Cleveland Whiskey

What Cleveland Whiskey does

Cleveland Whiskey is a Cleveland, Ohio-based craft distillery founded in 2009 by Tom Lix, with its first commercial batch released in 2013. The company produces bourbon, rye, and flavored whiskey spirits under brands including Black Reserve, Eighty-Seven, Wheat Penny, Bridge & Main, Riverstone Rye, the Cleveland Underground wood-finished series (Black Cherry Wood, Apple Wood, Sugar Maple), and Magic Rabbit. Distribution is anchored in Ohio through the Ohio Liquor (OHLQ) state-controlled retail system across 3,100+ retail locations, supplemented by direct-to-consumer sales at the distillery store at 601 Stones Levee, online sales through BevMax and ForWhiskeyLovers, $15 ticketed distillery tours, and international expansion through the Ella Spirits joint venture supplying whiskey concentrates to India.

The company's core differentiation is a proprietary pressure-aging technology protected by two U.S. patents, in which relatively young spirits are exposed to wood cut into one-inch cubes and subjected to pressure and temperature cycles that mimic natural barrel aging in roughly 24 hours. This process enables finishing whiskey with non-traditional woods (Black Cherry, Sugar Maple, Apple) that cannot be made into barrels, producing flavor profiles unattainable through conventional methods. The company claims 175+ international awards including a rare Double Gold at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and 1M+ bottles sold cumulatively.

Commercially, Cleveland Whiskey monetizes through one-time product sales across multiple channels, $15/person distillery tour revenue, and equity crowdfunding through the Highlander Regulation Crowdfunding platform, with the current round closing September 30, 2026 and over 2,100 retail investors participating. The firm operates a 65,000 sq ft campus on Cleveland's riverfront that management states can support 4x capacity in 2025 and up to 20x long term. The company is currently privately held and is conducting an equity raise; no institutional venture capital, private equity, or strategic acquirer is identified in available disclosures.

Name

Cleveland Whiskey

Legal name

Cleveland Whiskey LLC

Website

https://clevelandwhiskey.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cleveland Whiskey is a craft distillery in Cleveland, Ohio that produces award-winning bourbon and rye spirits using proprietary pressure-aging technology with non-traditional wood finishes, selling through OHLQ retail, its own distillery store, online partners, and an Indian joint venture.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Whiskey / Premium Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Distilleries (31214)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Craft whiskey distillery
• Bourbon and rye spirits
• Pressure-aged whiskey
• Craft distillery products
• Whiskey manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Spirits Product Sales: Direct sales of whiskey products through distillery retail store and wholesale distribution to 3,100+ retail locations. Products include Black Reserve, Eighty-Seven, Black Cherry Wood, Wheat Penny, Riverstone Rye, Apple Wood, Sugar Maple, Bridge & Main, and Magic Rabbit lines.
2. Online Product Sales: Products sold through partner online retailers BevMax and ForWhiskeyLovers for direct-to-consumer shipping.
3. Distillery Tours and Experiences: Ticketed tours at $15/person, Friday 6pm and Saturday 3pm, accommodating up to 15 people. Includes guided tour and whiskey tasting. Gift cards available.
4. International Concentrates: Sale of whiskey concentrates through Ella Spirits joint venture for Indian market and other international markets. Capital-efficient model designed for scalable global expansion. First $500K+ order fulfilled.
5. Equity Crowdfunding: Regulation Crowdfunding offerings through Highlander platform. Open round closes September 30, 2026. Investors receive perks based on investment level.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cleveland Whiskey is an American craft distillery that manufactures bourbon, rye, and flavored whiskey spirits using a proprietary pressure-aging system protected by two U.S. patents. Rather than aging spirits for years in oak barrels, the company finishes relatively young spirits with wood cubes from non-traditional species (Black Cherry, Sugar Maple, Apple, etc.) under controlled pressure and temperature cycles in approximately 24 hours, producing award-winning flavor profiles unavailable through conventional barrel aging.

Product overview

Cleveland Whiskey is an American whiskey distillery that produces a portfolio of award-winning bourbon and rye spirits using proprietary pressure-aged technology. The core product lineup includes flagship Cleveland Black Reserve, the mainstream Eighty-Seven expression, and the specialty Underground series featuring unique wood finishes (Black Cherry Wood, Apple Wood, Sugar Maple Wood, and Black Cherry Wood Rye). The portfolio also includes wheated bourbon expressions (Wheat Penny and Bridge & Main), flavored whiskey (Magic Rabbit), and seasonal offerings (Christmas Bourbon). All products are finished with woods that cannot be made into traditional barrels, creating flavors unique to the market. The company operates a distillery store with exclusive single barrel selections unavailable elsewhere.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cleveland Black Reserve: Flagship bourbon - dark, bold, mouth-filling whiskey.
• Cleveland 87
• Cleveland Underground Black Cherry Wood
• Wheat Penny Bourbon
• Cleveland Underground Rye
• Cleveland Underground Apple Wood
• Cleveland Underground Sugar Maple
• Bridge & Main
• Magic Rabbit
• Christmas Bourbon

