History

First Bar in Oklahoma Territory.

Our story begins with an immigrant named Moses Weinberger. He came to Oklahoma Territory during the Land Rush of 1889 and settled in Guthrie, OK as a successful grocer. It was assumed that Oklahoma Territory shared the same laws as Indian Territory which included Prohibition. After hearing rumors of a being able to obtain a federal liquor license, and though having never run a saloon before, Moses quickly opened the first legal drinking establishment in Oklahoma Territory. He fixed it up like an ordinary saloon a began to sell liquor openly. He put his license up on the wall, covered by a piece of newspaper. When told that he couldn’t sell liquor, he removed the newspaper to show his license, saying, “Uncle Sam says I can!”

Word quickly spread that selling liquor was legal, and within two months, there were 44 licensed saloons in Guthrie. In time, Weinberger owned an interest in seven of them, the principal one known as “Same Old Moses”.

1891

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History

Carry (Carrie) A. Nation.

Unable to fully keep her promise, Nation did a “hatchetation” on Moses’ mahogany bar, removing a chunk of it. After removing Nation from the premises, Weinberger hung a sign over the saloon that read: “All nations welcomed except Carry”. The damaged spot reputedly became the place where patrons banged their empty mugs when wanting another round.

Showcasing his sense of humor, Weinberger invited the saloon-buster Carry (Carrie) A. Nation to the saloon to give a temperance speech, with one stipulation – no ax swinging. Nation was a hatchet-swinging, whiskey-hating matron, who settled in Guthrie after being run out of Kansas and was publishing her newsletter. Her likely motivation was to impact the state constitution to outlaw alcohol.

1891

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History

Statehood & Prohibition.

In 1907 when Oklahoma became the forty-sixth state, Guthrie was a gracious and elegant city worth of its Capital status. Its imposing buildings and active social and economic climate rivaled larger cities. Unfortunately, Carry Nation had the last laugh as nothing could stem the “dry” tide, and Prohibition forces focused their efforts in Oklahoma. The State’s Constitution upon adoption in 1907 banned all sales of alcohol, and with it, Weinberger and his fellow publicans were forced out of business.

Almost three-quarters of the 1907 Prohibition amendment was dedicated to setting up “dispensaries” – medicinal alcohol stores in cities with at least 2,000 people. Want a drink? Get your doctor to write a prescription. If that sounds familiar to anyone following the current debate on medicinal marijuana, it should. National prohibition eventually joined in 1920.

1907

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History

Stolen Seal & Bootleggers.

Very quickly after statehood, bootlegging became common and almost respectable. Men in the whiskey trade handed out business cards. They offered home delivery. If you were from out of town, every boot black and taxi driver knew a guy. Six times between 1908 and 1959, voters considered efforts to repeal some or all of the Prohibition amendment, and all six times it failed. Oklahomans would have voted against repealing Prohibition because they already had their booze.

“Oklahomans will vote dry as long as they can stagger to the polls.” -Will Rogers

In 1910, the state government moved to Oklahoma City and Guthrie’s economic base disappeared. With the state government gone, there was no business or industrial development to take its place. Sadly, the city slipped into a deep sleep that would last seventy years.

1910

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History

Repeal of Prohibition.

For 25 years, Oklahomans maintained the “liquor-by-the-wink” system of open bars masquerading as private clubs. You were supposed to bring in your own bottle and the club only sold the set-up. Repeated efforts to legalize liquor-by-the-drink failed, and Oklahoma held on to the plan’s provisions written by Governor Edmondson, to appease his dry proponents.

National prohibition ended in 1933, but Oklahoma held on until 1959, when Prohibition was finally repealed. However, it didn’t die without a fight. Alcohol could only be sold at liquor stores, could not be refrigerated and stores had to be closed on Sundays.

1959

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History

Liquor-by-the-Drink.

On Tuesday, September 18, 1984, Oklahoma became the 49th state to allow liquor by the drink with the passage of State Question 563 with 51% of the vote.

For the first time in 77 years, Oklahomans could legally pony up to the bar and purchase a single drink from a barman.

1984

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History

Legalization of Distilleries

In the 2016 elections, Oklahoma overwhelmingly passed State Question 792, a complete reform of Oklahoma's alcoholic beverage laws. It allows grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies and other establishments to sell strong beer and wine, allows liquor stores to sell cold beverages as well as non-alcoholic items, and implemented a territorial franchise wholesale system which encouraged major domestic brewers and craft brewers to begin selling in Oklahoma for the first time in 110 years.

In 2013, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau issued the first legal Distilled Spirits Permit, to the Merritt family for Prairie Wolf Spirits in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Prairie Wolf was founded in 2013 as a way to fill the gap in distilleries in the Midwest. The distillery was named for a lithograph, hung in Merritt’s home, of a painting by John James Audubon, where a Coyote is described as a “Prairie Wolf”. The distillery began rectifying vodka, distilling gin called “Loyal,” and processing a coffee liqueur known as “Dark.”

2013

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History

PW Spirits New Ownership

Prairie Wolf Craft Spirits has always been proudly Oklahoman. Making a home in historic Guthrie, our pack is passionate about having the opportunity to bring great people together to create and share exceptional products, building a culture that values Oklahoma pride, craft spirits, and one another.

This pack of friends had the opportunity to propel Prairie Wolf forward, with dreams of growing and expanding the distillery's offerings into a new era. Just as planned, the portfolio swelled with new styles including the addition of Obahoshe Inland-Style Rum, a distinctly Oklahoman product utilizing native sorghum in the spirit’s recipe.

In 2018, Prairie Wolf Spirits takes new ownership and direction to re-invent the brand & products.

2018

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History

A Global Pandemic.

COVID-19 depletes sanitizer nationwide, PW Spirits shifts all operations to producing Sanitizer to help through the pandemic. Over the course of the year, Prairie Wolf produced over 10 million units of sanitizer to help protect Oklahomans statewide and a large portion of America through the unprecedented events of 2020. For the first time since World War II, The US Federal Government allowed every distillery in the US to temporarily switch their production to hand sanitizer with a strict recipe provided by the FDA and WHO. Our team jumped at the opportunity to aid our community, as there are so few distilleries in Oklahoma. With the help some 40 volunteers, and a local bottling company, we partnered with the Federal Census Bureau, FEMA, local grocers, pharmacies, and had a line wrapped around the block to purchase the stuff by the half gallon.

In the end, our team was able to make over 10 million bottles for all 50 states, and donated over 14,000 gallons to every state agency, police department, fire and rescue, and tribe that was in need.

2020

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History

WanderFolk

Throughout the process of transforming the distillery, the team took a deeper look into what they were bringing into being, and realized they were truly focused on doing much more than just creating handcrafted spirits. Not only were they reinventing Oklahoma’s original distillery but were striving to push the boundaries of what they wanted to represent of themselves & the state they love through the craft spirits industry. WanderFolk are hoping to use the brands to invite others to “wander with us” to discover new wonders ahead in their uniquely & distinctly Oklahoman products.

In shifting the focus fully back to handmade craft spirits, the team decide to re-invent itself in both mission & product portfolio. WanderFolk is born to build a new legacy with the distillery itself & with driving the craft spirits industry’s role in Oklahoma’s future.

2021

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