Holladay Distillery

What Holladay Distillery does

Holladay Distillery, founded in 1856 in Weston, Missouri, is the oldest continuously operating distillery west of the Mississippi River at its original location and a brand of the privately held parent McCormick Distilling Co., Inc. Its core production platform is traditional bourbon distilling and aging, anchored by a multi-rickhouse campus that now includes the newly completed Rickhouse D, the Michael S. Griesser Memorial Stillhouse, and a unique Ancient Cave Collection that matures bourbon in natural cave environments. The commercial product portfolio centers on Ben Holladay Bourbon (including a Soft Red Wheat Bottled-in-Bond expression), distillery-exclusive releases, and the cave-aged Ancient Cave Collection, with the broader McCormick portfolio — Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur, Tequila Rose, Broker's Gin, 360 Vodka, and Hussong's Tequila — handled alongside bourbon for distribution and on-site cocktails.

The business generates revenue through three coordinated streams. The first is direct-to-consumer retail and hospitality at the Weston campus: the Welcome Center and Holladay on Main retail location sell spirits, cocktails, and merchandise; guided public and private tours (private tours at $40 per person, minimum party of five) drive tasting-driven conversion; and premium ticketed experiences such as Evening with the Masters ($125 per person) and the Bourbon & BBQ Experience ($150 per person / $225 per pair) monetize the on-site audience at higher price points. The second stream is private-event hosting at Warehouse E and the Ed Pechar Memorial Event Center, with capacity for 60–80 seated or 80–100 standing guests, custom cocktail bars built from historic copper stills, and AV-equipped event infrastructure. The third stream is wholesale distribution, newly expanded through a multi-state partnership with Empire Distributors Inc. covering Colorado, Georgia, and Tennessee for on- and off-premise accounts.

The customer base spans bourbon and spirits enthusiasts seeking authentic heritage experiences, event planners and corporate hosts booking private venues, and on-/off-premise retail and hospitality accounts reached via the wholesale channel. Master Distiller Kyle Merklein, in seat since 2016, provides technical credibility, and supporting technology integrations — Square for merchandise, AccelPay for beverage orders, XOLA for tour booking, Google Analytics for web traffic, and Vermont Information Processing for retail locator maps — reflect a conventional commerce stack rather than an AI-led operating model. Distribution remains regionally concentrated in Missouri and the Kansas City metro plus the three new Empire-covered states, with brand activations at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen and a Kansas City 2026 soccer-tourism tie-in signaling intent to extend reach.

Name

Holladay Distillery

Legal name

McCormick Distilling Co., Inc.

Website

https://holladaydistillery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1856

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Holladay Distillery is a craft bourbon producer in Weston, Missouri, founded in 1856 as the oldest continuously operating distillery west of the Mississippi, operating as a brand of McCormick Distilling Co. It sells bourbon and adjacent spirits, runs distillery tours and premium events, and distributes across Missouri plus Colorado, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Bourbon & Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (31214), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Craft bourbon production
• Distillery tours experiences
• Aged whiskey spirits
• Private event venue
• Spirits wholesale distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Weston

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Spirits Sales: Direct retail sales of bourbon, gin, vodka, tequila, and liqueur products through the Welcome Center and Holladay on Main locations, as well as through distributors across multiple states.
2. Distillery Tours: Public and private distillery tours with tasting experiences. Public tours available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Private tours available Wednesday and Thursday for $40 per person with a minimum party of 5.
3. Event Hosting: Rental of Warehouse E and event spaces for private events including corporate gatherings, weddings, and special occasions. Features a bar constructed from old copper still sections and craft cocktails.
4. Premium Experiences: Ticketed premium events such as 'Evening with the Masters' ($125 per person including appetizers, cocktails, sampling, panel discussion, and bottle of Ben Holladay Bourbon) and 'Bourbon & BBQ Experience' ($150 per person or $225 per pair).
5. Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including rocks glasses, apparel, and other distillery merchandise through the Welcome Center and online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Holladay Distillery manufactures, ages, and sells bourbon whiskey and other spirits under the Ben Holladay Bourbon brand and McCormick Distilling Co.'s portfolio (including Five Farms Irish Cream, Tequila Rose, Broker's Gin, 360 Vodka, Hussong's Tequila). It also operates direct-to-consumer experiences at its Weston, Missouri campus: guided public and private distillery tours, an on-site Welcome Center for tastings and retail purchases, a downtown Holladay on Main retail store, and private event hosting at Warehouse E (Ed Pechar Memorial Event Center).

