Brother Justus Whiskey
Brother Justus Whiskey Company is a Minneapolis craft distillery founded in 2014 that produces American Single Malt Whiskey and liqueurs using 100% Minnesota-sourced ingredients and a proprietary cold-peating process, selling through 250+ retailers in MN/IL, an e-commerce store shipping to 40 states, and on-site tastings and events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Brother Justus Whiskey does
Brother Justus Whiskey Company is a Minneapolis-based craft distillery founded in 2014 by Phil Steger, producing American Single Malt Whiskey (re-categorized to American Whiskey in April 2026 following a regulatory ruling) from 100% Minnesota-sourced ingredients — malted barley from the Great Plains, water from the Mississippi headwaters, Minnesota white oak barrels, and peat from ancient Boreal Forest bogs. The core technical differentiator is the patent-pending Cold-Peated® process (Aitkin County Process), which captures peat essence without combustion, distinguishing the product from traditional Scottish peated Scotch. The product portfolio spans core whiskey expressions (American Whiskey, Cold-Peated®, Silver Whiskey), an annual Founder's Reserve limited-release series, and seven liqueurs including Black Cashmere Coffee Liqueur (co-developed with The Get Down Coffee Co.), Assenzio, Primo Aperitivo, and several honey- and herb-infused whiskeys.
The company operates a hybrid distribution model: direct-to-consumer sales at the Northeast Minneapolis distillery bottle shop and through an e-commerce store shipping to 40 states, plus wholesale distribution across 250+ retailers in Minnesota and Illinois (including Lunds & Byerly's, Surdyk's, France 44, Binny's Beverage Depot, and South Lyndale Liquors). Ancillary revenue comes from ticketed distillery tours ($15-$20 per person), a premium Master Blender experience, and event venue rentals (The Lounge, The Chapter Room, The Patio) for weddings and corporate functions. Leadership comprises Founder Phil Steger, Master Blender James Jefferson, and Chief Growth Officer George Simpson (appointed February 2026). The company has raised approximately $16.6 million across three disclosed exempt offerings (2020, 2021, 2025) and holds multiple industry awards including Fred Minnick's 2025 #4 ranking for Founder's Reserve 2025, ASCOT Platinum, SIP Innovation and Double Gold medals, and recognition as Minnesota Distillery of the Year. As of late 2025 the company paused its Cocktail Room operations to refocus on production and distribution while continuing bottle sales and multi-state retail presence.
Brother Justus Whiskey firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Brother Justus Whiskey
- Legal name
- Brother Justus Whiskey Company
- Website
- https://brotherjustus.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Brother Justus Whiskey Company is a Minneapolis craft distillery founded in 2014 that produces American Single Malt Whiskey and liqueurs using 100% Minnesota-sourced ingredients and a proprietary cold-peating process, selling through 250+ retailers in MN/IL, an e-commerce store shipping to 40 states, and on-site tastings and events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Brother Justus Whiskey industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Whiskey & Spirits
- NAICS
- Distilleries (312140)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ)
Keywords
Where Brother Justus Whiskey is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Brother Justus Whiskey business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Whiskey Product Sales: Direct sales of American Single Malt Whiskey, Cold-Peated Whiskey, Silver Whiskey, and limited editions including Founder's Reserve releases. Products sold in 750ml and 375ml bottles through distillery bottle shop, online store, and retail partners across Minnesota and Illinois.
- Liqueur Sales: Sales of craft liqueurs including Assenzio Vermouth-Style, Primo Aperitivo, Black Cashmere Coffee Liqueur, Cinnamon Whiskey Liqueur, Orange Liqueur, Meadow Herb Whiskey Liqueur, and Northland Honey Whiskey Liqueur. Many available exclusively at the distillery bottle shop.
- Event Rentals and Venue Hire: Revenue from renting distillery event spaces including The Lounge, The Chapter Room, and The Patio for weddings, corporate events, and private parties. Includes beverage minimums and rental fees.
