Three Chord Bourbon

What Three Chord Bourbon does

Three Chord Bourbon is a craft bourbon and rye whiskey producer founded in 2015 and headquartered in Clarence, New York. The company curates, blends, and brands a portfolio of five core whiskeys (Strange Collab Pinot Noir Finished, RIOT Double Bonded Rye, Flipside Triple Wood, Hard Pressed Bottled-in-Bond, and Un-Edited Cask Strength) plus a Backstage Series of limited-edition collaborations with musicians including the Allman Brothers Band, Underoath, Jack's Mannequin, and Dayseeker. Production is asset-light: the brand co-packs at Ugly Dog Distillery in Chelsea, Michigan, sourcing distillate from producers such as MGP, Bardstown Bourbon Co., Tennessee Distilling Group, and Mount Vernon. The company's founder and creative director is Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Neil Giraldo, whose music-industry access underpins the artist collaboration pipeline.

The go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce through the Mash Networks storefront with wholesale distribution via regional distributors across 31 U.S. states, retail placement at Total Wine and More and independent liquor stores, and event-driven sales at bourbon festivals and retail tastings. Pricing spans $34.99 for entry-level core SKUs to $199.99 for collectible bundles, with limited Backstage Series editions priced $44.99-$149.99. Revenue derives primarily from one-time bourbon and spirit sales supplemented by branded merchandise. Distribution excludes Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Oregon, South Dakota, and Utah.

The company has accumulated notable third-party validation: the 2023 Whiskey Maker of the Year title from Whiskey Network, multiple 90+ point scores from Whisky Advocate across the core lineup, a 92-point Wine Enthusiast rating, two perfect 100 Century Awards at Proof Awards, gold and double gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and inclusions in Fred Minnick's Top 100 and Forbes' top bourbons under $60. The company has raised approximately $16.4M across four disclosed funding rounds between 2018 and 2023, operates with 11-50 employees, and is led professionally by CEO Michael Nanula alongside founder/chairman Neil Giraldo.

Name

Three Chord Bourbon

Legal name

Three Chord Bourbon, Inc.

Website

https://threechordbourbon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Three Chord Bourbon is a craft bourbon and rye whiskey brand co-packed at Ugly Dog Distillery, selling a five-SKU core lineup plus Backstage Series musician collaborations via DTC e-commerce and wholesale distribution across 31 U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Bourbon and Whiskey

NAICS

Distilleries (31214)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Liquor Stores (Off-Premise Spirits Retail) (CRANABAA)

Keywords

• Craft bourbon whiskey
• Barrel finished bourbon
• Rye whiskey
• Bottled in bond bourbon
• Limited edition whiskey

Headquarters

HQ city

Clarence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Bourbon and Spirit Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of bourbon and rye whiskeys through their Mash Networks e-commerce platform, including core product line and limited-edition Backstage Series collaborations.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including glassware and apparel through their shop platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Three Chord Bourbon produces and sells a portfolio of handcrafted bourbon and rye whiskeys with music-themed branding and artist collaborations. The product line consists of five core expressions (Strange Collab Pinot Noir Finished Bourbon, RIOT Double Bonded Rye, Flipside Triple Wood Bourbon, Hard Pressed Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, Un-Edited Cask Strength Bourbon) plus limited-edition Backstage Series collaborations co-created with touring musicians such as Jack's Mannequin, Dayseeker, Underoath, and the Allman Brothers Band. Products are sold direct-to-consumer via the Mash Networks e-commerce platform and through wholesale distribution to retail and on-premise accounts across 31 U.S. states.

Product overview

Three Chord Bourbon is a small batch, handcrafted bourbon and spirits company offering a portfolio of five core whiskey products plus limited edition Backstage Series collaborations. The core lineup includes Strange Collab (Pinot Noir finished), RIOT (Double Bonded Rye), Flipside (Triple Wood), Hard Pressed (Bottled-in-Bond Tennessee), and Un-Edited (Cask Strength). The Backstage Series features limited collaborations with musicians and bands (Jack's Mannequin, Dayseeker, Allman Brothers Band, Underoath) where artists help craft custom blends, sold in collectible bundles. Products are distributed across 32 U.S. states with e-commerce fulfillment through Mash Networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Backstage Series: Limited collaboration releases inspired by artists, albums, and moments in music. Collaborations include Allman Brothers Band, Halestorm, Underoath, Taking Back Sunday, Jack's Mannequin, Dayseeker, and others.