Products and services

• Cleveland Black Reserve The flagship bourbon of Cleveland Whiskey, finished with the proprietary pressure-aged technology. Dark, bold, and mouth-filling at 100 proof. Sold to adult consumers through Ohio Liquor (OHLQ) retail, the distillery store, and online partner retailers.
• Eighty-Seven An 87-proof bourbon with less oak and more spice, formulated for use in cocktails. Targeted at adult whiskey consumers seeking a versatile mixer expression.
• Black Cherry Wood Bourbon Bourbon finished with Black Cherry Wood using Cleveland Whiskey's proprietary pressure-aged technology. 94 proof; winner of 13+ international medals. For adult craft whiskey enthusiasts seeking unique wood-influenced flavor profiles.
• Black Cherry Wood Bourbon Full Proof Full strength cherry wood-finished bourbon at 115 proof. A bold, balanced barrel-strength expression of the Black Cherry Wood line, for premium whiskey consumers.
• Wheat Penny Bourbon A smooth wheated bourbon with cherry and oak finish at 94 proof. Targeted at consumers seeking a softer, wheated bourbon profile. Silver medalist at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• Wheat Penny Bourbon Full Proof Wheat Penny Bourbon at barrel strength (115 proof) with an amplified flavor profile for premium whiskey drinkers seeking a higher-proof wheated expression.
• Black Cherry Wood Rye A classic rye whiskey with Black Cherry Wood influence at 90 proof. Gold medalist at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. For rye whiskey enthusiasts seeking novel wood finishes.
• Apple Wood Bourbon Bourbon finished with Apple Wood using proprietary pressure-aged technology at 92 proof, with caramel, vanilla, and subtle apple undertones. For craft whiskey drinkers seeking novel wood-driven flavors.
• Sugar Maple Wood Bourbon Bourbon finished with Sugar Maple Wood using Cleveland Whiskey's proprietary pressure-aged process. Marketed as a complex and deep expression that challenges bourbon expectations.
• Bridge & Main A smooth wheated bourbon with toasted white oak finish at 90 proof. Positioned as an accessible wheated bourbon in the Cleveland Whiskey lineup.
• Magic Rabbit A flavored whiskey at 70 proof featuring chocolate and peanut butter notes. Marketed as a fun, approachable expression for casual whiskey consumers and gifting.
• Christmas Bourbon A holiday seasonal bourbon expression released by Cleveland Whiskey for gifting and seasonal purchase occasions.
• Single Barrel Selections One-of-a-kind single barrel whiskey offerings available exclusively at the Cleveland Whiskey distillery store. Limited releases unavailable through any other retail or online channel.
• Distillery Tours and Tastings Ticketed behind-the-scenes distillery tours with guided whiskey tastings at the Cleveland, OH facility. Priced at $15 per person, with scheduled Friday and Saturday sessions for up to 15 participants each. Targets visitors and experiential consumers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 175+ international awards including Double Gold at 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ella SpiritscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partnership with Ella Spirits for distribution in India, the world's largest whiskey market. Cleveland Whiskey provides proprietary technology and IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) concentrates. First $500K+ order already fulfilled. Model designed for efficient, scalable international growth.
• BevMaxminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline alcohol retailer offering select Cleveland Whiskey products for direct-to-consumer online purchasing.
• ForWhiskeyLoversminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline whiskey-focused retailer offering select Cleveland Whiskey products for direct-to-consumer online purchasing.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Castle & Key Distillery: Kentucky craft distillery with restored historic grounds offering tours, tastings, and a destination hospitality experience. Comparable to Cleveland Whiskey's distillery-store + tours model and craft bourbon/rye portfolio.
• FEW Spirits: Illinois-based craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and gin with experimental finishes. Comparable as a craft distillery emphasizing innovative wood finishes and small-batch, technology-forward production.
• New Riff Distilling: Kentucky craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and malt whiskey with strong award credentials. Comparable as a craft whiskey producer with broad portfolio, retail distribution, and reputation for quality-driven innovation.
• Breckenridge Distillery: Colorado-based craft distillery producing award-winning bourbon and whiskey with experimental wood finishes. Comparable as a craft spirits producer pursuing innovation beyond traditional oak aging and operating a destination distillery experience.
• Old Fourth Distillery: Atlanta-based craft distillery producing bourbon and rye with a strong tasting-room and DTC focus. Comparable as an emerging craft distillery combining retail experience, tours, and award-driven brand building.
• Balcones Distilling: Texas craft distillery known for category-defining innovative whiskies using non-traditional grains and processes. Comparable as an award-winning craft producer pursuing flavor innovation that diverges from bourbon orthodoxy.
• Wilderness Trail Distillery: Kentucky craft distillery emphasizing science-driven, data-led bourbon production. Comparable to Cleveland Whiskey as a craft producer marrying proprietary production science with quality-led brand positioning.
• Catoctin Creek Distilling: Virginia craft distillery focused on rye whiskey and bourbon with experimental cask programs. Comparable as a craft producer pushing wood-finish innovation and operating a destination distillery.
• Smooth Ambler: West Virginia craft distillery producing bourbon and rye with broad retail distribution. Comparable as a craft whiskey producer with award-winning products distributed through retail and DTC channels.

Broad incumbents

• Brown-Forman: Major American spirits company (Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve) operating a broad whiskey portfolio. Comparable as a scaled incumbent competing for the same premium bourbon/rye shelf space and acquirer of differentiated craft IP.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clevewhiskey
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ClevelandWhiskeyDistillery
• Facebookfacebook.com/clevelandwhiskey
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cleveland-whiskey-llc
• Instagraminstagram.com/clevelandwhiskey
• TikToktiktok.com/@clevelandwhiskey

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 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 Cleveland Whiskey