What Liberty Pole Spirits does

Liberty Pole Spirits is a family-owned craft whiskey distillery based in Washington, Pennsylvania, founded in 2016 by the Hough family (Jim, Ellen, Rob, and Kevin). The company operates a grain-to-glass production facility using traditional pot-still distillation and locally-sourced ingredients, notably Bloody Butcher heirloom corn and Pennsylvania rye, with Scottish peated barley integrated into its peated bourbon and peated rye expressions. Its core portfolio spans six expressions: Old Monongahela Full Proof Rye (flagship), standard Rye Whiskey, 100 Proof Wheated Bourbon, Peated Bourbon (2017 American Craft Spirits Competition Gold Medal), Corn Whiskey, and Bourbon Cream liqueur, plus limited special releases such as the Peated Rye Batch series (named Whiskey of the Year 2023) and The Local Kid Barleywine-finished Rye.

The company's principal physical asset is its distillery campus at 800 Adios Drive, opened in July 2023, which tripled production capacity relative to the prior 600-gallon operation and houses Pennsylvania's only 5-story open-air wooden barrel aging warehouse, along with the Meetinghouse tasting room, cocktail bar, and on-site bottle shop. Revenue is generated across five streams: direct-to-consumer bottle sales (e-commerce and on-site), wholesale through Pennsylvania's state-controlled Fine Wine and Good Spirits retail chain (60+ locations), out-of-state direct shipping via the Big Thirst fulfillment partnership, paid tour experiences ($10 standard, $125 premium Barrel House Immersion), and a B2B Single Barrel Selection Program targeting bars, restaurants, and whiskey clubs with tiered pricing from $66-$75 per bottle. Product pricing on the standard lineup ranges from $34-$66 per 750ml, with no subscription or recurring revenue model.

Customer mix is hybrid across individual whiskey enthusiasts (primary segment), hospitality accounts (bars, restaurants, hotels) using the Single Barrel Program, and collector/whiskey club buyers. Distribution is structurally constrained by Pennsylvania's three-tier system for in-state sales, while out-of-state reach is bounded by direct-shipping restrictions in 11 states. The company remains privately held by the founding family with no disclosed institutional ownership changes, a single $2M funding round in July 2021, and headcount reported in the 1-10 range.

Name

Liberty Pole Spirits

Legal name

Mingo Creek Craft Distillers, LLC

Website

https://libertypolespirits.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Liberty Pole Spirits is a family-owned craft whiskey distillery in Washington, Pennsylvania, producing pot-distilled, grain-to-glass whiskeys from locally-sourced Bloody Butcher corn and Pennsylvania rye, sold direct-to-consumer, via Pennsylvania state stores, and through a B2B single barrel program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Whiskey

NAICS

Distilleries (31214), Distilleries (312140), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF), Fine Wine & Luxury Spirits Retail (CRANABAE), Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Alcoholic Beverage Production (Canned Cocktails, Hard Seltzer) (AFAFAAAE)

Keywords

• Craft whiskey
• Pennsylvania whiskey
• Pot-distilled bourbon
• Rye whiskey distillery
• Distillery tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Bottle Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of whiskey products through their e-commerce platform and on-site bottle shop at the distillery. Products include various expressions of bourbon, rye, corn whiskey, and specialty releases priced from $29-$66.
2. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale distribution through Pennsylvania's state-run Fine Wine and Good Spirits retail chain, with products available in over 60 stores statewide.
3. Out-of-State Shipping: Direct shipping to consumers in most US states plus D.C., with order fulfillment managed by Big Thirst retail partners.
4. Tour Experiences: Paid distillery tour experiences including standard tours ($10 per person) and premium Barrel House Immersion Tours ($125 per person, 2 hours) that include take-home bottles and branded merchandise.
5. Single Barrel Program: B2B custom barrel selection program for businesses, bars, restaurants, and whiskey clubs with tiered pricing based on barrel size. Offers personalized bottles, chef-curated culinary pairings, and exclusive tasting experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Liberty Pole Spirits produces handcrafted, pot-distilled grain-to-glass whiskeys at its Washington, Pennsylvania distillery, including bourbon, rye, corn whiskey, bourbon cream, and limited-edition peated and barrel-finished releases. Beyond bottled whiskey, the company sells distillery tour experiences (standard tours and premium Barrel House Immersion tours) and operates a Single Barrel Program that lets bars, restaurants, and clubs select and customize their own barrels.