Products and services

• Strange Collab Pinot Noir Finished Bourbon Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey finished in Pinot Noir barrels. A blend of 4-7 year old Kentucky Straight Bourbons finished for 3-4 months in Pinot Noir barrels from Strange Family Vineyards in Santa Barbara, with mash bill 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley, bottled at 43% ABV (86 proof). Targeted at bourbon enthusiasts seeking unique wine-finished expressions.
• RIOT Double Bonded Rye Double bonded blend of straight rye whiskeys from MGP and Bardstown Bourbon Co., aged 4-7 years with mash bill 86% rye, 9% corn, 5% malted barley, bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof). Targeted at rye whiskey drinkers and craft spirits collectors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple 90+ point ratings from Whisky Advocate across product line
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Neil GiraldocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and legendary guitarist/producer who co-founded and creative directs Three Chord Bourbon. Giraldo shapes the brand's direction and has signed editions of products like Strange Collab. He is credited as the creative force behind the company's whiskey portfolio.
• DayseekerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBand collaboration for the Backstage Series. The band blended whiskey backstage at a tour stop in Rochester, NY. Limited release includes regular and signed collector's editions priced at $59.99 and $89.99 respectively.
• Jack's MannequinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBand collaboration for the Backstage Series. Andrew McMahon collaborated on a 5-year Indiana rye finished in vermouth barrels. Available as regular bottle, signed edition, and deluxe bundle with glassware and coasters.
• UnderoathminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration celebrating the 20th anniversary of Underoath's first gold album 'They're Only Chasing Safety'. Aaron Gillespie crafted the blend at the Whiskey House in Nashville. Includes album edition and autographed edition.
• Allman Brothers BandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegacy Edition collaboration featuring peach barrel-finished bourbon at George Washington's Mount Vernon Distillery. Blend of 9-year Kentucky bourbon and 11-year Tennessee whiskey finished in peach brandy barrels.
• Mash NetworkscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorE-commerce platform provider powering the Three Chord Bourbon online store. Handles direct-to-consumer sales, shipping logistics, and order management for bourbon and merchandise purchases.
• Ugly Dog DistillerycoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerContract distillery in Chelsea, MI where Three Chord Bourbon products are co-packed. The distillery handles production and bottling operations for the brand.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WhistlePig: Premium craft rye whiskey brand with similar premium positioning, sourced/finished whiskey model, and DTC plus wholesale distribution. WhistlePig's portfolio depth (including rare finished ryes) closely parallels Three Chord's cask-finished strategy.
• Jefferson's Bourbon: Small-batch bourbon brand known for ocean-aged and cask-finished expressions at premium price points. Comparable craft positioning, sourcing model, and focus on unique finishing techniques mirror Three Chord's portfolio approach.
• Penelope Bourbon: Craft bourbon brand built on sourced MGP whiskey with multi-finish expressions and a strong DTC and limited-edition collector strategy. Similar asset-light sourcing model and premium craft positioning.
• Smooth Ambler: West Virginia craft distillery with a sourced whiskey plus distilled portfolio emphasizing small-batch bourbon and rye. Comparable craft scale, regional strength, and national distribution ambition.
• New Riff Distilling: Kentucky craft distillery producing bourbon and rye with an emphasis on bottled-in-bond and single-barrel expressions. Comparable craft scale, bourbon/rye focus, and award-driven positioning.
• Old Elk: Craft whiskey brand with sourced distillate, multi-finish expressions, and a national wholesale strategy. Comparable premium positioning and contract-distilled operating model.
• Sagamore Spirit: Premium rye whiskey brand built on sourced distillate with a strong national DTC and hospitality presence. Closest direct parallel in the rye segment to Three Chord's RIOT Double Bonded Rye.
• Bardstown Bourbon Company: Kentucky-based craft producer and custom distillation partner that supplies whiskey to numerous sourced brands including Three Chord's RIOT rye. Direct overlap on product sourcing and finished bourbon/rye categories.
• Yellowstone (Limestone Branch): Craft bourbon brand with sourced distillate, national distribution, and award-winning expressions. Comparable scale and multi-channel craft bourbon positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Wild Turkey: Established Kentucky bourbon producer (Campari Group) with broad bourbon and rye portfolio and national distribution. Useful as a broad incumbent benchmark for channel access and shelf competition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@threechordbourbon8583
• Facebookfacebook.com/threechordbourbon
• Instagraminstagram.com/threechordbourbon/?hl=en
• Xx.com/3chordbourbon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Three Chord Bourbon