KO Distilling

What KO Distilling does

KO Distilling is a privately held, founder-owned craft distillery headquartered at 10381 Central Park Drive, Suite 105 in Manassas, Virginia, producing small-batch bourbon, rye, wheat, and American whiskeys plus a line of contemporary-style gins. The portfolio comprises three brands: Bare Knuckle Whiskeys (Straight Bourbon, Straight Rye, Straight Wheat, American Whiskey, and High Rye Bourbon), Battle Standard 142 Gins (Standard Strength, Navy Strength, and Barrel Finished), and the premium Distiller's Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon and Rye. Production is fully on-site using copper pot and column stills, char-barreled aging in American White Oak from local Virginia-grain sourcing, with handwritten age statements on each bottle and multiple spirits rated 90+ points at industry competitions.

The business operates a multi-channel model: direct-to-consumer at the on-site distillery store and tasting room, statewide distribution through Virginia ABC (with special-order capability), direct online sales for Virginia delivery, event-center rental of the banquet hall and patio, sale of emptied Kelvin Cooperage barrels, and nationwide reach through partner online retailers including Seelbach's, Schneider's of Capitol Hill, Potomac Wines & Spirits, and Drizly. Founded in 2013 by Bill Karlson and John O'Mara, who broke ground on the facility in 2015 and released their first aged spirit in November 2016, KO remains bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional capital, a small leadership team (CEO Karlson, Co-Founder O'Mara, Head Distiller Ryan Hendricks, plus distillery technicians and customer experience staff), and a defensible niche among only ~50 craft distilleries operating in Virginia.

Revenue streams mix one-time liquor sales (across DTC, online, and wholesale channels) with recurring event venue rentals and ancillary barrel resales. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; online Virginia shipping carries a flat $20 fee, and event-center rates vary by day, time, and rental option. The company is positioned in the premium tier of US craft spirits, leaning on quality credentials (Bottled-in-Bond certification, multiple Double Gold medals at San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 92-95 point scores at Ultimate Spirits Challenge) and provenance storytelling (100% Virginia-grown rye, merchant-marine heritage reflected in the Battle Standard 142 brand).

Name

KO Distilling

Legal name

KO Distilling

Website

https://kodistilling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KO Distilling is a founder-owned craft distillery in Manassas, Virginia that produces small-batch bourbon, rye, wheat whiskeys, and contemporary-style gins, selling direct at its on-site tasting room, online within Virginia, statewide via Virginia ABC, and nationally through partner online liquor retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distilled Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Distilleries (31214), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)

SIC

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)

Keywords

• Craft whiskey
• Craft gin
• Bottled-in-bond bourbon
• Small-batch spirits
• Distillery tasting room

Headquarters

HQ city

Manassas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Spirits Sales (Direct): Direct bottle sales to visitors at the distillery store in Manassas, VA. The distillery store operates as a specialty VA ABC store, selling all KO Distilling products directly to consumers visiting the facility.
2. Online Direct Sales: E-commerce sales through kodistilling.com for Virginia residents with pickup at distillery or statewide shipping. Additional nationwide sales through partner liquor retailers.
3. Virginia ABC Store Distribution: Wholesale distribution to Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control (VA ABC) stores throughout the state. Products available in VA ABC locations with special order capability for products not carried.
4. Used Barrel Sales: Sale of emptied 53-gallon American white oak whiskey barrels from Kelvin Cooperage. These used barrels are sold to breweries, distilleries, wineries, and for woodworking/decor purposes.
5. Event Center Rental: Rental of banquet hall and event center facilities for private events, accommodating up to 88 guests with full venue rental option.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KO Distilling is a craft distillery that manufactures small-batch whiskeys (bourbon, rye, wheat, American, and bottled-in-bond expressions) and gins (standard, Navy Strength, and barrel-finished) using Virginia-grown grains at its Manassas, Virginia production facility. It sells bottles direct-to-consumer through its on-site distillery store and tasting room, ships online within Virginia, distributes through Virginia ABC stores and partner retailers nationwide, and earns supplementary revenue from used barrel sales and event center rentals.

