Maine Craft Distilling
Maine Craft Distilling LLC is a Portland, Maine craft distillery founded in 2012 that produces small-batch spirits and blueberry-based canned cocktails for adult consumers through DTC e-commerce, regional retail, and on-premise channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Maine Craft Distilling does
Maine Craft Distilling LLC is a Portland, Maine-based craft distillery founded in 2012 that produces small-batch spirits and ready-to-drink canned cocktails under the MCD brand. Its flagship product is Blueshine Lemonade, marketed as the original blueberry lemonade canned cocktail, built on an in-house MCD Potato Spirit base with cane sugar, natural botanicals, and carbonated water (7.0% ABV, 145 calories, 6g sugar per serving). The company has expanded its canned lineup into Elderflower, Rhubarb, Grapefruit, Cranberry, and Orange variants, alongside variety packs and a traditional Handcrafted Spirits line that includes vodkas and other craft spirits.
The business operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market model, anchored by an age-gated e-commerce storefront on its website, and supplements it with regional retail and on-premise distribution across Maine via a store locator and bar/retailer network. Distribution channels identified are retail stores, bars and restaurants, and direct e-commerce, all of which serve a persona target of adult consumers (21+) seeking premium, lower-sugar canned cocktails made with real fruit ingredients. The company markets primarily through organic Instagram content (@mainecraftdistilling) emphasizing Maine provenance and wild blueberry authenticity.
The company is a privately held LLC that has raised approximately $2.07 million across seven disclosed rounds from 2014 through 2022, including participation by CEI Ventures and Maine Angels in 2016; the most recent activity is a 2022 Regulation D exempt offering with proceeds allocated to debt repayment and operational needs. Management includes co-founders John Rogers, Fred Farber, TJ Dupree, and Luke Davidson (Head of Distilling and Managing Partner), with Peter Murray serving as Chairman and Bob Hilscher as COO. Geographic footprint remains concentrated in Maine with a national DTC option through the website.
Maine Craft Distilling firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Maine Craft Distilling
- Legal name
- Maine Craft Distilling LLC
- Website
- https://mainecraftdistilling.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Maine Craft Distilling LLC is a Portland, Maine craft distillery founded in 2012 that produces small-batch spirits and blueberry-based canned cocktails for adult consumers through DTC e-commerce, regional retail, and on-premise channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Maine Craft Distilling industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Distilled Spirits & Ready-to-Drink Canned Cocktails
- NAICS
- Distilleries (312140), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Alcoholic Beverage Production (Canned Cocktails, Hard Seltzer) (AFAFAAAE), Craft Distilleries & Microdistilleries (THAFALAH), Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)
Keywords
Where Maine Craft Distilling is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Maine Craft Distilling business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Spirits and canned cocktail product sales: Maine Craft Distilling generates revenue through the sale of alcoholic beverages including their flagship Blueshine Lemonade canned cocktail and handcrafted spirits. Products are sold through retail stores, bars, and direct-to-consumer channels. The company filed a Regulation D exempt offering of securities in 2022, indicating ongoing capital raising to support operations and debt repayment.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels1 record
Maine Craft Distilling product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Maine Craft Distilling is a farm-to-flask craft distillery based in Portland, Maine, that produces small-batch handcrafted spirits and ready-to-drink canned cocktails. The flagship product is Blueshine Lemonade, the original blueberry lemonade canned cocktail made with real wild Maine blueberries, available in multiple flavor variants including elderflower, rhubarb, grapefruit, cranberry, and orange. Products are sold direct-to-consumer via an age-gated e-commerce site, through retail stores, and through bars and restaurants.
Product overview
Maine Craft Distilling is a craft distillery based in Portland, Maine, producing canned cocktails and handcrafted spirits. The core product is Blueshine Lemonade, the original blueberry lemonade canned cocktail made with real wild Maine blueberries. The product lineup includes multiple flavored variants (Elderflower, Rhubarb, Grapefruit, Cranberry, Orange) and variety packs, as well as traditional handcrafted spirits. All canned cocktails feature MCD Potato Spirit base with cane sugar, natural botanicals, and carbonated water (ABV: 7.0%, 145 calories, 6g sugars).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Blueshine Lemonade Canned Cocktails Carbonated spirit-based ready-to-drink canned cocktails featuring MCD Potato Spirit, cane sugar, natural botanicals, and carbonated water, made with real wild Maine blueberries. Available in original (blueberry), elderflower, rhubarb, grapefruit, cranberry, and orange flavors, at 7.0% ABV, 145 calories, and 6g sugar per serving. Targeted at adult consumers (21+) seeking convenient, lower-sugar craft cocktails.