Product overview

Liberty Pole Spirits is a family-owned craft whiskey distillery based in Washington, Pennsylvania, producing pot-distilled grain-to-glass whiskeys. The core product portfolio includes six main whiskey expressions: Old Monongahela Full Proof Rye (flagship high-rye whiskey honoring the historical Monongahela Rye tradition), Rye Whiskey, 100 Proof Wheated Bourbon, Peated Bourbon (Gold Medal winner), Corn Whiskey, and Bourbon Cream liqueur. Special limited releases include Peated Rye (named Whiskey of the Year 2023) and The Local Kid Barleywine-Finished Rye. The company operates a Single Barrel Selection Program for commercial customization and offers distillery tours including standard tours and premium Barrel House Immersion experiences. All products feature locally-sourced Bloody Butcher heirloom corn and Pennsylvania rye, with the Peated variants incorporating Scottish peated barley. The distillery moved to a new campus at 800 Adios Drive in July 2023, tripling production capacity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Liberty Pole Spirits Rye Whiskey Pot-distilled rye whiskey made from local rye softened with wheat, aged in new oak charred barrels. 92 Proof / 46% ABV with a mash bill of 61% Rye, 13% Wheat, 13% Rye Malt, 13% Barley Malt. Tasting notes include caramel, oak, citrus, pine, peppery notes, and a buttery spicy finish. Priced at $47 per 750ml bottle.
• Liberty Pole Spirits 100 Proof Wheated Bourbon Whiskey Wheated bourbon highlighting Bloody Butcher heirloom corn with soft wheat notes. Bottled at 100 Proof / 50% ABV with mash bill of 72% Bloody Butcher Corn, 18% Wheat, 10% Malted Barley. Tasting notes include warmed almonds, apple pie, dark chocolate, earthy tobacco, clove, cinnamon, maple syrup, and vanilla. Priced at $55 per 750ml bottle.
• Liberty Pole Spirits Peated Bourbon Whiskey Unique bourbon combining Bloody Butcher corn with heavily peated malted barley from Scotland, aged in new oak barrels. 92 Proof / 46% ABV with mash bill of 59% Bloody Butcher Corn, 41% Heavily Peated & Non-peated Malted Barley. Gold Medal winner at the 2017 American Craft Spirits Competition. Tasting notes include smoldering campfire, butterscotch, gingerbread, caramel, sweet corn, vanilla, and brown sugar. Priced at $52 per 750ml bottle.
• Liberty Pole Spirits Corn Whiskey Corn whiskey made from locally grown Bloody Butcher corn, aged in toasted oak barrels. 100 Proof / 50% ABV / 750ml with mash bill of 81% Bloody Butcher Corn, 19% Barley Malt. A second-use barrel maturation allows subtle vanilla notes to peak through the earthy, sweet corn character. Priced at $47 per 750ml bottle.
• Old Monongahela Full Proof Rye Whiskey Flagship high-rye mash bill rye whiskey honoring the historical Monongahela Rye tradition. Made with sweet mash, batch distilled, and bottled at full barrel entry proof of 108. Features vibrant rye spice with herbs, fruits, sweet oak flavors and rich viscosity. First batch (D24) is a blend of 6 barrels. Priced at $64 per 750ml bottle.
• Liberty Pole Spirits Bourbon Cream Bourbon cream liqueur blending award-winning Liberty Pole Wheated Bourbon with a smooth, velvety cream base. Bottled at 30 proof / 15% ABV for $34. Features caramel and vanilla notes intertwined with sweet, rich cream. Designed to be enjoyed chilled over ice, in coffee, hot chocolate, milkshakes, or with A&W Root Beer.
• Peated Rye - Batch #8 Limited edition peated rye whiskey named Whiskey of the Year 2023 by All Things Whiskey Podcast and featured in Fred Minnick's Top 100 American Whiskeys of 2021 and 2024. A fusion of Pennsylvania rye grains with peated barley from Scotland. Batch #7 contains only two barrels, bottled unfiltered at barrel proof (112.4 Proof / 56.2% ABV). Mash bill: 59% Pennsylvania Rye, 41% Peated and Malted Barley. Priced at $64 per 750ml bottle.
• The Local Kid Rye Finished in a Barleywine Barrel Single barrel rye whiskey finished in East End Brewery Barleywine barrels for 1 year 9 months. Barrel ID: #Fin.BW.24B14. Total age of 5 years 6 months, bottled at 107.4-107.6 Proof / 53.8% ABV. Mash bill: 74% Rye, 13% Wheat, 13% Malted Barley (before finishing). Features herbal rye spice balanced with sweet malt, roasty hops, and pomegranate notes. Priced at $66 per 750ml bottle.
