What Copper Fox Distillery does

Copper Fox Distillery Enterprises L.L.C. is a privately held craft distillery founded in 2005 by Rick Wasmund in Sperryville, Virginia, operating a second location in Williamsburg, Virginia. The company produces American single malt whisky, rye, bourbon, gin, vodka, and specialty spirits using a traditional production stack differentiated by hand-floor malting (one of only five U.S. distilleries with this capability), pot-still distillation, non-chill filtration, and proprietary fruitwood smoking and maturation processes using applewood, cherrywood, and peachwood instead of peat. The portfolio spans core single malts, rye and bourbon expressions, barrel-finished SKUs aged in apple brandy, port, and cognac casks, unaged spirits, gin, vodka, and specialty liqueurs.

The business model combines direct-to-consumer sales at two distillery tasting rooms (cocktails $10-$17, tours $10), Virginia ABC wholesale distribution, limited out-of-state e-commerce via Square, private event venue rentals ($100-$5,500), and a recurring Captain's Club membership ($50/person/event). The company serves craft spirits enthusiasts seeking distinctive flavor profiles, Virginia tourists in the Shenandoah and Colonial Williamsburg corridors, and event planners booking private celebrations. Marketing is built on tourism-trail partnerships, regional and national press coverage, an active event programming calendar, and a portfolio of industry awards including Jim Murray's Whisky Bible and Beverage Testing Institute gold medals.

Name

Copper Fox Distillery

Legal name

Copper Fox Distillery Enterprises L.L.C.

Website

https://copperfoxdistillery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Copper Fox Distillery is a Virginia craft distillery producing American single malt, rye, bourbon, gin, vodka, and specialty spirits using hand-floor malting and fruitwood smoking. It sells DTC at two tasting rooms, through Virginia ABC, and online to most U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distillery Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Malt Manufacturing (311213)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Craft distillery spirits
• American single malt whisky
• Hand-malted barley whisky
• Fruitwood smoked spirits
• Small batch bourbon

Headquarters

HQ city

Sperryville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Spirits Sales: Direct sales of bottled spirits including American Single Malt, Rye, Bourbon, Gin, Vodka, and specialty products through on-site retail, Virginia ABC stores, and online ordering.
2. Distillery Tours: $10 per person tours (free on Tuesdays) at both locations providing behind-the-scenes production area access and tasting experiences.
3. On-site Beverage Sales: Cocktail and flight sales at tasting rooms. Cocktails range $10-$17, with special pricing for events.
4. Private Event Venue Rental: Chandelier room reservations ($100 for 2 hours for 10-20 guests), private tasting room rental ($700 base for 2 hours), and main distillery rental ($1500-$5500 base for 2 hours).
5. Captain's Club Membership: $50 per person per event membership access to exclusive themed parties, specialty product releases, VIP early access, and discounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Copper Fox Distillery produces hand-crafted American single malt whisky, rye, bourbon, gin, vodka, and specialty spirits using a traditional floor-malting process and proprietary fruitwood smoking (applewood, cherrywood, peachwood) of locally sourced Virginia grain. The distillery operates two Virginia locations (Sperryville and Williamsburg) with tasting rooms, distillery tours, cocktail menus, and on-site retail, and distributes through Virginia ABC stores and a direct-to-consumer online store.

Product overview

Copper Fox Distillery is a craft distillery producing American single malt whisky, rye whisky, bourbon, gin, vodka, and specialty spirits. The product portfolio centers on core whisky offerings including Original American Single Malt, Peachwood Single Malt, Apple Brandy Barrel Finish Single Malt, Port Style Barrel Finish Single Malt, Original Rye, Sassy Rye, Apple Brandy Barrel Finish Rye, Port Style Barrel Finish Rye, Cognac Barrel Finish Rye, and Dawson's Reserve Bourbon. Additional products include Vir Gin, 10 squared Vodka, Foxfire Cinnamon Whisky, Chestnut American Whisky, and Amaro y Arroyo liqueur. The company also offers unaged spirits (Single Malt Spirit, Bourbon Mash Spirit, Rye Spirit), barrel kits for home aging, distillery tours, cocktail tasting menus, and the Captain's Club membership program. All products are non-chill filtered. The distillery operates two locations in Virginia: Sperryville and Williamsburg.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vir Gin: Basil-forward gin hand-crafted from 100% corn, distilled in pot stills with sweet basil, Mediterranean Juniper, citrus, spice, and selected botanicals.
• Foxfire Cinnamon Whisky
• Chestnut American Whisky
• 10² Vodka
• Amaro y Arroyo
• Dawson's Reserve Bourbon
• Copper Fox Original American Single Malt
• Copper Fox Original Rye

