With its wide skies, mountain backdrops, and slower pace, Sheridan might seem an unlikely home for a tasting room like this. But, The Tasting Library isn’t your typical bar or wine lounge; it’s a curated space for locals and those passing through to gather.
From the moment I stepped inside, I felt a sense of community – a place where people come to connect and converse just as much as to sip. One room buzzed with creativity as guests crafted whimsical flower crowns. In the larger space, a Meet and Greet with local authors – organized by Sheridan Stationery Books & Gifts – was underway.
Empty wine and liquor bottles lined the shelves like works of art. The hum of conversation and the design of the space felt more like something I would find in Denver or Los Angeles – rather than in a small town in Northern Wyoming.
I stopped by a table pouring a selection of wines from Jackson Hole Winery, speaking with locals and enjoying settling into the vibe of the community.
When Gene arrived we greeted each other with a warm hug before settling at a table to converse about his experience as a first-generation Korean American and how – with his family’s legacy behind him – he turned The Tasting Library into a cultural anchor for Sheridan.
First-Generation Ambitions
The story of The Tasting Library is inseparable from Gene’s family history. His parents, Kon and Son, immigrated from South Korea with two suitcases and $3,000. In Sheridan, they built businesses quietly but steadily, including a liquor store and a video rental shop. Kon’s efforts earned him Wyoming’s Small Businessman of the Year, which took him to the White House to meet President George W. Bush.
“He never bragged,” Gene said. “He just worked. That was his way.”
The Tasting Library grew from that resilience. When streaming killed the family’s video rental business, they pivoted. “The liquor store (Star Liquor Store) actually used to be over here,” Gene said, gesturing around us. “We had a video and electronics store on that side. Eventually, we purchased the whole building, moved the liquor store, and in the face of Netflix, we liquidated everything in the video store and worked with the idea of opening a tasting room.”
“When we first opened, Sheridan was a Bud Light kind of town,” Gene said. But ten years ago, he felt a slow but steady shift happening in the energy of the tradition-focused town.
“Sheridan was really growing in terms of craft beer – specifically,” he explained. “That’s mainly because of Black Tooth Brewery opening up. We saw that growth and thought – why not extend that to wine?”
With that, The Tasting Library was born.
They began with just ten self-serve Wine Station® pour machines – an unfamiliar concept for the town.
“At first it was really hard because it was a totally new concept, explaining it to everyone,” Gene reflected. “Not everyone understood. It was rough.”
Slowly, he educated locals through tasting flights, and careful listening. “In the beginning, we didn’t even have any sweet wines,” he said. “But I realized quickly that people wanted them. Not everyone likes dry reds or whites.”
He dedicated one machine to sweet wines, and the response was immediate.
“We tested, we listened, we adjusted,” he said. That philosophy expanded to beer and whiskey as well. “People asked for whiskey, so we added it.”
Over time, curiosity turned into loyalty. The Tasting Library expanded – from wines to whiskey, craft beer, and food. “We wanted something for everyone,” Gene explained. That simple principle transformed a niche idea into a community fixture.
Gene’s mother was also diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer during the Library’s early days. “It was a lot,” he admitted. “Keeping the business alive, helping my mom, making sure my dad was okay. It forced me to grow.”
“That’s why this business means a lot to me personally, because I had to persevere – through my mom – through this place.”
When I asked what his mother means to him, Gene grew reflective. “Everything,” he answered. “She’s the reason I work as hard as I do.”
“When she became sick,” he continued “I realized just how much she had cared for all of us, day after day.” Gene paused for a few moments. “I’d do anything for her. This place is as much hers as it is mine.”
Bottles from breast cancer fundraisers still line tops of the shelves. “Every time I look at them” he continued, “I think to myself – we made it through.”
His mother’s strength continues to leave a deep impression. “She’s tougher than anyone I know,” Gene proudly told me. “If she can endure everything she has – then I can endure anything.”
Sip, Savor, Repeat: Gene’s Recommendations
I asked Gene about his favorite beers. For him, Smith Alley’s West Coast IPA stands out. “It’s citrus forward, really clean, really easy to drink,” Gene said, smiling. “It’s one of my favorites. Not Pliny-level, but close.”
Another favorite? Juicy Bits from WeldWerks Brewing Co. “I like Juicy Bits from WeldWerks Brewing Co. and I usually don’t like hazy’s at all. But, that beer changed my mind.”
Odell Brewing Company’s Friek was also high on his list. But, the highest? Pliny the Elder by Russian River Brewing Company. I asked if he’d tried Pliny the Younger, as I had earlier in the year at Russian River Brewing Company’s Windsor, California Pliny the Younger tour and tasting event.
