Ferrell, a creative entrepreneur and the owner of Mile High Spirts, joins President Connie Ledoux Book on “Elon Beyond the Bricks” to share how bold risks, goal setting and a passion for craft led him from finance to founding an award-winning spirits brand.
In the latest episode of Elon Beyond the Bricks, entrepreneur and distillery owner Wyn Ferrell ’09 reflects on the winding journey that took him from a career in finance to launching a nationally acclaimed spirits brand rooted in craft, community and creativity.
Ferrell is the co-founder and owner of Mile High Spirits, a Denver-based distillery and tasting room known for its award-winning bourbon, unique cocktails and strong connections to the community. On the podcast, hosted by Elon University President Connie Ledoux Book, Ferrell talks about the entrepreneurial leaps and learning curves that led him to where he is today.
“I wasn’t really able to use any of my creative side in finance,” Ferrell said. “It’s very rigid and structured… So I started in sales for a distillery. I went in and asked for a job, and they were very frank and said, ‘We’re going out of business. We can’t pay you.’ And I said, ‘Well, then don’t pay me.’”
That leap of faith led the Elon alum to start his own company at just 23 years old, acquiring equipment as payment from the closing distillery and launching dozens of private-label spirits before opening Mile High in 2011. From the beginning, his goal was to build a brand that stood for more than just a product.
“When we enter a market, we want to go an inch wide and a mile deep,” Ferrell explained. “We want to hit the same neighborhoods every time. I want to be the owner that said, ‘I’ll be back in two months,’ to every account and came back in two months to every account.”
Mile High Spirits has continued to evolve alongside the city it calls home. In 2024, Ferrell led a full-scale reimagining of the space, pivoting from a nightclub-style venue to a refined tasting experience that showcases the distillery’s award-winning spirits, including bourbons that have earned Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
“Now we’re coming out with seven, eight, nine-year-old bourbons, and we’re winning double gold … and I just said, you know, there’s something not right here. We need to boil this down to a place now for people that are looking for more high-end spirits and more touch points on cocktails,” said Ferrell.
The team’s ambition doesn’t stop there. With accolades stacking up and a revamped cocktail program taking shape, Ferrell has his sights set on one of the industry’s highest honors: a James Beard Award. With cocktails now part of the prestigious foundation’s recognition, he sees it as a natural next step for the brand. “It’s always good to have lofty goals,” he said.
Reflecting on the path that brought him here, from finance in New York to crafting spirits in Colorado, Ferrell is quick to credit his alma mater for nurturing the curiosity and team mindset that continue to shape his approach as a business owner. As he puts it:
“Whenever I go back, I’m always honored to have been a graduate of Elon.”
Learn more about the podcast and listen to the episode here.