Product overview

KO Distilling is a craft distillery in Manassas, Virginia producing a portfolio of whiskeys and gins. The product lineup consists of three main brands: (1) Bare Knuckle Whiskeys including Straight Bourbon, Straight Rye, Straight Wheat, American Whiskey, and High Rye Bourbon - all double-distilled and aged in charred American White Oak barrels with grains sourced from local Virginia farms; (2) Battle Standard 142 Gins available in Standard Strength, Navy Strength, and Barrel Finished expressions - crafted in a Contemporary/New Western style with eight botanicals; (3) Distiller's Reserve premium bottled-in-bond whiskeys (Bourbon and Rye) aged minimum 4 years and distilled onsite from Virginia-grown grains. Beyond bottle sales, KO Distilling offers distillery tours, spirit tastings, craft cocktails, and event center rentals at their state-of-the-art production facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bare Knuckle Whiskeys: Line of straight whiskeys including Straight Bourbon, Straight Rye, Straight Wheat, and American Whiskey, as well as High Rye Bourbon and Single Barrel & Cask Strength expressions.
• Battle Standard 142 Gins
• Distiller's Reserve Whiskeys

Products and services

• Bare Knuckle Straight Bourbon Whiskey Double-distilled bourbon made with 70% corn, 20% wheat, and 10% malted barley sourced from local Virginia farms and aged in charred new American White Oak barrels from Kentucky, featuring caramel, vanilla, banana, and walnut notes for adult craft spirits consumers.
• Bare Knuckle Straight Rye Whiskey 100% rye whiskey sourced from local Virginia farms, double-distilled and aged in charred new American White Oak barrels from Kentucky, featuring traditional rye spice, pepper, vanilla, cinnamon, and subtle maple sweetness for craft whiskey consumers.
• Bare Knuckle Straight Wheat Whiskey Small-batch whiskey made with 60% wheat, 30% rye, and 10% malted barley from local Virginia farms, double-distilled and aged in charred new American White Oak barrels, featuring butterscotch, creamy vanilla, anise, and oak with a grain-forward rye spice finish.
• Bare Knuckle American Whiskey Double-distilled American whiskey aged for one day and made with 60% wheat, 30% rye, and 10% malted barley, offering sweet upfront wheat flavor and a peppery rye finish for consumers seeking an accessible craft whiskey.
• Bare Knuckle High Rye Bourbon High rye bourbon made with 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, double-distilled and aged 6 years in charred new American White Oak barrels, featuring notes of kettle corn, hot chocolate, toasted marshmallow, caramelized sugars, crème brûlée, and dried cherry on the finish.
• Battle Standard 142 Gin Standard Strength American Dry gin in the Contemporary/New Western style with less juniper emphasis, distilled with eight botanicals (juniper, orange peel, cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, grains of paradise, angelica root, orris root) for craft gin drinkers seeking layered citrus, spice, and floral notes.
• Battle Standard 142 Gin Navy Strength High-proof gin at 57% ABV (114 proof), named from British Navy practice of proofing gin rations, with surprisingly smooth delivery and bold juniper, citrus, and cinnamon notes for craft gin enthusiasts.
• Battle Standard 142 Gin Barrel Finished Gin rested in used bourbon barrels to create a golden hue and impart sweetness with slight oakiness, combining subtle botanical notes with bourbon barrel character reminiscent of honey or honeysuckle.
• Distiller's Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey Premium bottled-in-bond bourbon aged minimum 4 years in new charred American White Oak barrels, handcrafted from Virginia-grown grains (70% corn, 20% wheat, 10% malted barley) and bottled at 100 proof, featuring vanilla, caramel, baking spice, dried apricot, English toffee, toasted almonds, and dark cocoa.
• Distiller's Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Rye Whiskey Premium bottled-in-bond rye whiskey aged minimum 4 years in new charred American White Oak barrels, handcrafted from 100% Virginia-grown rye, distilled onsite, and bottled at 100 proof, with initial rye spice and peppercorn giving way to vanilla glaze, cinnamon candy, maple sweetness, and a menthol finish.
• Distillery Tours Guided tours of the Manassas production facility where visitors learn how spirits are milled, mashed, fermented, distilled, barreled, and bottled onsite, offered Saturdays and Sundays upon request.
• Spirit Tastings Curated tastings of award-winning Bare Knuckle Whiskeys, Battle Standard 142 Gins, and Distiller's Reserve Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys at the Manassas tasting room, limited to 4 oz of spirits per person per day.
• Event Center Rental Private event hosting at the distillery including Banquet Hall rental (up to 49 people) and full Event Center rental (up to 88 people) with exclusive use of the Banquet Hall, Tasting Room, and patio area.
• Online Spirit Sales Online purchase of KO Distilling spirits for Virginia delivery or pickup at the distillery store, plus nationwide shipping through partner retailers Seelbach's, Schneider's of Capitol Hill, and Potomac Wines & Spirits.
