Bitters and Bottles

What Bitters and Bottles does

Bitters and Bottles is a privately held specialty retailer of craft spirits, cocktail kits, and bar supplies, founded in 2013 and headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. The company operates a multi-channel direct-to-consumer model built around a Shopify e-commerce storefront (bittersandbottles.com) with nationwide shipping and same-day local delivery in San Francisco, complemented by two physical retail locations at 1275 Fell St in San Francisco and 240 Grand Ave in South San Francisco. The catalog spans roughly 1,700 spirit SKUs across whiskey, rum, gin, tequila, mezcal, brandy, vodka, liqueur, fortified/specialty, and zero proof categories, alongside cocktail kits, ready-made cocktails, bitters, syrups, mixers, and bar tools. Distribution excludes U.S. states where alcohol shipping is prohibited by law.

The business generates revenue through three principal streams. The largest is transactional retail, with per-unit pricing ranging from approximately $3 for small-format items to $270+ for premium spirits and $40-$192 for cocktail kits. The second is recurring quarterly subscription clubs across six verticals (Whiskey, Rum, Agave, Gin, Negroni, Old Fashioned), which deliver curated selections and provide predictable subscription revenue. The third is ancillary monetization via free in-store guided tastings every Friday and Saturday at the Fell Street location, gift cards, a points-based rewards program with rare-bottle auctions, and exclusive private barrel pick collaborations with distillers such as Four Roses, Angel's Envy, Pinhook, and Dark Arts. The company serves two identified customer segments: craft cocktail enthusiasts (primary persona, addressing pain points around access to rare and specialty ingredients) and gift givers (secondary persona, addressed through curated bundles and gift cards). Vendor relationships span a long tail of craft distilleries (Giulio Cocchi, St George Spirits, Planteray/Maison Ferrand, Giffard, Arette, and others), and core technology is a Shopify storefront with integrated age verification. No public financials, funding history, parent company, or AI capabilities are disclosed in available source data.

Name

Bitters and Bottles

Legal name

Bitters & Bottles

Website

https://bittersandbottles.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bitters and Bottles is a privately held craft spirits and cocktail supplies retailer serving home bartenders and gift buyers through two Bay Area stores, a Shopify e-commerce storefront with nationwide shipping and same-day San Francisco delivery, six subscription clubs, and a curated catalog of roughly 1,700 spirits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Spirits Retail

NAICS

Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Retail & Whiskey Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alcohol Subscription & Wine Clubs (Retail) (CRANABAF), Premium, Rare & Collectible Alcohol Retail (Fine Wine/Spirits) (CRANAAAJ), Alcohol Gift, Basket & Specialty Packaging Retail (CRANABAG), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Craft spirits retail
• Cocktail supplies store
• Spirit subscription clubs
• Bar tools and bitters
• Specialty liquor shop

Headquarters

HQ city

South San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Spirits and Cocktail Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of craft spirits, cocktail kits, bar tools, mixers, and bitters through physical retail stores and e-commerce website. Revenue generated from individual product transactions with prices ranging from budget to premium collectible bottles.
2. Subscription Clubs: Quarterly curated spirit clubs (Whiskey, Rum, Agave, Gin, Negroni, Old Fashioned) delivering curated selections to members on a subscription basis.
3. In-Store Tastings: Free guided tasting events held every Friday and Saturday at the Fell Street location, driving foot traffic and product discovery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bitters & Bottles is a craft spirits and cocktail supplies retailer that curates and sells more than 1,700 spirits, cocktail kits, ready-made cocktails, bar tools, bitters, syrups, and mixers through two Bay Area retail stores and a Shopify-powered e-commerce site with nationwide shipping and same-day San Francisco delivery. The retailer complements its catalog with quarterly spirit subscription clubs, exclusive private barrel picks, the additive-free "NOT Collection," free in-store tastings, and a points-based rewards program offering rare bottle auctions.

