The Distiller’s Journal

A Letter to our Friends

From Orlin Sorensen & Brett Carlile
Founders & Distillers, Woodinville Whiskey Company

On July 12th, 2017, it was announced that Woodinville Whiskey Company was acquired by Moët Hennessy USA. We’ve been blessed by all the support we have received. Understandably, many people have questions about why we chose to sell and what that means for the future. Brett and I want to fill you in.
First off, yes we’re staying here. And secondly— yes— the Applewood Finished Bourbon is coming soon.
Now about your questions. As you know, American whiskey and craft whiskey have been growing rapidly over the past decade. This has drawn significant interest in the category by national and global spirits companies. We have had discussions with many great companies over the years about potential investments, partnerships and acquisitions, but it never felt like the perfect fit until we met the group at Moët Hennessy.
Moët Hennessy is the wine and spirits division of LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy), the world’s leading luxury goods company. The brands housed by Moët Hennessy include Hennessy Cognac, Glenmorangie and Ardbeg Scotch, Belvedere Vodka, Dom Perignon and Moët and Chandon champagne, and many others.
These brands are hundreds of years old.
LVMH brands live forever— and Woodinville Whiskey is now part of that family. As we work to expand our distribution nationally and globally, you’ll someday walk into a restaurant or bar halfway around the world and see your local whiskey on the back bar. Whiskey-lovers will trek to Woodinville, Washington to see, smell and taste our Bourbon and Rye. And for you regulars, you’ll see the same faces here tending the mash and pouring for you in the Tasting Room.
We could not be more proud of our brand and our hometown.
Brett and I will continue to run the company just as we have over the past eight years with the same staff. The morning after the acquisition closed, Brett was on a forklift and I was in a shipping container unloading a load of bottles. Business as usual.
We’ll be working with the great minds at Glenmorangie on an efficient, careful plan for growing production which will remain here in Washington state. And we have some exciting new products that we have been working on over the past year that are soon to be released. Look for details on those coming over the next week.
We’ve said it a thousand times, and we’ll say it again— we wouldn’t be here without the incredible support you have shown us over the years.
We look forward to continuing this journey with you.
Sincerely,
Orlin & Brett

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