Product overview

Holladay Distillery is a craft bourbon distillery in Weston, Missouri, founded in 1856, operating as a brand of McCormick Distilling Co. The product portfolio centers on Ben Holladay Bourbon offerings including the core bourbon line, Soft Red Wheat Bottled-in-Bond expression, Ancient Cave Collection, and Distillery Exclusive Releases. The company also distributes complementary spirits brands including Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur, Tequila Rose Strawberry Cream Liqueur, Broker's Gin, 360 Vodka (in multiple flavors), and Hussong's Tequila. Beyond spirits, the distillery operates visitor experiences including guided distillery tours, the Welcome Center for tastings and purchases, Holladay on Main retail location in downtown Weston, and Warehouse E event center for private events. The company maintains a multi-state distribution network with partnerships covering Colorado, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Holladay Bourbons: Bourbon whiskey products including Ben Holladay Bourbon and Soft Red Wheat Bourbon
• Ancient Cave Collection
• Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur
• Tequila Rose
• Broker's Gin
• 360 Vodka
• Hussong's Tequila

Products and services

• Ben Holladay Bourbon Primary bourbon brand of Holladay Distillery available in standard and Bottled-in-Bond expressions, sold through Welcome Center, Holladay on Main, and multi-state wholesale distribution.
• Ancient Cave Collection Specialty bourbon collection aged in natural cave environments, offered as distillery-exclusive releases with distinct flavor profiles from cave conditions.
• Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Bottled-in-Bond bourbon made with soft red wheat, featured in cocktail recipes and available for purchase at the distillery and through distribution.
• Distillery Exclusive Releases Limited-edition bourbon releases available exclusively at the distillery location, including ancient cave-aged expressions.
• Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur Irish cream liqueur distributed as part of the McCormick Distilling Co. portfolio and featured in cocktails at the Welcome Center.
• Tequila Rose Strawberry Cream Liqueur Strawberry cream liqueur distributed as part of the McCormick Distilling Co. portfolio.
• Broker's Gin London dry gin distributed as part of the McCormick Distilling Co. portfolio, used in cocktails at the distillery.
• 360 Vodka Flavored vodka brand distributed as part of the McCormick Distilling Co. portfolio, with varieties including Pineapple, Sorrento Lemon, and Mandarin Orange.
• Hussong's Tequila Tequila brand distributed as part of the McCormick Distilling Co. portfolio, available in Silver and Añejo expressions.
• Holladay Distillery Tours Guided public and private tours of the working Weston, Missouri distillery, approximately 90 minutes including tasting. Public tours available Friday through Sunday; private tours available Wednesdays and Thursdays at $40 per person with a minimum party of 5.
• Warehouse E Event Center (Ed Pechar Memorial Event Center) Event venue constructed from sections of the old copper still, accommodating 60-80 seated or 80-100 standing guests, featuring a craft cocktail bar and audio-visual systems for private events, corporate gatherings, weddings, and special occasions.
• Welcome Center On-site visitor center at 1 McCormick Lane, Weston, MO offering cocktails, spirits for purchase, and merchandise, open Wednesday through Sunday.
• Holladay on Main Retail store located at 420 Main Street in downtown Weston, Missouri offering a wider selection of Holladay Distillery products and cocktail service.
• Evening with the Masters (Premium Tasting Event) Premium ticketed event at $125 per person including heavy appetizers, bourbon sampling led by Master Distiller Kyle Merklein, specialty bourbon cocktails, panel discussion with bourbon experts, and one bottle of Ben Holladay Bourbon.
• Bourbon & BBQ Experience Premium ticketed event at $150 per person or $225 per pair featuring a four-course surf and turf menu by Smoke 'N Magic BBQ paired with Holladay Bourbon cocktails, recipe packet, tasting glass, and other Holladay merchandise.