Products and services

• Copper Fox Original American Single Malt Hand-crafted single malt whisky made from 100% hand-malted Virginia barley, dried with applewood and cherrywood smoke, double pot-distilled and matured in ex-bourbon barrels with progressive infusions of toasted applewood and oak chips. Targeted at craft spirits enthusiasts and whisky connoisseurs.
• Copper Fox Peachwood American Single Malt Single malt whisky using peachwood both as a smoking medium during kiln drying and as a maturing catalyst inside barrels, contributing fruity and floral notes. For craft spirits enthusiasts seeking award-winning, fruit-forward single malts.
• Copper Fox Apple Brandy Barrel Finish Single Malt Single malt aged with applewood and oak chips in used bourbon barrels, then finished in used apple brandy barrels for additional depth and layers of flavor. Aimed at craft whisky drinkers interested in Virginia-sourced finishing influences.
• Copper Fox Port Style Barrel Finish Single Malt Single malt finished in used port-style wine barrels from Virginia wineries, delivering deep rich flavor and subtle sweetness. Targeted at whisky enthusiasts who appreciate wine-barrel-finished spirits.
• Copper Fox Original Rye Whisky Distilled from 2/3 rye and 1/3 barley from Virginia's Northern Neck, hand-malted and kiln-dried with applewood and cherrywood smoke, double pot-distilled and matured in ex-bourbon barrels. Aimed at craft spirits enthusiasts seeking a Virginia-made rye.
• Copper Fox Sassy Rye Single malt rye that is floor malted then lightly toasted and dried with sassafras smoke, aged with applewood and oak chips in used bourbon barrels. For craft spirits drinkers seeking experimental wood and smoke profiles.
• Copper Fox Apple Brandy Barrel Finish Rye Original rye whisky aged with applewood and oak chips in used bourbon barrels, then finished in apple brandy barrels. Targeted at craft spirits enthusiasts seeking Virginia-influenced barrel finishes.
• Copper Fox Port Style Barrel Finish Rye Original rye whisky finished in used port-style wine barrels from Virginia wineries, resulting in a slightly sweeter and darker rye. For craft whisky enthusiasts who enjoy wine-barrel influence.
• Copper Fox Cognac Barrel Finish Rye Limited edition original rye whisky finished for 4 years in a cognac barrel. Aimed at collectors and enthusiasts seeking small-batch, limited-release expressions.
• Dawson's Reserve Bourbon Whisky Bourbon with a wheated mash bill of 60% corn, 20% wheat, and 20% hand-malted barley using peachwood-smoked barley, aged in new oak barrels for over four years. Named in honor of Billy Dawson. For bourbon enthusiasts seeking craft, wheated mash bill expressions.
• Vir Gin Hand-crafted basil-forward gin made from 100% corn, distilled in pot stills with sweet basil, Mediterranean juniper, citrus, spice, and selected botanicals from the distillery garden. For gin enthusiasts seeking a botanical-forward, pot-distilled craft gin.
• Copper Fox 10 squared Vodka 100-proof corn-based vodka distilled seven times and quadruple carbon-filtered, gluten-free. For vodka consumers seeking a high-proof, premium craft option.
• Foxfire Cinnamon Whisky 100% Virginia-grown corn whisky infused with natural cinnamon and Grade A Vermont maple syrup from Barred Woods Maple Farm. For consumers seeking flavored craft whisky with locally sourced ingredients.
• Copper Fox Chestnut American Whisky Made with 64% corn, 27% in-house hand-malted barley, and 9% oats (all Virginia grown), double pot-stilled and aged in used bourbon barrels with toasted oak and chestnut wood. For craft whisky drinkers interested in alternative-grain American whisky.
• Amaro y Arroyo Handcrafted herbal liqueur with over 25 botanicals, produced with 100% Virginia grain, aged in used Virginia bourbon barrels and finished in used Virginia wine barrels with toasted chestnut wood. For liqueur enthusiasts and craft cocktail consumers.
• Copper Fox Single Malt Spirit (Unaged) Gold Medal award-winning clear spirit bottled at barrel strength prior to aging, hand-crafted from 100% Thoroughbred barley grown locally for Copper Fox. For spirit enthusiasts and home bar enthusiasts interested in unaged whisky expressions.
• Copper Fox Bourbon Mash Spirit (Unaged) Clear spirit bottled at barrel strength prior to aging, hand-crafted from 60% Virginia corn, 20% Virginia wheat, and 20% Virginia barley with peachwood-smoked barley. For enthusiasts seeking unaged craft whiskey to age at home.
• Copper Fox Rye Spirit (Unaged) Gold Medal award-winning clear spirit bottled at barrel strength prior to aging, hand-crafted from 2/3 Virginia rye and 1/3 Thoroughbred barley. For enthusiasts and home-aging customers seeking unaged rye expressions.
• Copper Fox Barrel Kit A Copper Fox exclusive kit containing a two-liter charred American White Oak mini-barrel and two 750ml bottles of cask strength spirit for home aging. For craft spirit enthusiasts interested in home-barrel aging.
• Distillery Tours Behind-the-scenes guided tours of production areas at both Sperryville and Williamsburg locations, where guests learn about Copper Fox's distillation, malting, and wood treatment processes and conclude with tastings. Priced at $10 per person, free on Tuesdays. For tourists, craft spirits enthusiasts, and Virginia visitors.
• Cocktail and Spirits Tasting Menu On-site cocktail program offering signature pours and seasonal cocktails including classics, martinis, old fashioneds, bold & sour, seasonal, clear spirits, and spring sours. Priced $10-$17 per cocktail. For on-site visitors at the Sperryville and Williamsburg tasting rooms.
