The story of Nevada H & C Distilling Co. begins in 2004 when the screenwriter Jonathan Hensleigh met co-founder Aaron Chepenik in a bar in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles. They quickly realized they had the same vision of opening a bar, opening The Griffin together. After a couple years of sampling their inventory, they began discussing what they liked and didn't like about the bourbons and vodkas they were selling.

One night, the idea of creating their own spirits popped up, which eventually led to them opening the first distillery in the city of Las Vegas. The City Council had to create a license especially for them since none existed beforehand. It took them 6 years of gathering equipment and setting it up, with several hurdles along the way. The bright side was that by the time they opened their doors they had several high-rye bourbons ready, which meant they could begin operating immediately.

They have two brands under their belt now, both with several medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Silver Dollar American Vodka and Smoke Wagon. The latter comprises several bourbons, including the Smoke Wagon Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey. It's a high-rye bourbon that was aged in hand-picked barrels at the heart of their old warehouse, ensuring the consistency of its flavor. It's a blend of their younger, rye-forward vintages with smoother, creamier, and sweeter older whiskey. Bold and intense, this expression is bottled at 100 proof and has received a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2016, 2017, and 2020.