Applejack
Applejack Wine & Spirits is a Colorado-based, family-founded liquor retailer operating since 1961 across three large-format stores in Wheat Ridge, Thornton, and Colorado Springs, selling 5,000+ wine, spirits, and beer SKUs to individual consumers via retail, e-commerce, delivery, and event services, and recently acquired by ABC Fine Wine & Spirits.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Applejack does
Applejack Wine & Spirits is a Colorado-based, family-founded liquor retailer operating since 1961 across three large-format retail stores in Wheat Ridge (headquarters/flagship), Thornton, and Colorado Springs. The company sells wine, spirits, and beer through approximately 5,000+ SKUs, including a 6,000+ SKU wine assortment spanning budget to premium tiers, supplemented by kegs, gift items, mixers, and gift cards. Its core technology footprint is conventional: a transactional e-commerce site with catalog navigation by varietal, country, and price, alongside third-party logistics for in-store, curbside, and tiered local delivery (free over $150, metro, mountain corridor, and statewide wine shipping). Applejack monetizes through one-time unit-priced retail transactions, supported by a Top Shelf Loyalty Club, concierge service, and wedding/event planning, with no subscription, licensing, or recurring revenue model disclosed. In February 2026 the company was acquired by ABC Fine Wine & Spirits of Orlando, Florida, marking ABC's first out-of-state expansion in 90 years and positioning the business for planned remodels under the Applejack by ABC brand.
Applejack firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Applejack
- Legal name
- Applejack Wine & Spirits
- Website
- https://applejack.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1961
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Applejack Wine & Spirits is a Colorado-based, family-founded liquor retailer operating since 1961 across three large-format stores in Wheat Ridge, Thornton, and Colorado Springs, selling 5,000+ wine, spirits, and beer SKUs to individual consumers via retail, e-commerce, delivery, and event services, and recently acquired by ABC Fine Wine & Spirits.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Applejack industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Liquor Retail
- NAICS
- Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)
- SIC
- Retail-Food Stores (5400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Liquor Stores (General Off-Premise) (CRANAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fine Wine & Luxury Spirits Retail (CRANABAE), Spirits Retail & Whiskey Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAD)
Keywords
Where Applejack is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Applejack business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail Alcohol Sales: Applejack generates revenue through the direct sale of wine, beer, spirits, and related products across its physical retail locations and online platform. Customers purchase products at listed prices with opportunities for promotions and loyalty discounts. The company also offers delivery and concierge services as value-add offerings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Delivery |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Mountain Delivery |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Keg Delivery |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Product Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Applejack product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Applejack Wine & Spirits is a multi-location retail liquor store chain operating three physical stores in Colorado (Wheat Ridge, Thornton, and Colorado Springs) that sells wine, beer, and spirits. The retailer offers over 5,000 products spanning budget to rare/collectible items, supported by an e-commerce website, local delivery, two-hour curbside pickup, weddings and parties event planning, and a concierge service.
Product overview
Applejack Wine & Spirits operates as a multi-location retail chain offering an integrated portfolio of alcoholic beverage products and related services. The core offering consists of three main product categories—Wine (red, white, rosé, sparkling with 6,000+ products), Spirits (vodka, gin, bourbon, tequila, rum, whiskey), and Beer/Seltzer (including kegs)—supplemented by Extras such as gifts and mixers. The company differentiates through service offerings including local delivery (free over $150), two-hour curbside pickup, event planning (weddings and parties), and a concierge service. A loyalty program (Top Shelf Loyalty Club) provides member-exclusive pricing. Founded in 1961, Applejack is a Colorado-based retailer with three physical locations in Wheat Ridge, Thornton, and Colorado Springs, recently acquired by ABC Fine Wine & Spirits of Orlando, Florida.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wine Extensive wine selection including red wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Malbec), white wines (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc), rosé, and sparkling wines/champagne, with over 6,000+ products across various price points and regions including United States, France, Italy, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and Germany. Targeted at individual retail consumers, collectors, and event hosts.
- Spirits Wide-ranging spirits selection featuring bourbon, gin, rum, tequila, vodka, and whiskey available in various container sizes from 50ml to 1.75L. Targeted at individual retail consumers, collectors, and event hosts.
- Beer/Seltzer Diverse beer and seltzer offerings including IPA, lager, stout, cider, sour/wild ale, and brown ale, with both domestic and imported options from countries such as Belgium, Germany, Mexico, England, and Ireland, plus kegs available. Targeted at individual retail consumers and event hosts.
- Kegs Draft beer kegs available in 5, 8, and 16 gallon sizes for parties and events. Targeted at event hosts and party planners.
- Extras Additional products including gift items and mixers to complement wine, spirits, and beer purchases. Targeted at individual retail consumers.
- Gift Cards Gift cards available for purchase to give as presents for any occasion. Targeted at individual retail consumers seeking gifts.
