaring issue held him back. “I failed to see the merit in moving to LA,” he said. “In my estimation, fly fishing in Los Angeles sucked.”
Instead of uprooting his life, Don doubled down on his roots. He wanted to build something local—something that made use of Washington’s natural bounty and aligned with what he loved. “I needed to create something that capitalized on local resources,” he said.
What started as a leap of faith became a legacy. Dry Fly would go on to define the Pacific Northwest’s craft spirits scene, blending whiskey with the fly fishing lifestyle from the inside out.
Tied by Hand, Driven by Purpose
Even the name Dry Fly—and the company’s now-iconic logo—was born on the water. Or close to it.
“The fly logo is the result of a tying vise, 24 Miller Lites, and a box of flies,” Don joked. The team projected fly silhouettes on the wall, eventually landing on a Parachute Adams. “Classic,”.
But Don’s approach wasn’t about clever branding. It was about values—ones he’d carried from the water into his company.
“Fly fishing teaches us to be humble, and to never give up... On slow days, we’re tested. On busy days, it’s a frenzy. Both apply to small business.”
He described his guiding philosophy as a mix of patience, persistence, and the pursuit of perfection. “It’s never achieved,” he said, “but chased regularly.”
A Community-Focused Distillery
From the beginning, Dry Fly has invested heavily in people and place. The company’s grains are sourced from family farms within a 30-mile radius, and their water comes from a pure underground aquifer. “We live farming,” Don mentioned.
The company also supports nonprofits like Casting 4 a Cure and partners with local tribes on habitat restoration and access efforts throughout Washington, Idaho, and Montana. But instead of chasing big sponsorship deals, they focus on what Don calls “sniper local projects”—small, strategic initiatives in the places they actually fish.
“Fish with someone new for a few days, and you have a friend for life,” he says. “That’s how we approach our community, too.”
Whiskey for the Drift Boat
Dry Fly’s most fishing-forward product might be their “On the Fly” canned cocktail line, which has become a major part of their business. Designed for anglers who want to pack light and drink well, the cans are 100% made in-house, with real ingredients—and each one even features GPS coordinates to actual fishing spots.
“It was expected that I’d carry a bottle of whiskey in the drift boat, but most folks don’t,” Don said. “The cans bridge that gap.”
It turns out the idea resonated: the RTD (ready-to-drink) line now accounts for half of Dry Fly’s wholesale sales, and they’re preparing to launch wine-based versions in partnership with the Caymus Wine Family.
A Legacy Passed Downstream
In August 2024, Don sold a majority stake in Dry Fly to Charlie Wagner and the Caymus Family—a trusted partnership he describes as “the most honorable and kind group I’ve ever worked with.” He still holds a small share, and plans to stay involved through 2025. After that, he says, “I’ll never really leave—I’ll just move the office to the water.”
Don now holds the title of “Chief Fishing Officer.” While the role may be tongue-in-cheek, the mission is real: more days on the river, more people introduced to the sport, and a stronger bridge between the fly fishing and craft spirits communities.
Where to Find Dry Fly
You can explore their full lineup—including spirits, merch, and canned cocktails—at Dry Fly Distilling
or email the team at info@dryflydistilling.com for local distributor info. They ship direct to most U.S. states, and their Spokane distillery is open to visitors, offering a full production facility, bottle shop, and pub, so swing by for a tour—or a pour.
More than just a distillery, Dry Fly is a love letter to fly fishing, small business, and doing things the right way—even when it’s the hard!
“Fly fishing teaches us to be humble—and to never give up. You never know which cast lands the fish. On slow days, we’re tested. On busy days, it’s a frenzy. Both apply to fly fishing, and running a business... show up with kindness, chase something just out of reach, and remember that the right cast can change everything!" - Don Poffenroth
This interview was conducted by The Fly Box and featured in Casts That Care, our charity-driven fly fishing newsletter.
Casts That Care brings you real stories, big ideas, and the heart of the fly fishing world—all while donating 50% of subscriber fees to a different fly fishing charity each month.
Subscribe today and use promo code: "DryFly15" at checkout for 15% off your first month, and we’ll donate 25% more to conservation efforts supported by Dry Fly Distilling.
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