• Used Barrel Sales Sale of emptied 53-gallon American white oak whiskey barrels from Kelvin Cooperage to breweries, distilleries, wineries, and for woodworking or decorative projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple spirits rated 90+ points by Wine Enthusiast, Ultimate Spirits Challenge, and San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Seelbach'scoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline liquor retailer carrying KO Distilling's Bare Knuckle Small Batch and Cask Strength Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys. Ships to AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NJ, NM, RI, SC, VA, WY.
• Schneider's of Capitol HillcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWashington DC-based liquor retailer since, carrying KO Distilling products. Ships to most US states including AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IN, LA, MA, MD, MO, MT, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OR, RI, SC, SD, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY.
• Potomac Wines & SpiritscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGeorgetown's foremost full service wine and liquor shop since 1969. Great selection of wines, beers, Champagne and liqueurs. Orders shipped throughout the United States.
• DrizlycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlcohol delivery service delivering KO Distilling spirits to Washington, DC customers. Provides quick and easy delivery service right to customers' doors.
• Virginia ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState of Virginia's liquor control board operating retail stores throughout Virginia. KO Distilling products distributed through VA ABC stores with assigned product codes. Also supports special orders for products not regularly carried.
• Kelvin CooperageminorOthersSupplier of 53-gallon American white oak whiskey barrels used by KO Distilling for aging spirits. After emptying, barrels are sold to breweries, distilleries, wineries, and for woodworking projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catoctin Creek Distilling: A Purcellville, Virginia-based craft distillery producing rye whiskey, bourbon, and brandy. Direct comparable as another Virginia craft distiller with similar product portfolio, DTC tasting room model, and distribution through Virginia ABC and partner retailers.
• Copper Fox Distillery: A Sperryville, Virginia craft distillery producing small-batch whiskey, rye, and gin with on-site malting and DTC tasting room. Direct comparable for Virginia craft distillation, tasting room GTM, and whiskey/gin product mix.
• Smooth Ambler: A Maxwelton, West Virginia craft distillery known for its Old Scout bourbon and rye whiskey. Comparable as a small-batch American craft distiller with award-winning whiskey portfolio and distribution through partner retailers.
• Vitae Spirits: A Charlottesville, Virginia craft distillery producing gin, whiskey, rum, and liqueurs. Direct comparable as a Virginia craft distiller with similar small-batch production approach and DTC tasting room.
• St. George Spirits: A Alameda, California craft distillery producing gin, whiskey, vodka, and other craft spirits. Comparable as a multi-category craft distiller with strong gin program, tasting room, and on-site production.
• Corsair Distillery: A Nashville, Tennessee craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, vodka, and rum with experimental and small-batch focus. Comparable as a multi-category craft distiller with tasting room, on-site production, and award-winning product portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• WhistlePig Whiskey: A Vermont-based premium rye whiskey brand offering aged, farm-to-bottle rye and bourbon at much larger scale. Comparable as a craft-segment whiskey producer with strong DTC and national distribution; demonstrates the scale-up path but is significantly larger and better-capitalized than KO.
• Bulleit Bourbon: A major American craft-style bourbon and rye brand owned by Diageo. Comparable as a craft-positioned whiskey producer with national distribution, representing the scaled, well-capitalized competitor KO must compete with for shelf space and consumer mindshare.
• Brown-Forman Corporation: Major spirits company (Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester). Comparable as a large-scale American whiskey and bourbon producer that competes for both on-premise placements and consumer attention against craft entrants like KO.

Others

• Kelvin Cooperage: A Louisville-based supplier of American oak barrels and a partner/supplier to KO Distilling. Comparable as a craft distillery ecosystem participant - specifically as the supplier of KO's aging barrels and a buyer of KO's used barrels.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kodistillery
• Facebookfacebook.com/KODistilling
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ko-distilling

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 KO Distilling