- Handcrafted Spirits Distilled spirits offerings produced at the Portland, Maine distillery, including vodkas and other craft spirits made through small-batch distillation. Sold through the company's retail and on-premise channels.
Companies that use Maine Craft Distilling
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Maine Craft Distilling technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Maine Craft Distilling partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Maine Craft Distilling competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- High Noon Spirits: Large-scale vodka-based canned RTD cocktail brand owned by E. & J. Gallo. Comparable as a major canned RTD competitor, though operating at substantially greater scale and distribution than Maine Craft.
- Diageo: Global spirits giant with multiple RTD cocktail brands and substantial U.S. distribution muscle. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose scale and trade leverage shape the competitive environment Maine Craft operates within.
- Boston Beer Company: Public craft beverage company behind Truly Hard Seltzer and a growing RTD cocktail portfolio. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same canned-cocktail shelf space and consumer occasions.
Direct peers
- Cutwater Spirits: Craft distillery producing both bottled spirits and a leading line of canned cocktails (margarita, paloma, etc.). Closest direct comparable to Maine Craft's dual spirits + RTD cocktail model, though at meaningfully larger scale.
- On The Rocks Cocktails: Premium ready-to-drink craft cocktails (e.g., Espresso Martini, Old Fashioned) sold in glass bottles. Comparable as a craft-focused RTD cocktail brand targeting the same premium, ingredient-conscious adult consumer.
- Tip Top Proper Cocktails: Premium RTD cocktail brand built around classic cocktail recipes and natural ingredients. Comparable as a craft-positioned RTD competitor targeting similar health- and ingredient-conscious adult drinkers.
- New England Distilling: Regional craft distillery in New England producing gin and other craft spirits with an emphasis on local sourcing. Comparable as a regional craft distillery in an overlapping Northeast geography.
- Cold River Vodka: Maine-based craft distillery producing vodka and other spirits with a strong local-provenance narrative. Closest geographic and category peer, comparable in scale and craft-distillery positioning.
Emerging players
- Post Meridiem Spirit Co. Emerging craft RTD cocktail brand focused on bottled premium cocktails. Comparable as an emerging competitor in the craft RTD space with overlapping target consumer and use occasions.
Regional players
- Split Rock Distilling: Maine-based craft distillery producing a range of small-batch spirits. Comparable as a regional craft distillery peer operating in the same Maine geography with overlapping channels.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Maine Craft Distilling social profiles
Digital presenceMaine Craft Distilling financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Maine Craft Distilling leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Maine Craft Distilling funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Maine Craft Distilling 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 Maine Craft Distilling
What does Maine Craft Distilling do?
Maine Craft Distilling is a farm-to-flask craft distillery based in Portland, Maine, that produces small-batch handcrafted spirits and ready-to-drink canned cocktails. The flagship product is Blueshine Lemonade, the original blueberry lemonade canned cocktail made with real wild Maine blueberries, available in multiple flavor variants including elderflower, rhubarb, grapefruit, cranberry, and orange. Products are sold direct-to-consumer via an age-gated e-commerce site, through retail stores, and through bars and restaurants.
Is Maine Craft Distilling a public or private company?
Maine Craft Distilling is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Maine Craft Distilling founded?
Maine Craft Distilling was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Maine Craft Distilling based?
Maine Craft Distilling is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Maine Craft Distilling make money?
One revenue line is on record: spirits and canned cocktail product sales.
Who are Maine Craft Distilling's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are High Noon Spirits, Diageo and Boston Beer Company. Direct peers are Cutwater Spirits, On The Rocks Cocktails, Tip Top Proper Cocktails, New England Distilling and Cold River Vodka. Post Meridiem Spirit Co. is listed as an emerging player. Split Rock Distilling is listed as a regional player.
Does Maine Craft Distilling have an API?
No public API is recorded for Maine Craft Distilling.
What industry is Maine Craft Distilling in?
Maine Craft Distilling's product category is Craft Distilled Spirits & Ready-to-Drink Canned Cocktails. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAAAC, Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling, with a secondary code of AFAFAAAE, Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Alcoholic Beverage Production (Canned Cocktails, Hard Seltzer). Its NAICS code is 312140 and its SIC code is 2080.