Birch Point Distillery

What Birch Point Distillery does

Birch Point Distillery is a privately held, founder-owned craft distillery based in Westby, Wisconsin, that produces hand-crafted clear spirits — specifically whey vodka and whey gin — by fermenting and distilling milk sugars recovered from dairy whey, a cheesemaking byproduct supplied by Hidden Springs Creamery (sheep whey) and Nordic Creamery (goat and cow whey) in Wisconsin's Driftless Region. The underlying production technology is a whey-to-ethanol fermentation and distillation workflow that removes virtually all milk proteins and lactose, yielding spirits that are naturally gluten-free and broadly suitable for lactose-intolerant consumers.

The company's commercial model is entirely direct-to-consumer: all sales occur through a single on-site cocktail tasting room at 310 Skihill Drive, with no retail, wholesale, or e-commerce distribution. The cocktail room operates Friday through Sunday (limited hours) and doubles as a private event venue for groups of up to 75. Marketing is community-based, led by a Facebook presence, an email newsletter, and seasonal food-truck partnerships. The business is led by co-owners Scott Kring and Staci Kring and was launched in 2024 with a $100,000 development grant from the University of Wisconsin's Center for Dairy Research.

Name

Birch Point Distillery

Legal name

Birch Point Distillery

Website

https://birchpointdistillery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Birch Point Distillery is a founder-owned craft distillery in Westby, Wisconsin, producing hand-crafted whey-based vodka and gin from local dairy whey and selling exclusively through its on-site cocktail tasting room and private events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distilled Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG)

Keywords

• Craft distillery spirits
• Whey-based vodka
• Small-batch gin
• Milk sugar spirits
• Cocktail tasting room

Headquarters

HQ city

Westby

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 Spirit Sales: On-site sales of hand-crafted spirits (vodka and gin) directly to consumers at the cocktail tasting room. Customers purchase bottles on-site or consume at the cocktail room.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Birch Point Distillery produces hand-crafted vodka and gin from locally sourced milk sugars (whey) through fermentation and distillation of sheep, goat, and cow whey supplied by Wisconsin Driftless Region creameries. The spirits are naturally gluten-free with virtually all milk proteins and lactose removed during processing. All sales occur at the company's on-site cocktail tasting room in Westby, Wisconsin, with the space also available for private event bookings.

Product overview

Birch Point Distillery is a craft distillery producing hand-crafted spirits from locally sourced milk sugars through whey fermentation and distillation. The company operates as a single-product distillery with a core portfolio of whey-based clear spirits, specifically vodka and gin. Spirits are crafted in small batches using a blend of sheep, goat, and cow whey sourced from partner creameries (Hidden Springs Creamery and Nordic Creamery) in Wisconsin's Driftless Region. The product line is marketed as naturally gluten-free, with virtually all milk proteins and lactose removed during the fermentation and distillation process. Products are sold primarily at the distillery's cocktail tasting room.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Whey Vodka A smooth, mildly sweet vodka crafted through fermentation and distillation of locally sourced sheep, goat, and cow whey. Naturally gluten-free, with virtually all milk proteins and lactose removed during processing.
• Whey Gin An aromatic gin made through fermentation and distillation of whey from sheep, goat, and cow milk, offering a distinctive character derived from the milk sugar fermentation process. Produced in small batches in Westby, Wisconsin.
• Milk Spirits (product line) Birch Point's hand-crafted clear spirits product line (whey vodka and whey gin) made from locally sourced milk sugars via whey fermentation and distillation. Sourced from sheep, goat, and cow whey supplied by partner creameries Hidden Springs Creamery and Nordic Creamery.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Hidden Springs CreamerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides pure, high-quality whey from sheep's milk, serving as the foundation for Birch Point Distillery's signature spirits. This partnership celebrates sustainable practices and honors the agricultural heritage of Wisconsin.
• Nordic CreamerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnown nationwide for award-winning Wisconsin cheeses and best-tasting butters. Shares goat's and cow's milk whey with Birch Point for spirit production, continuing their tradition of excellence into new product development.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Wheyward Spirit: A craft distillery that also produces vodka from whey, making it the closest direct competitor to Birch Point's core process and product category. Operates in a similar DTC, sustainability-anchored craft model.
• Death's Door Spirits: Wisconsin-based craft distillery producing vodka, gin, and other spirits, often highlighting local Wisconsin agricultural inputs. Comparable as a craft distillery in the same region pursuing a similar premium, locally-sourced positioning.
• Great Lakes Distillery: Milwaukee-based craft distillery producing vodka, gin, and other spirits with an on-site tasting room and DTC focus. Directly comparable in craft-distillery format, Wisconsin geography, and tasting-room-driven retail model.
• FEW Spirits: Evanston, Illinois craft distillery producing gin, vodka, and whiskey with a tasting room and DTC emphasis. Comparable Midwestern craft distillery with similar size and experiential retail motion.
• Old Sugar Distillery: Madison, Wisconsin craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, and vodka with a tasting room. Comparable Wisconsin craft producer with similar product overlap and DTC tasting-room strategy.
• J. Henry & Sons: Dane, Wisconsin farm-based distillery producing whiskey and other spirits from estate-grown grains. Comparable as a craft Wisconsin distillery tying spirits to local agriculture and on-site experiences.
• Driftless Glen Distillery: Baraboo, Wisconsin craft distillery in the Driftless Region producing bourbon, vodka, gin, and rye with a tasting room. Geographic and category overlap with Birch Point's Driftless Region positioning.
• Restless Spirits Distillery: Milwaukee craft distillery producing gin, vodka, and whiskey with a cocktail room. Comparable Midwest craft distillery with similar DTC tasting-room model and product line overlap.

Regional players

• Yahara Bay Distillers: Madison, Wisconsin craft distillery producing gin, vodka, and rum with a tasting room and DTC sales. Comparable Wisconsin craft distillery but with broader product range and longer operating history.

Others

• Hidden Springs Creamery: Wisconsin sheep's milk creamery and current core supplier of whey to Birch Point. Listed as a peer because of its upstream role in Birch Point's value chain and shared Driftless Region brand association.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/birchpointdistillery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Birch Point Distillery