What Hotaling & Co does

Hotaling & Co. is a privately-held San Francisco-based importer, distributor, and craft distiller of super-premium and artisanal spirits, operating from its headquarters at 550 Montgomery Street. The company traces its modern founding to 1993 when Fritz Maytag established Anchor Distilling Company, credited with pioneering the return of copper pot distilling to the United States through Junipero Gin and Old Potrero Rye Whiskey; it was rebranded to Hotaling & Co. in 2018 following its 2017 separation from Anchor Brewery, reclaiming the historical A.P. Hotaling San Francisco spirits legacy. The company runs a dual business model: in-house distillation of owned brands at its San Francisco facility (Junipero, Old Potrero, Hirsch's The Departure American Single Malt), and exclusive U.S. importation and curation of a portfolio exceeding 50 international premium brands spanning Japanese whisky (Nikka), Taiwanese whisky (Kavalan), Scotch (Arran, Daftmill, LAGG), Irish whiskey (Dingle, The Irishman, Writers' Tears), Italian liqueurs (Luxardo), cognac (Hine), tequila (Fiero, Severo), mezcal (Convite), rum (Denizen), pisco (BarSol), and others.

The business makes money by importing and producing distinctive, super-premium spirits and distributing them through a national network of authorized distributors covering all 50 U.S. states, with Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits as the anchor wholesale partner for California and several other major markets, complemented by regional distributors such as Brescome Barton, Allied Beverage Group, United Distributors, and Central Distributors. End customers are split across on-premise accounts (bars, restaurants, hotels serving premium cocktails) and off-premise retail (wine shops, liquor stores, supermarkets), with a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at shop.hotalingco.com and a Single Barrel Program offering retailers, bars, and whiskey clubs exclusive customized bottlings. A 35-person national sales team organized into regional VPs (East, Control States, National Accounts) executes the sales motion; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The portfolio's strength is reflected in extensive 2017-2025 industry awards, including multiple Double Gold and Best of Category recognitions from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, IWSC, Esquire, and the Bartender Spirit Awards.

Name

Hotaling & Co

Legal name

Hotaling & Co.

Website

https://hotalingandco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Spirits Distribution and Craft Distilling

NAICS

Distilleries (31214), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

Keywords

• Premium spirits distribution
• Artisanal spirits importing
• Craft distillery operations
• Whiskey gin production
• Spirits portfolio curation

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Spirits Distribution & Import: Hotaling & Co. generates revenue through importing and distributing artisanal spirits and cocktail essentials. The company creates and curates a portfolio of distinctive spirit brands from around the world, distributing through a national network of authorized distributors to retailers and bars/restaurants.
2. Own Brand Production: Production and sale of house brands including Junipero Gin and Old Potrero Whiskey, distilled at their San Francisco facility.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hotaling & Co. curates, imports, and distributes a portfolio of premium artisanal spirits brands across all 50 U.S. states through authorized distributors and a national sales team. The company also operates its own San Francisco distillery producing craft spirits including Junipero Gin and Old Potrero Straight Rye Whiskey, and offers a Single Barrel Program that lets individuals and whiskey clubs purchase exclusive cask selections.

