Old Elk Distillery Acquired By Middle West Spirits

The rumors are true. Middle West Spirits did indeed acquire Old Elk Distillery.

Old Elk Distillery, an award-winning whiskey brand, joins the portfolio of Middle West Spirits, one of North America’s largest independently-owned distilleries

The Reserve by Old Elk Closes, Rumors Abound

Upon the abrupt closure of The Reserve by Old Elk in Fort Collins, CO late last week, the internet has been abuzz with rumors about the future of Old Elk Distillery. This past weekend, my friend, Mickey, of The Bourbon and Rye Club, did quite a bit of investigative reporting, and deduced that the distillery had been acquired by Middle West Spirits. You can read his excellent article here. As it turns, out, I received the official word today, and Middle West Spirits has indeed acquired Old Elk. Not many specifics are given, but at least this puts all rumors to rest.

Press Release

Middle West Spirits Announces The Acquisition of Old Elk Distillery

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Middle West Spirits, one of North America’s largest independently-owned distilleries, today announced the acquisition of Old Elk Distillery and its related assets. Known for its award-winning whiskeys, deep customer loyalty and distinctive Slow Cut® proofing process, Old Elk brings nationally recognized craftsmanship to Middle West’s expanding branded portfolio.

Complementary Strengths for Long-Term Growth

“This is a meaningful moment for both our teams,” said Ryan Lang, Founding Lead Distiller and CEO of Middle West Spirits. “Old Elk has built a respected and beloved brand with staying power, thanks to a distinct blending and innovation philosophy that complements our grain-to-glass production model. Their agility in developing award-winning blends pairs naturally with our technical approach and scale. Together, we’re not just expanding—we’re joining forces to preserve what makes each brand special while unlocking new potential. We’re laying the foundation for long-term growth with a shared focus on quality, transparency and customer relationships.”

By combining Old Elk’s brand momentum with Middle West’s robust infrastructure, this acquisition empowers both companies to reach more consumers, drive innovation and raise the bar for craft spirits at scale.

Old Elk Distillery Is A Brand Built on Relationships – Luis Gonzalez, CEO of Old Elk.

“Since the day we launched over 8 years ago, we’ve been laser focused on one thing: listening —truly listening—to our team, customers and partners. That focus has brought us to this incredible moment,” said Luis Gonzalez, CEO of Old Elk. “Our relationships have always been at the heart of what we do and have been pivotal in shaping our journey. We’re wholeheartedly grateful to our extraordinary team, loyal customers and to our national distributor partner, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, for their trust and belief in our vision. I’m extremely appreciative to Greg Metze for his mentorship, craftmanship and dedication to the team and his lasting impact and influence on the spirits industry. We are thankful for our founders Curt and Nancy Richardson for their vision in creating a world-class whiskey. Their legacy has inspired us for many years.”

About Middle West Spirits

Founded in 2008, Middle West Spirits is deeply rooted in Ohio’s grain belt and manages every step of its production—from seed selection through distilling, aging, blending and bottling. The company produces a portfolio of award-winning brands including Middle West Bourbon, Rye, Wheat Whiskey, Bourbon Cream, OYO Vodka, Vim & Petal Gin, and Lux & Umbra. Having recently increased its distillation capacity, Middle West Spirits is the largest distillery in Ohio and one of the top 10 grain-to-glass whiskey and spirits producers in the U.S., producing spirits not only for its own brands but also numerous partners in the craft and global spirits industries.

Building a Home for the Old Elk Legacy

“This acquisition isn’t just a milestone, it’s a launchpad. We’re securing the future of the Old Elk legacy with dedicated production and a true home for our brand, one that fans and partners alike can rally around for years to come,” adds Gonzalez. “As we grow, Middle West Spirits is doubling down on what matters most: delivering on demand, pushing innovation and building a best-in-class infrastructure that sets a new standard in the spirits industry. Joining the Middle West family is a powerful step forward—and together, we’re ready to shake things up and make bold moves. Together, I see an exciting future filled with opportunity and shared success for our customers, consumers and distributor partners.”

The Future of Old Elk Distillery

At this point, we are unclear if all of Old Elk’s operations are moving to Ohio, or if some component will remain in Colorado. It sounds like future distillate may be coming from Middle West Spirits, rather than MGP. If that is the case, one would expect some effect on Old Elk’s whiskey’s flavor profiles. We are also uncertain about the future of The Reserve by Old Elk in Fort Collins. Their last Instagram post says only that “We are excited to share that more news will be coming soon.” As we learn more, we’ll keep you posted! Cheers!🥃

If you would like to learn more about some of Old Elk’s whiskeys, check out our Old Elk Slow Cut Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review and our Old Elk Straight Rye Whiskey Review.

Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!