Step into Episode 185 of ‘On the Delo’ as David DeLorenzo welcomes Jason and Jon, the duo behind Arizona Distilling Company, for an unfiltered conversation about turning a wild idea into a thriving craft spirits empire. These high school friends reunited over a mutual friend's wedding in 2010, and what started as "the dumbest effing idea" became a 14-year journey through three facilities, countless challenges, and a mission to shine a light on Arizona's hidden agricultural gold.
From Jason's blackjack dealing days to Jon's banking career, discover how they walked away from steady paychecks to chase a passion for local grain-to-bottle spirits. They pull back the curtain on renovating a crumbling 1901 horse stable in Mesa (yes, the first Coors distributor outside Colorado), sourcing Durham wheat from Casa Grande that Italians use for world-class pasta, and creating a brand-new spirits category—American Single Malt Whiskey—for the first time since the 1960s. This is the untold story of Arizona agriculture, entrepreneurial grit, and why downtown Mesa is becoming the East Valley's hottest hospitality destination.
If you're a business owner, hospitality professional, or craft spirits enthusiast who values local production, authentic storytelling, and the hustle behind every bottle, this episode delivers real talk, wild distillery stories, and a deep dive into what it takes to build something meaningful from scratch.
Chapter Guide (Timestamps):
(0:00 - 1:30) Introduction: Episode 185 and Guests from Arizona Distilling
(1:31 - 4:10) High School Friends and Origin Story
(4:11 - 8:04) From Banking and Blackjack to Distilling
(8:05 - 12:15) Tempe vs. Mesa: The Evolution of East Valley Hospitality
(12:16 - 15:00) Building Renovation: From 1901 Horse Stable to Modern Distillery
(15:01 - 19:27) Arizona Agriculture and Durham Wheat Discovery
(19:28 - 23:38) The Process: From Grain to Bottle
(23:39 - 28:02) Tours, Storytelling, and Community Engagement
(28:03 - 30:49) New Malting Facility and American Single Malt Whiskey
(30:50 - 34:42) International Work and Global Whiskey Market
(34:43 - 38:40) Mesa Events, Wild Distillery Stories, and Life Balance
(38:41 - 42:25) Rapid Fire Questions and Van Halen Stories
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