Product overview

Hotaling & Co. is a San Francisco-based spirits importer and distributor offering a diverse portfolio of over 50 artisanal alcoholic beverage brands. The company operates both as a creator of craft spirits (with in-house brands like Junipero Gin and Old Potrero Whiskey) and as an importer of international premium spirits. The portfolio spans American Whiskey (Frey Ranch, Hirsch, Old Potrero), World Whisky (Kavalan, Nikka), Scotch Whisky (Arran, Daftmill, LAGG), Irish Whiskey (Dingle, The Irishman, Writers' Tears), Tequila (Fiero, Severo), Mezcal (Convite), Gin (Junipero, Luxardo, Dingle, Christian Drouin), Cognac (Hine), Rum (Denizen), Pisco (BarSol), Calvados (Christian Drouin), Liqueurs (Luxardo, Briottet, Slaur, The King's Ginger), Vermouth (Silvio Carta), and Non-Alcoholic products (Luxardo cherries and cocktail bitters). The company also offers a Single Barrel Program for exclusive custom selections, and maintains an extensive distributor network across the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Junipero Gin: Bold handmade gin that celebrates those who break with convention to pursue an original path. The first of its kind, Junipero fearlessly led the birth of American craft gin in 1996.
• Old Potrero Whiskey
• Luxardo
• Nikka Whisky
• Kavalan Whisky
• Arran Single Malt Scotch
• Hirsch Selected Whiskeys
• Denizen Rum
• Convite Mezcal
• Fiero Tequila
• Christian Drouin
• Hine Cognac
• BarSol
• The Irishman
• Writers' Tears
• Silvio Carta
• Dingle

Products and services

• Junipero Gin In-house craft American gin produced at Hotaling & Co.'s San Francisco distillery. Sold through the company's authorized distributor network to bars, restaurants, and retailers across all 50 U.S. states.
• Old Potrero Straight Rye Whiskey In-house craft straight rye whiskey produced at Hotaling & Co.'s San Francisco distillery. Distributed nationally through authorized distributors and offered through the Single Barrel Program for individual enthusiasts and whiskey clubs.
• Luxardo Imported Italian liqueur and maraschino cherry products distributed in the U.S. as part of Hotaling & Co.'s curated portfolio.
• Nikka Whisky Imported Japanese whisky brand carried in Hotaling & Co.'s U.S. portfolio.
• Kavalan Whisky Imported Taiwanese whisky brand carried in Hotaling & Co.'s U.S. portfolio.
• Arran Single Malt Scotch Imported Scottish single malt Scotch whisky brand carried in Hotaling & Co.'s U.S. portfolio.
• Hirsch Selected Whiskeys Imported American whiskey brand carried in Hotaling & Co.'s U.S. portfolio.
• Denizen Aged Rum Imported aged rum brand carried in Hotaling & Co.'s U.S. portfolio.
• Convite Mezcal Imported mezcal brand carried in Hotaling & Co.'s U.S. portfolio.
• Fiero Tequila Imported tequila brand carried in Hotaling & Co.'s U.S. portfolio.
• Christian Drouin Calvados Imported French Calvados (apple brandy) brand carried in Hotaling & Co.'s U.S. portfolio.
• Hine Cognac Imported French cognac brand carried in Hotaling & Co.'s U.S. portfolio.
• BarSol Pisco Imported Peruvian pisco brand carried in Hotaling & Co.'s U.S. portfolio.
• The Irishman Irish Whiskey Imported Irish whiskey brand carried in Hotaling & Co.'s U.S. portfolio.
• Writers' Tears Irish Whiskey Imported Irish whiskey brand carried in Hotaling & Co.'s U.S. portfolio.
• Silvio Carta Vermouth Imported Italian vermouth brand carried in Hotaling & Co.'s U.S. portfolio.
• Dingle Irish Whiskey Imported Irish whiskey brand carried in Hotaling & Co.'s U.S. portfolio.
• Single Barrel Program Direct program offering exclusive single-barrel whiskey selections to individual whiskey enthusiasts and whiskey clubs, complementing Hotaling & Co.'s wholesale distribution business.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ years of industry leadership
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and regional.

