MUSIC • BOURBON • FAMILY & BUILDING A LEGACY

INTERVIEW BY LINCOLN SALAZAR, CEO & PUBLISHER, ENTHUSIAST REPORT

From rodeo arenas and Texas honky-tonks to Grammy-winning stages, Hollywood sets, and now bourbon barrels, Ryan Bingham has built a career rooted in authenticity. The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, Yellowstone star, and founder of Bingham’s Bourbon has never chased trends or shortcuts. Whether writing music, portraying a cowboy on screen, or developing a whiskey brand of his own, Bingham approaches every endeavor with the same philosophy: stay true to the story.

Fresh off his Enthusiast Report cover shoot, Bingham sat down with Publisher Lincoln Salazar to discuss music, bourbon, family, and the experiences that continue to shape his journey.

Lincoln Salazar: Ryan, most people know you as a Grammy Award-winning musician and actor, but now you’ve entered the bourbon business. How did that journey begin?

Ryan Bingham: Honestly, it started long before music or acting. My family owned a little place called the Halfway Bar between Hobbs and Carlsbad, New Mexico. Even after we moved away, that place remained part of our family stories. My dad, my uncles, even my grandparents would tell stories about it for years.

Growing up around ranching communities in West Texas and New Mexico, I spent a lot of time in bars with my family. They’d hand me a stack of quarters, tell me to go play pool, and I’d spend the afternoon wandering around while they sat and visited.

Years later, when I started learning guitar, those same kinds of places became my first stages.

One of my earliest gigs was at a little nine-hole golf course in Stephenville, Texas called The Water Hole. I was rodeoing at the time and had only written a few songs. One night I played one for some buddies, and the owner overheard it.

He told me, “Come back Wednesday night. I’ll put a stool in the corner. I can’t pay you anything, but I’ll give you free drinks and you can keep the tips.”

That became one of my first real gigs.

I learned pretty quickly that if I was helping sell drinks, I was a bit of a booze salesman too.

As the music career grew, I spent years playing bars and honky-tonks all over the country. A lot of people didn’t necessarily come for the music. They came to have a drink, spend time with friends, and enjoy themselves. Music and whiskey naturally became part of that culture.

LS: Before music, there was rodeo. Tell me about those years.

RB: My family ranched in New Mexico and my uncle rode bulls, so I grew up around it.

For a lot of kids, weekends meant Little League baseball. For us, it meant junior rodeos.

I started riding calves, then steers, and eventually bulls. I stuck with it through college and rode professionally for a few years after getting my pro card.

What’s funny is that rodeo actually led me into music. I worked for stock contractors and on ranches, and after rodeos they’d ask me to play guitar for the cowboys and contestants. Those gatherings would eventually spill into bars or after-parties where somebody would say, “Grab your guitar.”

There was usually whiskey involved.

Looking back now, rodeo and music were always connected. One naturally led to the other.

LS: At what point did bourbon become more than something you simply enjoyed drinking?

RB: Through touring. In the early days we’d play a show, break down our equipment, and end up sitting around with bartenders and staff sharing a bottle of whiskey. Most of the time it was something simple, but as we started touring internationally, especially through Europe and Scotland, I was introduced to all kinds of incredible whiskeys and scotches.

Over the years, a lot of liquor brands approached us about endorsements. But if my name was going to be on something, I wanted ownership. I wanted to know exactly what was in the bottle. I wanted it to have integrity, and I wanted it to be something I’d actually drink myself.

It’s the same philosophy I’ve always had with music. If you’re going to put something out into the world, you should stand behind it.

RB: I spent a lot of time learning. I traveled around the country visiting distilleries and talking to people who had spent their lives in the business. One of the first people I called was Randy Gerber. I asked him if he thought this was something I should even pursue.

He told me, “If you like what’s in the bottle and you stand behind it, you’ll have a shot.”

That stuck with me.

Eventually I found Giant Distillery in Houston and met Master Distiller Julian Gerardo. We spent a lot of time discussing flavor profiles and the different qualities I appreciated in various bourbons and whiskeys. During one visit, Julian brought out a bourbon he had been working on.

I remember tasting it and immediately thinking, “That’s it.”

From there, he sent me home with samples and encouraged me to spend time with it. Drink it with friends. Gather feedback. Live with it. Later we’d sit together tasting barrels one at a time, refining the blend until we found exactly what we wanted. That became one of my favorite parts of the entire process.

LS: You were very intentional about keeping everything in Texas.

RB: Absolutely. Texas gave me my career. I don’t think I’d have a music career without the fans there. The support songwriters receive in Texas is unlike anywhere else. People invite you to play bars, open mics, back porches—whatever it takes to help you keep going. When it came time to build the bourbon, I felt like I needed to go home and pay homage to that. Everything about Bingham’s Bourbon happens in Texas. The distilling, the bottling, the production—everything. There’s also an incredible whiskey community there. It’s exciting to be part of something that’s continuing to grow.

