It all started with a single small barrel. Not a marketing gimmick or a masterplan—but a Christmas gift. When Floyd Wheeler’s father gave him a one-gallon barrel, he knew his son had a passion for culinary experimentation and whiskey. What he didn’t know was that it would become the first spark behind Arthur Wheeler Spirits Company—a brand that today produces award-winning bourbon, rye, rum, and tequila.

“There was no blueprint,” says Wheeler. “It just became a journey. I kept chasing what I loved.”

From that single barrel, Floyd began blending and aging his favourite whiskeys, playing with flavours, timing and technique. Around 2016, a Whiskey Advocate article on barrel-blending opened his eyes to the fact that you didn’t need to be a master distiller to create great spirits—you needed vision, patience and the right partners.

That insight became the foundation of Arthur Wheeler Spirits Company, launched with co-founder Floyd Wheeler at the helm. The mission? To make premium, expressive spirits across categories that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of bourbon, tequila, rum and rye—and to do it all with heart, intention, and a bit of Maryland grit.

Filling the Gap: One Name, Many Spirits

Most spirits brands stick to a lane. But Wheeler saw a missed opportunity—what if one brand could deliver excellence across multiple categories? “My family and friends don’t drink just one thing. They want bourbon, they want rum, they want tequila—and they want each bottle to be special,” he explains.

That inspired the Arthur Wheeler philosophy: create best-in-class expressions across spirit categories that bring people together. “I wanted to make it easier for someone planning a party or curating their home bar. You should be able to walk into a store, see an Arthur Wheeler display, and know you’re walking out with quality—no matter the spirit.”

Floyd Wheeler- Co-founder of Arthur Wheeler Spirits Company

Crafted for the Spirited People

At the core of AWSCo is a specific kind of drinker—what Wheeler calls the “spirited people.” These are the friends who show up with the best bottle, who want everyone to feel seen, and who take pride in curating shared experiences.

“They’re not doing it for the clout—they’re doing it because they care,” Wheeler says. “That’s who we craft for. Someone who wants to bring people together around a bottle, around a story, and around something truly well made.”

Inside the Portfolio

Today, the Arthur Wheeler portfolio is a diverse but deliberate lineup: a Caribbean rum, multiple bourbons, a Maryland rye whiskey, vodka, and an exclusive line of agave spirits finished in Maryland rye barrels.

The signature bourbon, a 92-proof expression finished with a toasted oak stave, is the brand’s flagship. A cask strength bourbon delivers intensity for the purists, while the 1932 Bourbon—a tribute to the Washington Commanders—adds a bit of hometown pride. The rye whiskey honors Maryland’s historic place in rye production.

Most recently, the company has ventured into tequila—sourcing additive-free agave spirits from Jalisco and finishing them in rye barrels to produce unique small-batch expressions available only at the distillery.

The Art & Science of Flavour

While Wheeler doesn't distill in-house, he sees blending and finishing as an equally sophisticated craft. “I’m constantly experimenting—different toasts, different woods, adjusting the proofs. It’s a mix of science, instinct and community feedback,” he says.

Each expression is tested in rounds, sometimes dozens of iterations. “Our signature bourbon was version 37,” he laughs. “I tasted my way through each one. And the thing is, a lot of those earlier versions were great too—they’re just waiting in the wings for their moment.”

What’s Next for AWSCo?

While demand is rising, the company is still primarily distributed in Maryland and parts of D.C. Expansion is on the horizon, but Wheeler is taking a measured approach. “I don’t want to grow at the cost of quality. I want us to stay true to what we do well—crafted, creative spirits that people connect with.”

In the next five to ten years, the vision is to grow regionally, then nationally. But at every step, the goal remains the same: to create great spirits that bring people together.

“I like to think we’re creating the kind of bottles that become a memory. The kind that sit in the center of the table—between friends, between moments, between stories. That’s what Arthur Wheeler Spirits is about.”

Header image sourced from Floyd Wheeler.