• Southern Glazer's Wine & SpiritscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouthern Glazer's Wine & Spirits is a major distribution partner for Hotaling & Co., distributing portfolio products in California (both NorCal and SoCal markets), Illinois, Massachusetts, and additional markets across the US.
• Brescome Barton Inc.majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConnecticut-based distributor handling portfolio brands including Luxardo, Nikka, BarSol, Hine, Dingle, Hirsch, Fiero, Junipero Gin, Slaur, Denizen, and others in the Connecticut market.
• Allied Beverage Group, LLCmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew Jersey-based distributor handling Hotaling & Co. portfolio products in the New Jersey market.
• Hine CognacmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Hine Cognac for distribution in the US market. Per Even Allaire, Deputy Commercial Director at Hine Cognac, noted 'almost a decade ago, Hine and Hotaling started a journey of rejuvenation for our 257 years young Cognac House in America.'
• Central DistributorsregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArkansas distributor handling brands including Hirsch, Kavalan, King's Ginger, Luxardo, and Nikka.
• Northeast Beverage Corp. of ConnecticutregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConnecticut distributor handling brands including Arran, Speyburn, Old Pulteney, Ancnoc, Junipero Gin, Hankey Bannister, and Caorunn.
• United Distributors, Inc.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGeorgia distributor handling a wide range of portfolio brands including Arran, BarSol, Christian Drouin, Convite, Denizen, Fiero, Junipero, Kavalan, King's Ginger, Nikka, Old Potrero, Severo, Speyburn, The Irishman, and Writers' Tears.
• E&A ScheermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerE&A Scheer is a strategic partner for Denizen Rum, one of the world's leading rum importers and blenders based in Amsterdam with a 300-year history dating back to 1712. They source and blend rums from various Caribbean distilleries for Denizen's portfolio.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• St. George Spirits: California craft distillery producing gin, whiskey, absinthe, and liqueurs. Comparable as a craft distiller with strong brand recognition and selective on-premise distribution, though focused on production rather than the import-distribution model of Hotaling & Co.
• Koval Distillery: Chicago-based craft distiller producing whiskey, gin, and liqueurs. Comparable as a craft producer-distributor hybrid selling artisanal spirits nationally, though smaller scale and without the international import portfolio of Hotaling & Co.

Broad incumbents

• Campari Group: Major global spirits company with a portfolio spanning aperitifs, whiskey, tequila, and rum. Comparable as a multi-brand premium spirits portfolio owner, though at vastly larger scale and with deeper global production/distribution capabilities.
• Pernod Ricard USA: US arm of global spirits giant Pernod Ricard (Jameson, The Glenlivet, Absolut, Malibu). Comparable in distributing super-premium whisky and other imported spirits through US three-tier channels, but vastly larger and more diversified.
• Diageo North America: World's largest spirits company (Johnnie Walker, Bulleit, Tanqueray, Don Julio). Comparable as a dominant premium spirits distributor in the US three-tier system, but with much deeper portfolio and capital resources than Hotaling & Co.
• William Grant & Sons: Independent, family-owned global premium spirits company (Glenfiddich, Hendrick's, Monkey Shoulder, Tullamore D.E.W.). Comparable as an independent, portfolio-driven super-premium spirits company emphasizing craft and heritage, but at significantly larger scale than Hotaling & Co.

Direct peers

• Impex Beverages: Importer of premium European spirits and wines with a curated portfolio model. Closely comparable to Hotaling & Co. in its reliance on exclusive US import rights, specialty distributor relationships, and positioning in the super-premium segment.
• Skurnik Wines & Spirits: Family-owned importer and distributor of fine wines and artisanal spirits. Mirrors Hotaling & Co.'s curated, family/independent-style approach to importing and distributing premium alcoholic beverages with a strong specialty retailer and on-premise focus.
• Haus Alpenz: US importer and distributor of artisanal European spirits (Chartreuse, Aperol before its larger acquisition, St-Germain). Highly comparable as a craft spirits importer/distributor with a curated portfolio model and three-tier US distribution similar to Hotaling & Co.

Others

• Anchor Brewing Company: Former corporate sibling of Hotaling & Co. (separated in 2017) and San Francisco craft beverage heritage brand. Comparable in shared San Francisco origin and Fritz Maytag founding lineage, but operates in craft beer rather than spirits.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hotalingandco
• Facebookfacebook.com/HotalingAndCo
• Instagraminstagram.com/hotalingandco

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Hotaling & Co