• Pre Fashioned Old Fashioned Ready-to-serve Old Fashioned cocktail made with Liberty Pole's own straight Pennsylvania Rye whiskey. Canned in 100mL cans (4-pack) at 77 proof for $29. Inspired by whiskey rebels mixing fruits and sugars with whiskey during the Whiskey Rebellion. Ready to pour over ice with orange peel garnish.
• Single Barrel Selection Program Corporate and hospitality customization program allowing businesses, bars, restaurants, and whiskey clubs to hand-pick their own barrel of Bourbon, Rye, or Peated whiskeys. Includes guided tasting of 3-4 barrels, custom quantities (1/4 barrel: 50 bottles at $75 each; 1/2 barrel: 100 bottles at $71 each; Full barrel: 180-220 bottles at $66 each), chef-curated culinary pairing, and personalized bottle labels.
• Distillery Tour Experience Guided distillery tours featuring history, whiskey production techniques, and barrel warehouse walkthroughs. Standard tour (1.5 hours, $10 per person) includes flight of whiskeys and complimentary Glencairn glass. Barrel House Immersion Tour (2 hours, $125 per person) includes sampling 4 barrels, bottling your own whiskey from the barrel, custom labeling, complimentary Glencairn glass and branded wooden topper.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Big ThirstcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBig Thirst, Inc. processes and fulfills all out-of-state sales for Liberty Pole Spirits. They handle the logistics and compliance for shipping spirits to consumers in states where Liberty Pole cannot directly ship.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wigle Whiskey: Family-owned craft distillery in Pittsburgh, PA producing pot-distilled whiskey, rye, and gin with a similar on-site tasting room, tour program, and DTC plus wholesale distribution model. Closest geographic and operational comparable.
• Smooth Ambler Spirits: Small-batch craft distiller in Maxwelton, WV focused on bourbon, rye, and specialty whiskeys. Operates a similar DTC and selective wholesale model with emphasis on heritage whiskey styles comparable to Liberty Pole's Monongahela Rye positioning.
• Copper Fox Distillery: Virginia craft distillery producing pot-distilled whiskey with innovative mash bills including apple wood and peach wood smoking. Comparable in its use of heritage grains, novel maturation techniques, and small-batch premium positioning.
• Catoctin Creek Distilling Company: Purcellville, Virginia craft distillery specializing in rye whiskey with grain-to-glass philosophy and locally-sourced inputs. Highly comparable in product focus, scale, and on-site tasting experience model.
• Treaty Oak Distilling: Texas-based craft distillery with heritage-driven storytelling, on-site tasting room, and a portfolio spanning bourbon, rye, and gin. Similar heritage-narrative-led brand strategy and small-batch craft positioning.
• Kings County Distillery: New York's oldest operating whiskey distillery, located in Brooklyn Navy Yard, producing small-batch bourbon, rye, and corn whiskey. Comparable in urban-adjacent craft positioning, premium pricing, and on-site tasting experience model.
• Stoll & Wolfe Distillery: Pennsylvania craft distillery in Lititz reviving historical Pennsylvania rye whiskey traditions with pot-still production. Most directly comparable to Liberty Pole's Monongahela Rye heritage and Pennsylvania whiskey positioning.

Emerging players

• New Riff Distilling: Kentucky craft distillery producing bourbon and rye with grain-to-glass transparency, similar mash bill detail disclosure, and strong award recognition. Comparable product quality positioning though at larger scale than Liberty Pole.
• Wilderness Trail Distillery: Kentucky craft bourbon and rye producer with focus on small-batch pot-distilled whiskeys and on-site hospitality. Comparable premium craft positioning, though with broader distribution scale.

Others

• Big Thirst Inc. Third-party alcohol fulfillment partner that handles Liberty Pole's out-of-state DTC shipping and regulatory compliance. An ecosystem enabler rather than competitor, but central to Liberty Pole's growth model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/LibPoleSpirits
• Facebookfacebook.com/Libertypolespirits
• Instagraminstagram.com/libertypolespirits
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mingo-creek-craft-distillers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Liberty Pole Spirits