Want exclusive resort insights? Want to know where to find epic après parties? Get the latest updates from your favorite resorts and brands! During our Q&A series you will hear from resort experts, brand leaders, and après aficionados! This week we spoke with David DeFazio, co-founder of Wyoming Whiskey.
With its world-class skiing, authentic western culture, and vibrant culinary scene, Jackson Hole is a bucket list destination for anyone who loves the outdoors. It’s one of our personal favorite places to ski and after a day on the slopes nothing beats heading into town for après. Right in the heart of downtown Jackson you can find the Barrel House, home of Wyoming Whiskey, and one of the best places to après in Jackson Hole.
The store front and tasting room offer an intimate local après experience. We caught up with Wyoming Whiskey co-founder David DeFazio to learn more about their Jackson Hole tasting room and got his recipe for the ultimate après cocktail for the whiskey lovers out there.
How long have you been skiing?
I’ve skied since I was 15 years old. I moved to Albany, NY halfway through my sophomore year in high school and was immediately drawn to the hills.
Favorite place you’ve ever skied?
It’s tough to say anything other than Alaska. Nothing beats being dropped atop a mountain with nothing but untouched lines below you. After crawling out of the helicopter and watching it fall away, everything goes silent. You’re in the middle of nowhere with some of the greatest terrain in the world below your feet. As I drop in it’s both silent and deafening, peaceful and intense, all at once. And when you get picked up you get to see the signature you left on the hill. Nothing quite like it.
Any bucket list destinations you want to ski?
There’s a line in the Tetons that has eluded me in the past. I got shut down due to conditions on one occasion and bonked on a second attempt. I’d like to make the third time a charm.
What’s your go to order at après?
A margarita with a touch of orange juice, muddled fruit, Grand Marnier floater, and no salt. Make it a double, served by JR at the Up Bar at the Mangy Moose. Alternatively, a white russian with Wyoming Whiskey instead of vodka. Tastes like Christmas. We call it an Avalanche…because it’ll bury you.
What inspired you to launch Wyoming Whiskey?
My partners, Brad and Kate Mead, were looking to branch out from cattle ranching and insurance defense work and they decided to start a bourbon distillery. Brad and I had become moderate bourbon consumers and dug into what it would take to start our own distillery. With all the raw ingredients readily available in central Wyoming, and limestone water flowing from a mile-deep aquifer, it made a bunch of sense. So we set out to make America’s next great bourbon in 2006.
Why was Jackson Hole the right place for Wyoming Whiskey to open a tasting room?
Tourism! We have millions of people from around the world visiting Jackson and venturing into Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. These visitors thirst for local, authentic, quality products and we check all the boxes.
What can guests expect during a visit to The Barrel House?
Located in the heart of downtown Jackson, just steps from the iconic Town Square, the Barrel House offers an intimate tasting experience that brings “Wyoming in a bottle” to life. Guests can explore our full portfolio of award-winning bourbons, from Small Batch to the limited-edition National Parks Series and Wyoming state exclusives, while learning how our locally grown grains, pure limestone water, and the Bighorn Basin climate shape the character of our whiskey. This winter, the Barrel House remains a welcoming après destination. Whether warming up after a day on the slopes, breaking up an afternoon of exploring Jackson’s galleries and boutiques or starting an evening out, visitors can enjoy a hyper-local experience with a true taste of the West. Tastings are $10 per person for up to four pours, with the fee credited toward any bottle purchase.
What’s your favorite après-ski cocktail using Wyoming Whiskey?
The Avalanche:
2 oz Wyoming Whiskey
1 oz coffee liqueur
1 oz heavy cream
Ice
Anything new and exciting planned for this ski season in Jackson Hole?
This season, visitors can taste our newest release, National Parks No. 5: A Tribute to the Tetons, at the Barrel House. The bottle features Thomas Moran’s historic The Three Tetons painting, and with this release, we’ve donated $50,000 to the Grand Teton National Park Foundation to support conservation and visitor experience efforts. Then Wyoming Whiskey will host the third Bartender Showdown on February 11th, 2026, bringing local talent head-to-head in a cocktail competition. Keep an eye out all season for specialty cocktails and designated Wyoming Whiskey days at local restaurants and bars. Guests can also follow us on social at @wyomingwhiskey for updates on local events and special whiskey activations throughout the ski season.
Are you making a difference in the ski industry? Do you host fun and exciting events for skiers and snowboarders? Want to share what makes your resort special? If you are ready to tell your story, email us at editor@apreschronicles.com to be featured in our Q&A series!
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity. All photos courtesy of Wyoming Whiskey.
