Ever wondered where whisky dreams are born? Here at The Whisky Vault, those dreams take liquid form. This isn’t just any collection. It’s a testament to community, collaboration, and a shared love for the water of life.
The Whisky Vault’s story begins with Rex Williams and Daniel Whittington. In 2016, they launched a YouTube channel called Whiskey Vault. In just over a year, it became the biggest whisky channel on YouTube. Their viewers became known as the Whiskey Tribe, a community bonded by a love for whisky.
Rex and Daniel’s journey took an exciting turn. They decided to create whisky with their community. In 2018, the Crowded Barrel Whiskey Co distillery officially opened. The goal was simple: to craft whiskey for and by the Whiskey Tribe.
The Whiskey Vault’s founders engaged their community every step of the way. Through email lists, a private Facebook group, and a Patreon page, tribe members had a voice. They influenced everything from grain selection to the final glass. This crowdsourced approach led to the creation of two brands under V Weiss Whiskey.
Crowded Barrel Whiskey Co became the Tribe’s signature whiskey. Together, they embarked on whiskey quests. They aimed to create the most interesting bottles possible, using all available resources. The Crowded Barrel Alliance Series emerged as one of America’s first Independent Bottling Companies. It focused on special releases from existing distilleries and highlighted craft whiskey.
But The Whisky Vault is more than just a distillery. It’s a place where whisky novices and connoisseurs unite. Williams and Whittington wanted to create a space where everyone felt comfortable. They wanted to eliminate the intimidation often associated with whisky tastings.
The co-founders wanted to make whisky fun. “We helped create this meeting place for people who were neither,” says Whittington. “They knew a lot, but they also weren’t jerks. They also wanted a place to talk about whisky where they didn’t feel ashamed to ask questions.”
The success of The Whisky Vault and Whiskey Tribe channels led to the Whiskey Tribe Patreon. This provided subscriptions to finance the distillery. Williams says, “The whisky is the vehicle to bring humans together, facilitate good experiences, make fond memories, and reinforce those connections.”
Wizard Academy plays a part in this story. Williams’ father founded the academy. Whittington’s hosting skills caught Williams’ attention at a party. Whittington was then invited to work at the academy. Eventually, this led to their whisky-focused collaboration.
Later, the duo launched the Whiskey Vault YouTube channel. The channel drew attention to the school’s whisky sommelier course. It became the largest whisky review channel on YouTube in a year and a half.
Their success led to the creation of a second channel, Whiskey Tribe. The pair filled The Whisky Vault with bottles for reviews. The Whiskey Vault “took on a life of its own”.
Williams and Whittington then posed a question to their community. Would they financially back a crowdsourced whisky distillery? The response was an overwhelming yes. Funding was integral, but so was involving their members in the decision-making process.
The first barrel filled was a single malt named Single Malt of Magnificence, or Single MOM. It won Best Grain to Glass Malt Whiskey at the Texas Whiskey Festival. The distilling team continues to develop expressions for Crowded Barrel’s core collection. They strive to empower their community through crowdsourcing.
So, as you stand before The Whisky Vault, remember it’s more than just a place to store spirits. It’s a testament to the power of community. It is proof that passion, collaboration, and a little bit of whisky can create something truly special. Cheers to The Whisky Vault, where every bottle has a story and every member has a voice.