Quantifiable outcome

• 170th anniversary milestone with completion of Rickhouse D expanding barrel capacity
• +1 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

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Empire Distributors Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 February 2026Multi-state distribution partnership with Empire Distributors Inc. covering Colorado, Georgia, and Tennessee. Empire serves as the key distribution partner for Holladay Distillery and McCormick Distilling Company's portfolio of brands including Holladay Bourbons, Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur, Tequila Rose, Broker's Gin, 360 Vodka, and Hussong's Tequila. The partnership is designed to enhance market reach and provide streamlined access to premium spirits for retailers and hospitality accounts throughout the covered markets.
• Smoke 'N Magic BBQminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local BBQ provider for the Bourbon & BBQ Experience event series. Smoke 'N Magic serves four-course surf and turf menu paired with expertly crafted Holladay Bourbon cocktails at ticketed premium events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Woodford Reserve: Premium Kentucky bourbon producer with strong heritage positioning, traditional rickhouse aging, and on-site distillery tourism and tasting experiences. Closely comparable to Holladay as a craft-heritage bourbon brand emphasizing the visitor experience and limited releases.
• Buffalo Trace Distillery: Sazerac-owned craft bourbon distillery with deep heritage, traditional aging warehouses, premium product lines, and on-site tourism. Operates a similar combination of heritage storytelling, multi-state distribution, and visitor experiences.

Broad incumbents

• Maker's Mark: Beam Suntory-owned heritage bourbon with national distribution, traditional wheat-bourbon production, and a flagship tourism destination in Loretto, Kentucky. Comparable to Holladay in heritage positioning and visitor experience, but at far greater national scale.
• Wild Turkey: Campari Group-owned Kentucky bourbon producer with rickhouse aging, multi-state and global distribution, and a working distillery tourism program. Comparable heritage bourbon and aging infrastructure, though operating at a national rather than regional scale.
• Heaven Hill Distilleries: One of the largest independent family-owned spirits producers in the U.S., with extensive bourbon brands, traditional rickhouse aging operations, and heritage storytelling. Comparable aging production and multi-brand portfolio, but at meaningfully larger scale and broader distribution.
• Old Forester: Brown-Forman-owned bourbon with deep heritage dating to 1870, traditional production, and on-site distillery tourism in Louisville. Comparable heritage-driven craft bourbon brand with visitor experiences, though backed by a much larger parent.
• Bulleit Bourbon: Diageo-owned premium bourbon positioned as frontier/craft-style heritage brand with national distribution. Comparable craft-heritage narrative, though operating on a national marketing and distribution scale that Holladay cannot yet match.

Emerging players

• Wilderness Trail Distillery: Kentucky craft bourbon distillery emphasizing traditional methods, barrel innovation, and on-site experiences. Comparable as a smaller, growth-oriented craft bourbon producer investing in aging inventory and visitor tourism, though at an earlier stage of brand recognition.
• Michter's Distillery: Premium American whiskey producer with strong craft positioning, traditional pot-still production, and limited-release strategy. Comparable as a craft-distillery premiumization play built on authenticity, traditional production, and limited-edition allocations.
• Lux Row Distillers: Kentucky bourbon distillery with traditional aging, multiple bourbon and rye brands, and a strong visitor tourism experience. Comparable multi-brand craft bourbon strategy with heritage storytelling and on-site tourism.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/holladay1856
• Xx.com/holladay1856

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Holladay Distillery