Central Standard Craft Distillery

Craft Distilled Spiritsthecentralstandard.com

Central Standard Craft Distillery is a Milwaukee-based craft spirits producer founded in 2013 that manufactures and distributes liquor across Wisconsin and other US states, operating with 11-50 employees under a co-founder-led management team.

Company typePrivate
Founded2013
HeadquartersMilwaukee, United States
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2C
OfferingHardware or Manufacturing

What Central Standard Craft Distillery does

Central Standard Craft Distillery is a privately held, for-profit craft spirits producer headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded in 2013. The company manufactures liquor and distributes it within Wisconsin and to other US states, operating with a headcount of 11-50 employees. Its commercial operations are led by a co-founder/CEO (Evan Hughes), a Co-Founder and Co-President (Pat McQuillan), a Chief Commercial Officer (Jim Kanter), and a Brand and Area Sales Manager (Trevor Norgal), indicating an organized sales function supporting a multi-state footprint.

The company's product portfolio is not enumerated in the available source data — the company website returned a loading/verification page rather than content, and structured product/customer/pricing fields are empty. Based on the company description, the core offering is craft-distilled liquor sold through US beverage distribution channels. The business operates within the three-tier alcohol regulatory framework that governs US spirits distribution, with revenue generated through wholesale and retail channels across multiple states rather than direct-to-consumer as the primary motion.

Capital structure is light: only one funding round is disclosed (a $750,000 raise on 2014-05-07 with undisclosed investors), and no parent company, subsidiaries, or M&A activity are recorded. There is no publicly disclosed revenue, pricing model, or customer concentration data. Key analytical gaps include product line specifics, customer/segment mix, distribution volume by state, and any recent leadership or capital events since 2014.

Central Standard Craft Distillery firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Central Standard Craft Distillery
Website: https://thecentralstandard.com
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2013
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: Central Standard Craft Distillery is a Milwaukee-based craft spirits producer founded in 2013 that manufactures and distributes liquor across Wisconsin and other US states, operating with 11-50 employees under a co-founder-led management team.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Central Standard Craft Distillery industry classification

Industry

Product category: Craft Distilled Spirits
NAICS: Distilleries (312140), Distilleries (31214)
SIC: Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
akta.pro primary industry: Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)
akta.pro secondary industries: Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Craft & Specialty Beverage Wholesale (Local/Artisanal) (AFAIAGAH)

Keywords

Craft distillery
Distilled spirits
Whiskey production
Artisanal liquor
Spirits manufacturing

Where Central Standard Craft Distillery is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Milwaukee
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Markets served

Central Standard Craft Distillery business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Hardware or Manufacturing
Cost components: Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Central Standard Craft Distillery product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Central Standard Craft Distillery is a craft distillery founded in 2013 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that produces distilled liquor for distribution in Wisconsin and other US states. The company operates as a for-profit spirits manufacturer producing small-batch craft spirits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Craft Distilled Spirits Small-batch distilled liquor produced by Central Standard Craft Distillery for distribution to consumers in Wisconsin and other US states. Targeted at adult consumers seeking craft, locally-produced spirits.

Companies that use Central Standard Craft Distillery

Customer profile

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Central Standard Craft Distillery technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Central Standard Craft Distillery partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Central Standard Craft Distillery competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Smooth Ambler: West Virginia craft distillery known for whiskey and gin with multi-state distribution; comparable craft scale and channel mix.
Wilderness Trail Distillery: Kentucky craft distillery focused on bourbon and rye with broad US distribution; comparable craft production and wholesale-led growth model.
Journeyman Distillery: Michigan craft distillery with a substantial restaurant/tasting room and multi-state distribution; similar go-to-market blend of DTC hospitality and wholesale spirits.
Balcones Distilling: Texas craft distillery producing whiskies and other craft spirits with national distribution; comparable in craft positioning and multi-state expansion model.
Copper & Kings American Brandy Distillery: Louisville-based craft distillery focusing on brandy and other spirits with strong tasting-room and hospitality operations; comparable craft positioning and DTC emphasis.
Koval Distillery: Chicago-based craft distillery producing organic whiskey, gin, and liqueurs with a tasting room; comparable in product portfolio, distribution model, and Midwest craft positioning.
FEW Spirits: Midwest craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, and vodka with on-site tasting room; most directly comparable to Central Standard in scale, regional orientation, and product mix.

Broad incumbents

Diageo: Global premium spirits giant (Bulleit, Ketel One, etc.) with extensive US distribution; represents the dominant incumbent whose portfolio brands compete for the same craft and premium consumer.
Brown-Forman: Large publicly traded spirits company (Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve) operating broadly in whiskey and adjacent categories; represents the scaled incumbent competition Central Standard faces for shelf space and consumer attention.
Beam Suntory: Major US spirits producer (Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Knob Creek) with craft and premium portfolio overlap; represents scaled competition in bourbon/rye categories where Central Standard competes.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

Central Standard Craft Distillery financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Central Standard Craft Distillery leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Central Standard Craft Distillery funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Central Standard Craft Distillery M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Central Standard Craft Distillery

What does Central Standard Craft Distillery do?

When was Central Standard Craft Distillery founded?

Central Standard Craft Distillery was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is Central Standard Craft Distillery based?

Central Standard Craft Distillery is headquartered in Milwaukee, United States, in the North America region.

Who are Central Standard Craft Distillery's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Smooth Ambler, Wilderness Trail Distillery, Journeyman Distillery, Balcones Distilling, Copper & Kings American Brandy Distillery, Koval Distillery and FEW Spirits. Broad incumbents are Diageo, Brown-Forman and Beam Suntory.

Does Central Standard Craft Distillery have an API?

No public API is recorded for Central Standard Craft Distillery.

What industry is Central Standard Craft Distillery in?

Central Standard Craft Distillery's product category is Craft Distilled Spirits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAAAC, Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling, with a secondary code of THAFALAG, Distilleries (Tasting Rooms). Its NAICS code is 312140 and its SIC code is 2080.