• Captain's Club Membership Membership program at $50 per person per event providing access to specialty barrel products, four themed parties, 20% off drinks and retail, complimentary tour tickets, and VIP early access to new product launches. For loyal craft spirits enthusiasts seeking exclusive releases and events.
• Private Event Venue Rentals Private event venue rentals at the Williamsburg location, including the Chandelier room ($100 for 2 hours, 10-20 guests), private tasting room ($700 base for 2 hours, 30-50 guests), and main distillery ($1,500-$5,500 base for 2 hours). For event planners, corporate event hosts, and individuals booking rehearsal dinners, birthdays, and private celebrations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2022 for Peachwood Single Malt
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Williamsburg Tasting TrailcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMembership in the Williamsburg Tasting Trail tourism initiative, partnering with other local craft beverage producers to promote the region as a destination for food and drink enthusiasts.
• Blue Ridge Whisky Wine LoopcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional tourism partnership promoting whisky, wine, and food experiences in the Shenandoah National Park area, connecting Sperryville location with broader regional tourism.
• Virginia ABCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState-wide distribution partnership through Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control stores. Products carry VABC product codes for inventory management.
• Visit WilliamsburgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsorship of 250th Celebration event, joint marketing efforts for America's 250th birthday celebration.
• Piha Aloha ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHawaiian entertainment partner for Full Blown Hawaiian Luau event, providing authentic island performances and cultural experiences.
• Virginia is for LoversminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState tourism partnership with Virginia's official travel marketing brand.
• Toast the Coast VAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional beverage trail partnership promoting coastal Virginia destinations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Koval Distillery: Chicago-based craft distillery producing organic single malt, rye, gin, and specialty spirits with a strong tasting room and tour business. Comparable to Copper Fox as a multi-spirit craft producer combining grain-to-glass control, premium positioning, and on-site hospitality.
• Westland Distillery: Seattle-based craft distillery and a leading American Single Malt producer. Westland is the most direct comparable: established malt whisky specialist using regional terroir, acquired by Rémy Cointreau for its craft single malt credentials, mirroring Copper Fox's positioning as a hand-crafted American malt specialist.
• WhistlePig: Vermont-based craft rye whisky producer. Comparable to Copper Fox's Original Rye line as a craft rye specialist that scaled from a niche producer to a recognized premium brand — a useful comparable for Copper Fox's rye product roadmap and D2C-plus-distribution model.
• Laws Whiskey House: Colorado-based craft American whiskey producer focused on grain-to-glass production with farm-sourced grains and a strong tasting room. Comparable to Copper Fox as a craft distillery emphasizing locally-sourced grain, distillation quality, and direct customer engagement.
• Balcones Distillery: Texas-based craft distillery producing innovative American whisky, rum, and other spirits with novel maturation approaches. Comparable to Copper Fox as a category-defining American craft producer known for distinctive non-traditional wood treatments and award-winning small-batch releases.
• Stranahan's Whiskey: Colorado-based craft American single malt distillery with a strong D2C tasting room, tour experience, and aged inventory pipeline. Directly comparable to Copper Fox as a craft single malt pioneer with destination tourism positioning and a focus on distinctive American malt expressions.

Regional players

• Smooth Ambler Spirits: West Virginia craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and gin with tasting room experiences. Comparable to Copper Fox as an Appalachian-region craft spirits producer focused on grain-to-glass authenticity and D2C experiences.
• Catoctin Creek Distillery: Purcellville, Virginia craft distillery producing rye whisky, gin, and other spirits with a tasting room and Virginia ABC distribution. Most directly comparable geographically — also a Virginia craft distillery operating in the same state distribution system and competing for similar tourist traffic.
• A. Smith Bowman Distillery: Fredericksburg, Virginia-based distillery producing bourbon, rye, and other spirits with Virginia ABC distribution and tasting room. Comparable to Copper Fox as a fellow Virginia craft distillery competing in the same ABC system and Mid-Atlantic tourism market.

Emerging players

• FEW Spirits: Illinois-based craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, gin, and other spirits with a tasting room. Comparable to Copper Fox as a craft distillery with a multi-spirit portfolio, D2C tasting room, and focus on award-winning small-batch American craft spirits.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/copperfoxdistillery
• Xx.com/wasmundswhisky

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Copper Fox Distillery