Product overview

Bitters & Bottles is a craft spirits and cocktail supplies e-commerce retailer operating both online and through two physical locations in the San Francisco Bay Area (1275 Fell St, San Francisco and 240 Grand Ave, South San Francisco). The company offers a curated selection of over 1,700 spirits across multiple categories (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Tequila, Mezcal, Brandy, Vodka, Liqueurs, Fortified/Specialty, Zero Proof), cocktail kits and ready-made cocktails, bar supplies (bitters, syrups, mixers, tools), and operates subscription clubs. The core platform is a Shopify-based e-commerce store with integrated same-day delivery in San Francisco and nationwide shipping. The product portfolio includes private label store picks, the NOT Collection (additive-free alternatives), and a rewards program with points auctions for rare bottles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Spirits Collection Curated catalog of more than 1,700 craft spirits across whiskey (bourbon, rye, scotch, malt, flavored), rum (white, dark, agricole, pot still, unadulterated, flavored), gin (dry, citrusy, floral, fruity, savory, barrel aged), tequila (blanco, reposado, anejo, additive-free, flavored), mezcal (espadin, wild agave, pechuga), brandy, vodka, liqueurs, fortified/specialty (vermouth, aperitif, digestif, sherry, port), and zero-proof options. Sold to home cocktail enthusiasts via retail stores and e-commerce.
• Cocktail Kits and Ready-Made Cocktails Pre-assembled cocktail kits organized by spirit type (whiskey, rum, gin, tequila and mezcal, brandy, vodka, alcohol-free), canned and bottled ready-made cocktails, a dedicated Negroni Shop, and an Essential Chartreuse collection. Targeted at consumers seeking convenient craft cocktail preparation at home or as gifts.
• Bar Supplies (Bitters, Syrups, Mixers, Bar Tools) Bar essentials including bitters (aromatic and spice, fruit and veggie, floral and herbal, bean and nut, regional), syrups and mixers (syrups, ready-made mixers, specialty cocktail items, garnishes, sodas, tonics), and bar tools (juice and muddle, measure, stir, strain, mix, shake, dispense, garnish, home and travel). Sold to home bartenders building out home bar setups.
• Quarterly Spirit Subscription Clubs Six recurring quarterly subscription clubs — Whiskey, Rum, Agave (Tequila & Mezcal), Gin, Negroni, and Old Fashioned — delivering curated spirit selections and exclusive bottles to members. Members can also earn rewards points toward rare purchases.
• Rewards Loyalty Program Customer loyalty program in which members earn points on purchases, redeem points for discounts, participate in rare bottle auctions, and access bonus point events. Designed to drive repeat purchases and engagement across both retail and e-commerce channels.
• Gift Cards Digital gift cards available for purchase and redemption across the spirits, cocktail, and bar supplies catalog, supporting gift purchases and remote gifting.
• Private Selection / Store Picks Exclusive bottle selections curated by Bitters & Bottles, including private barrel picks from distillers such as Dark Arts, Four Roses, Angel's Envy, and Pinhook, sold to enthusiasts seeking limited, retailer-exclusive releases.
• The NOT Collection Curated bundles offering additive-free alternatives to popular spirits, including the Not Green Chartreuse Set, Not Branca Fernet Set, Not Campari Set, and Not Aperol Spritz Set. Targeted at consumers seeking spirits without added sweeteners, flavors, or colors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.9 out of 5 stars from 300+ Google Reviews

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform provider powering the bittersandbottles.com online store with shopping cart, checkout, and age verification functionality.
• Various Craft Distilleries (Vendors)coreOthersCarries products from numerous craft distilleries including Giulio Cocchi, St George Spirits, Planteray (Maison Ferrand), Giffard, Arette Tequila, and many others. These are brands/vendors whose products are sold through the retail platform.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Astor Wines & Spirits: New York City-based specialty wine and spirits retailer with education-driven merchandising and online store. Direct peer in the curated, expert-staffed specialty retail model, though operating primarily in the Northeast.
• ReserveBar: Online premium spirits and gift retailer offering curated bottles, cocktail kits, and corporate gifting. Direct peer because Bitters & Bottles competes for the same craft-spirits gifting and home-bartender use cases via e-commerce.
• Flaviar: Spirits tasting subscription club with curated quarterly deliveries and an attached retail marketplace. Direct peer given overlapping subscription club model and craft spirits discovery focus.
• Wine.com: Large online alcohol retailer with broad wine, spirits, and beer assortment plus nationwide shipping. Direct peer in the online alcoholic-beverage DTC category with adjacent gift and club offerings.
• Caskers: Online craft spirits marketplace with curated bottles and discovery content. Direct peer in the curated online spirits retail category with comparable target customer (craft cocktail enthusiasts) and DTC shipping model.
• K&L Wine Merchants: California-based specialty wine and spirits retailer with physical stores and nationwide shipping. Closest direct peer to Bitters & Bottles given overlapping omnichannel model, premium/craft focus, and curated, education-driven merchandising.

Broad incumbents

• BevMo!: West Coast specialty alcohol retailer with physical stores and online sales. Broad incumbent comparable in category scope, but operating at a much larger, less curated scale.
• Total Wine & More: Large multi-store specialty alcohol retailer with deep selection across spirits, wine, and beer. Broad incumbent that competes with Bitters & Bottles on selection and price but lacks the boutique curation and tasting experience focus.
• Drizly: On-demand alcohol delivery marketplace owned by Uber. Broad incumbent competing for the same-day delivery use case in San Francisco and pressuring local same-day economics.

Regional players

• The Whisky Shop: UK-based specialty whisky retailer with curated bottles and tasting events. Thematic peer in spirits-curation retail and tasting experiences, though primarily serving the British market rather than competing head-to-head in the US.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bittersbottles
• Facebookfacebook.com/bittersandbottles
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bitters-and-bottles

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Bitters and Bottles