Nope. Not yet, he answered.
I know it’s on his beer bucket list, for sure. But, it felt nice to know that I’d been there, done that – had recommendations on how to do it best – and was looking forward to what was next to explore.
As for the wines, Gene highlighted the bottle of Quilceda Creek Winery that he had on the shelf. “That one was delicious,” he reminisced. “That’s like a $300 bottle of wine. I also gotten to try multiple vintages of Opus One.”
“Multiple?” I inquired. I’d tasted two vintages during my tour and tasting at Opus One Winery, earlier in the year.
“Yeah. We used to have it on tap on one of these machines because it’s good for about 90 days,” he explained. “I had a customer who saw we stocked it and he wanted to open a bottle in here. So, I waived our usual corking fee because he’s bought such a high end bottle – and let him.”
The customer then told Gene to pour himself a glass. “Are you sure?” Gene asked him repeatedly to make sure “Yes, he said – pour it. So I did.” I asked him if he remembered the years of all the vintages he’s savored. He thought for a moment before answering: the 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Of the bottles placed high on the shelves as archives, what is the one bottle he’s most proud of savoring? “It’s got to be that single Highland malt scotch whisky up there,” he answered. “The yellow box, third from the left, up on top above the bar.” He pointed. It looked like he was talking about a bottle of Macallan.
“Really?” I asked. As I’d tasted a few scotch whiskies in Scotland, I was curious.
“It’s like a $600 bottle of scotch. We cracked it open for our soft opening. Same with that bottle of Cristal and the Ace of Spades up there.”
In this, I saw how the bottle archives truly served as a time capsule of memories, signifying distinct chapters within the story of the business.
I asked more about the soft opening. Some locals came out of curiosity. Fellow Sheridan business owners came to celebrate with the In’s to toast to their new venture. Gene’s dad’s insurance agent gave the family a plant – which they still have to this day. It’s something that Gene is very proud of still keeping alive and flourishing – 10 years later.
These tokens – the plant, the bottles, and various photographs – are more than decor along the walls. They are symbols of endurance, celebration and memory.
The recommendations kept following as fast as I could ask. I asked Gene for his five favorite high end liquors. His answers included
- W.L. Weller 12 Year by Buffalo Trace Distillery
- Adictivo Extra Anejo Tequila by Adictivo Tequila
- William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey by Buffalo Trace Distillery
- Eagle Rare Bourbon Series by Buffalo Trace Distillery
- Don Julio 1942 Tequila by Don Julio
Lessons From Behind the Bar
Asked for advice on building something meaningful, Gene was steady: “Don’t go for immediate satisfaction. Most good things take time. Persevere – especially when it’s hard. That’s what makes it worth it.”
For Gene, the Library is an homage to his mother: “She’s the reason I am who I am. Every time someone walks through that door, every time someone feels welcome here, it’s because of her. This place carries her spirit.”
Gene is quick to credit others for the Library’s success. His employees, like Sarah, the longtime floor manager, are central. “She started part-time and now she runs the place with me,” Gene said. “I trust her completely. She takes pride in it.”
His sister, though not directly involved, represents another thread of the family story. She pursued a career in tech, working for giants like Snap, Facebook, and Spotify. “She’s done incredible things,” Gene said proudly. “We’ve gone different directions, but we both carry our parents’ sacrifices with us.”
Looking Ahead
Ten years in, the Tasting Library is both family legacy and community institution. Tourists often arrive drawn by the town’s summer rodeo or adventures in Bighorn National Forest. Often, they are charmed by the self-pour concept and the vibe of the space.
“I wish we had this in our town,” they wistfully tell Gene – more times than he could count. Expansion ideas occasionally cross his mind, but Sheridan remains the heart of the story.
When I asked what he wants his legacy to be, he smiled, “I want to be more successful than my dad.” And on happiness? “Just to hear my parents say that they’re proud of me and my sister. They sacrificed so much, and that means the world to me. They wanted us to have a better opportunity in America than we would have in South Korea. And, they were right.”
As we finished up before heading to La Herradura for dinner, I was incredibly appreciative of my conversation with Gene.
The Tasting Library is not just a place to enjoy fine spirits. It is a testament to resilience, ambition, making the right pivots based on customer feedback and gratitude for those that pave our paths. It embodies a family’s sacrifices, the courage to pursue a better life, and the joy of seeing those efforts honored.
Beyond the bottles and the bar, The Tasting Library stands as a reminder that success is measured not only in financial achievements, but in the love, pride, and legacy we leave behind.
The Tasting Library
700 N Main StreetSheridan, Wyoming 82801