Heritage & Distillery
Dry Fly Distilling has been a standard-bearer for the Pacific Northwest craft spirits movement since its founding in 2007, when it became Washington State's first grain distillery since Prohibition. Located in Spokane, the distillery takes its name from the fly-fishing technique beloved of the region's anglers — a detail that speaks to the outdoors-oriented, terroir-conscious philosophy that informs its approach to spirit production. The distillery's commitment to using locally sourced grain, grown within a 400-mile radius, represents a genuine farm-to-glass ethos rather than the hollow provenance claims that litter the craft spirits category.
Production
The vodka is produced from soft winter wheat sourced from Washington State farms, milled and fermented on-site before undergoing four distillations in the distillery's copper pot still. The wheat variety contributes the buttery, creamy character that defines the finished spirit — a quality that distinguishes Pacific Northwest wheat vodkas from their leaner European counterparts. Filtration through activated charcoal smooths any residual harshness without stripping the grain character that gives the vodka its identity.
Tasting Notes
On the nose, Dry Fly presents a buttery, almost pastry-like quality — freshly baked bread, gentle vanilla, and a subtle grassy note that hints at the agricultural origins of the spirit. The palate confirms the creamy promise, with smooth, rounded texture, soft butter, sweet cereal grains, and a delicate peppery warmth that builds gently in the mid-palate. The finish is medium in length, clean and buttery with wheat sweetness lingering pleasantly at the close.
The Serve
The pronounced creaminess makes Dry Fly a natural choice for an Espresso Martini, where the buttery texture harmonises with coffee's bitterness. It also performs well in a White Russian, its dairy-adjacent character complementing the cream and coffee liqueur to pleasing effect.
Verdict
Dry Fly is a competent and characterful craft vodka that wears its Pacific Northwest provenance with quiet pride. It lacks the refinement of the very best wheat vodkas — a certain roughness in the mid-palate prevents it from reaching the upper echelons — but it delivers honest, grain-forward flavour with commendable transparency.