- Distillery Tours and Tastings: Paid tours ($15 per person) and guided whiskey tastings ($20 per person) at the Minneapolis distillery, plus Master Blender premium tours. Tours include discounts on bottle purchases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | The Lounge event space rental with beverage minimums |
| Other | Multi-year contract | The Chapter Room event space rental |
| Other | Multi-year contract | The Patio outdoor space rental |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Distillery Tour & Guided Tasting |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Guided Whiskey Tasting |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Master Blender's Tour & Tasting |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mobile Bar Rental (Brigid's Bar) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Brother Justus Whiskey product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Brother Justus Whiskey Company is a Minneapolis-based craft distillery that handcrafts American Single Malt Whiskey variants (including Cold-Peated® Whiskey, Silver Whiskey, and limited Founder's Reserve releases) and a portfolio of craft liqueurs using 100% Minnesota-sourced ingredients (barley from the Great Plains, water from the Mississippi headwaters, white oak barrels, and peat from Boreal Forest bogs). Products are sold via the distillery bottle shop, e-commerce shipping to 40 states, and 250+ retail partners across Minnesota and Illinois, complemented by distillery tours, tastings, and event venue rentals.
Product overview
Brother Justus Whiskey Company is a Minneapolis-based craft distillery offering a portfolio of American Single Malt Whiskeys and luxury liqueurs. The core whiskey lineup includes American Single Malt Whiskey (43% ABV), Cold-Peated® Whiskey (patent-pending peat process), and Silver Whiskey (unaged), supplemented by limited releases including the Founder's Reserve annual series, Single Barrel Select, Brigid's First Batch, SMarch Select, and Distiller's Select. The liqueur portfolio features Black Cashmere Coffee Liqueur (collaboration with The Get Down Coffee Co.), Cinnamon Whiskey Liqueur, Orange Liqueur, Assenzio Vermouth-Style Liqueur, Primo Aperitivo Liqueur, Northland Honey Whiskey Liqueur, and Meadow Herb Whiskey Liqueur. The company also offers experiential services including distillery tours, Master Blender's tours, guided tastings, and event venue rentals at its Northeast Minneapolis location.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Black Cashmere: Coffee Liqueur developed in collaboration with The Get Down Coffee Co., featuring notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, and candied fruit. 22% ABV.
- Cinnamon Whiskey Liqueur
- Orange Liqueur
- Northland Honey Whiskey Liqueur
- Meadow Herb Whiskey Liqueur
- Assenzio
- Primo Aperitivo
- Cold-Peated®
- Founder's Reserve
Products and services
- American Single Malt Whiskey (American Whiskey) Flagship whiskey distilled from 100% malted barley, aged in charred Minnesota white oak casks at 43% ABV (86 proof). Marries Scottish single malt tradition with American Bourbon barrel-aging, marketed as approachable yet complex.
- Cold-Peated® Whiskey A patent-pending whiskey using the Aitkin County Process® that captures peat essence without combustion, creating distinctive smoky flavors unique to American whiskey and recognized by HICONSUMPTION as one of the world's best peated whiskies.
- Silver Whiskey
Companies that use Brother Justus Whiskey
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Brother Justus Whiskey technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
Brother Justus Whiskey partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Get Down Coffee Co.coreCollaboration partner for Black Cashmere Coffee Liqueur. The Get Down Coffee Co. sources and roasts Grade 1 coffee beans locally in Minnesota. This collaboration combines locally-produced Brother Justus spirits with artisan coffee to create the Black Cashmere Coffee Liqueur product.
- BrasaminorApproved catering partner for distillery events. Licensed caterer available for food service at private events.
- ChowgirlsminorApproved catering partner for distillery events with disability-inclusive service standards.
- CRAVE CateringminorApproved catering partner for distillery event venue.
- D'AmicominorApproved catering partner for distillery event venue.
- Food GalleryminorApproved catering partner for distillery event venue.
- Lunds & Byerly'sminorApproved catering partner for distillery event venue.
- NixtaminorApproved catering partner for distillery event venue.
- Redhen GastroLabminorApproved catering partner for distillery event venue.
- Surdyk'sminorApproved catering partner for distillery event venue.
- WeCominorAccessibility consulting firm founded and operated by people with disabilities. Consulted on distillery space design to ensure full accessibility for guests with various disabilities.
- International CigarsminorPreferred vendor for cigar rolling services at events.