LS: What makes Bingham’s Bourbon unique?

RB: For me, it comes down to balance and drinkability. I spent a lot of time experimenting with different proofs and finding the sweet spot. I wanted something bourbon drinkers would appreciate but that someone who doesn’t normally drink whiskey could still enjoy. It has character and complexity, but it’s approachable.

People who tell me they don’t usually drink bourbon will try it and say, “I actually like that.” That’s exactly what I was hoping for. And there really aren’t any rules. Drink it neat, on the rocks, around a campfire, or in a cocktail. Whatever works for you.

LS: You’ve become known as an actor through Yellowstone, but acting wasn’t originally part of the plan.

RB: Not at all. I’m probably one of the most reluctant actors out there. Most of those opportunities came through music. I met Taylor Sheridan after writing songs for Wind River. Later he reached out about Yellowstone. Then he learned I had a ranching background, rode bulls, could rope, ride horses, and do a lot of the things the character would need to do. He basically told me, “I’ll find a character for you. If you’re good, I’ll keep you around. If you suck, I’ll kill you off.”

Fortunately, I survived.

The role felt natural because I grew up around those people. The ranchers, cowboys, and characters you see in the show remind me of people I’ve known my whole life. A lot of those personalities found their way into the character.

LS: You have a new album coming out and you’re heading back out on tour. What does this chapter mean to you?

RB: It’s exciting. This will be the first record I’ve really put out in about seven years, so in a lot of ways it feels like I’m knocking the dust off and getting back out there. Music has always been home base for me. Acting has been an incredible experience and I’ve enjoyed all the opportunities that have come from it, but music is where everything started. It’s always been the thing that allows me to tell my own stories in my own way.

We’ve spent a lot of time working on this record, and now we’re getting ready to take it out into the world. We’ll start in Texas and work our way across the East Coast, through the Midwest, and eventually out to the West Coast and Pacific Northwest.

One of the things I love most about touring is reconnecting with people. Some of these songs have been with me for a long time, and it’s always interesting to see how listeners connect to them. Sometimes a song means something completely different to someone in the audience than it did to me when I wrote it. That’s one of the beautiful things about music. Once a song leaves you, it belongs to everyone.

Life has changed a lot over the last several years. Becoming a husband, a father, and experiencing new things naturally finds its way into the music. I think this record reflects where I am in life right now. It’s honest, it’s personal, and I’m excited for people to hear it.

LS: Your songwriting has always felt incredibly personal. What’s your creative process?

RB: Music always comes first. I’ve never been someone who sits down with a notebook and decides to write a song. Usually I’ll spend months playing guitar and collecting little pieces of music—a melody, a rhythm, a chord progression. The music creates a feeling, and once that feeling exists, the lyrics start to emerge naturally. A lot of songwriting has been therapeutic for me. Sometimes it’s easier to say something in a song than it is in a conversation. The funny thing is ideas often come so quickly that I can’t write them down fast enough. Now I just record everything into my phone and revisit it later. Some songs come together in a matter of minutes. Others take months before the story reveals itself.

LS: Do you see similarities between songwriting and building a bourbon brand?

RB: Definitely. One thing I’ve learned is not to force things. We’re living in a world where everybody wants everything immediately. Business, music, social media—everything moves fast. Sometimes the best thing you can do is slow down. Whether it’s a song, a business decision, or a bourbon blend, sometimes you need to walk away, let it breathe, and come back later. That’s usually when the answers show up. I think creativity works best when you give it room.

LS: You’re a musician, actor, entrepreneur, and father of three. How has fatherhood changed your perspective?

RB: More than anything else. People ask me what I identify with most, and honestly, being a dad resonates more than any title I’ve ever had. My kids are ten, eight, and five. Being on the road can be tough. There’s always some guilt that comes with being away. But kids are incredibly resilient. Every time I come home they’re happy, they’re growing, and they’re becoming their own little people. They keep me humble. At the end of the day, if somebody asked me what my most important role is, I’d say being a father.

LS: Looking ahead, what legacy do you hope to leave behind?

RB: My wife, Hassie, says something that I love: “Leave people better than you found them.” That’s really it. If I can help people, be kind, be generous, and pass those values on to my children, then I’ll feel like I’ve done my job. Success is great. But I’d rather be remembered for how I treated people.

Bingham’s Bourbon Black recently earned a Double Gold Medal at the Enthusiast Report International Spirits Competition, one of the highest honors awarded during blind judging.

Crafted in Texas and developed in partnership with Master Distiller Julian Gerardo, the bourbon reflects Bingham’s commitment to authenticity, quality, and craftsmanship.

Current Distribution:
Texas • California • Arizona • Florida • Colorado • Louisiana