- Thumbs CookiesminorPreferred vendor for cookie catering from Kirby the Cookie Mobile or Carty Bee the Cookie Cart.
- AccelPaycorePayment processing partner for online orders. AccelPay fulfills shipping orders and handles customer payment processing for brotherjustus.com online purchases. Customers contact AccelPay Support for order inquiries and shipping issues.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Brother Justus Whiskey competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Corsair Distillery: Nashville-based craft distillery known for innovative whiskey and gin expressions, including experimental grain bills and unique cask finishes. Comparable on innovation-driven craft positioning and small-batch scale.
- New Riff Distilling: Kentucky craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and malt whiskey with a similar portfolio diversification strategy. Comparable on craft scale, awards profile, and tour/visitor experience focus.
- Smooth Ambler: West Virginia craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and American whiskey, with strong reputation in the premium craft segment. Comparable on small-batch craft positioning and mid-tier craft distillery scale.
- Balcones Distilling: Texas craft distillery known for innovative American whiskey and grain-forward expressions, with multiple product lines and a comparable awards profile. Operates at a similar premium craft scale with strong regional identity.
- Westland Distillery: Seattle-based craft distillery focused on American Single Malt whiskey — the most direct comparable to Brother Justus in category, scale, and provenance-driven storytelling. Also owned by a larger spirits group (Remy Cointreau) which gives a reference point for acquisition/exit comparables.
- Copperworks Distilling: Seattle craft distillery producing American Single Malt whiskey and gin from malted barley, with a comparable craft/micro-batch approach and emphasis on quality awards. Closely aligned on product category and scale.
- FEW Spirits: Evanston, Illinois-based craft distillery producing whiskey and gin with comparable craft premium positioning. Direct Midwestern peer with overlapping retail channels (Illinois) and similar craft-distillery scale.
- Wilderness Trail Distillery: Kentucky craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and malt whiskeys with significant awards recognition. Comparable on craft scale, single-barrel/premium positioning, and capacity expansion trajectory.
- Koval Distillery: Chicago-based craft distillery producing whiskey and liqueurs from organic grains — directly comparable on craft whiskey-plus-liqueur portfolio strategy and Midwestern regional positioning.
- Stranahan's: Colorado craft whiskey distillery with single-barrel, small-batch positioning similar to Brother Justus's limited releases. Comparable in scale, craft premium positioning, and single-site production model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Brother Justus Whiskey social profiles
Digital presenceBrother Justus Whiskey financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Brother Justus Whiskey leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Brother Justus Whiskey funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Brother Justus Whiskey M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Brother Justus Whiskey
What does Brother Justus Whiskey do?
Brother Justus Whiskey Company is a Minneapolis-based craft distillery that handcrafts American Single Malt Whiskey variants (including Cold-Peated® Whiskey, Silver Whiskey, and limited Founder's Reserve releases) and a portfolio of craft liqueurs using 100% Minnesota-sourced ingredients (barley from the Great Plains, water from the Mississippi headwaters, white oak barrels, and peat from Boreal Forest bogs). Products are sold via the distillery bottle shop, e-commerce shipping to 40 states, and 250+ retail partners across Minnesota and Illinois, complemented by distillery tours, tastings, and event venue rentals.
Is Brother Justus Whiskey a public or private company?
Brother Justus Whiskey is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Brother Justus Whiskey founded?
Brother Justus Whiskey was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Brother Justus Whiskey based?
Brother Justus Whiskey is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Brother Justus Whiskey make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Whiskey Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are liqueur Sales, event Rentals and Venue Hire and distillery Tours and Tastings.
Who are Brother Justus Whiskey's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Corsair Distillery, New Riff Distilling, Smooth Ambler, Balcones Distilling, Westland Distillery, Copperworks Distilling, FEW Spirits, Wilderness Trail Distillery, Koval Distillery and Stranahan's.
Does Brother Justus Whiskey have an API?
No public API is recorded for Brother Justus Whiskey.
What industry is Brother Justus Whiskey in?
Brother Justus Whiskey's product category is Craft Whiskey & Spirits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAC, Spirits Distilling & Brands, with a secondary code of THAFALAG, Distilleries (Tasting Rooms). Its NAICS code is 312140 and its SIC code is 2080.