- Delivery Service Local delivery service for the Denver and Colorado Springs metro areas with free delivery on orders over $150, plus $4.99 delivery fee for orders between $50-$149.99. Mountain delivery available along the I-70 corridor including Silverthorne, Dillon, Breckenridge, Frisco, Vail, Glenwood Springs, and Aspen with $250 minimum order and $19.99 flat fee.
- Curbside Pickup Two-hour curbside pickup service allowing customers to order online and collect purchases without entering the store. Available at all locations.
- Weddings & Parties Service Event planning assistance for weddings and parties including drink menu curation, delivery, and coordination services. Includes ability to return unopened bottles.
- Concierge Service Personalized service to help fill glasses, cellars, and bars with expert guidance on selections. Targeted at consumers seeking curated product recommendations.
- Top Shelf Loyalty Club Rewards program offering exclusive pricing and deals to members, with loyalty pricing available on featured products. Provides members with access to special offers and early access to limited releases.
Companies that use Applejack
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Applejack technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Applejack partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Archie Rose Distilling Co.coreArchie Rose Distilling Co. revealed a two-year partnership with Applejack as the official on-premise partner, marking its sixth consecutive year as Official Gin Partner. Applejack serves as the on-premise venue for Archie Rose gin activations and events.
- ABC Fine Wine & SpiritscoreABC Fine Wine & Spirits of Orlando, Florida acquired Applejack Wine & Spirits in February 2026. This marks ABC Fine Wine & Spirits' first out-of-state expansion in 90 years. The three Colorado stores will continue operating under the Applejack by ABC brand while undergoing planned remodels.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Applejack competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BevMo!: Multi-state specialty wine, beer and spirits retail chain with stores across the western U.S. Directly comparable assortment- and price-led go-to-market, with stronger online and loyalty infrastructure than Applejack.
- Spec's Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods: Texas-based multi-store family-owned liquor retailer with broad assortment and value pricing across wine, beer and spirits. Comparable scale and operating model to Applejack, though concentrated in Texas rather than Colorado.
- ABC Fine Wine & Spirits: Parent company and Florida's largest family-owned wine and spirits retailer operating ~125+ stores. Directly comparable multi-store liquor retail business model with similar broad assortment, in-store expert service, and event/concierge offerings, but at much larger scale and exclusively in Florida until acquiring Applejack.
- K&L Wine Merchants: California-based fine wine and spirits retailer with deep curated assortment, strong e-commerce, and collector/enthusiast customer base. Comparable to Applejack's fine-wine and rare-spirits strengths, but more digital-led and less reliant on destination brick-and-mortar.
- Binny's Beverage Depot: Chicago-area family-owned multi-store liquor chain renowned for massive selection, aggressive pricing, and knowledgeable staff—closely mirroring Applejack's positioning, customer value proposition, and competitive moat in its home market.
- Sherry-Lehmann: Iconic New York City fine wine and spirits retailer offering curated premium assortment and concierge-style customer service. Directly comparable to Applejack's positioning on rare spirits, expert staff, and high-touch customer experience, though much smaller footprint.
Emerging players
- ReserveBar: Online-first premium spirits marketplace focused on allocated and rare bottles. Overlaps with Applejack's rare-and-collectible spirits assortment as an emerging digital channel that could complement or compete with the in-store rare-spirits experience.
Others
- Wine.com: Largest U.S. online wine retailer, relevant given Applejack's wine-heavy assortment (6,000+ SKUs) and statewide wine shipping capability. A complementary fulfillment partner as well as a competing online destination for wine purchases.
- Drizly: Online alcohol delivery marketplace (now part of Uber) that aggregates liquor-store inventory for last-mile delivery. Functions as an enabling channel for retailers like Applejack while also being a competitive substitute for in-store and own-delivery purchases.
Broad incumbents
- Total Wine & More: The largest U.S. multi-state specialty wine, beer and spirits retailer with 200+ superstores. Competes head-to-head with Applejack on everyday-low-price, massive assortment, and destination-store positioning, but operates at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Applejack social profiles
Digital presenceApplejack financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Applejack leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Applejack funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Applejack M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Applejack
What does Applejack do?
Applejack Wine & Spirits is a multi-location retail liquor store chain operating three physical stores in Colorado (Wheat Ridge, Thornton, and Colorado Springs) that sells wine, beer, and spirits. The retailer offers over 5,000 products spanning budget to rare/collectible items, supported by an e-commerce website, local delivery, two-hour curbside pickup, weddings and parties event planning, and a concierge service.
Is Applejack a public or private company?
Applejack is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Applejack founded?
Applejack was founded in 1961. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Applejack based?
Applejack is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does Applejack make money?
One revenue line is on record: retail Alcohol Sales.
Who are Applejack's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BevMo!, Spec's Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, K&L Wine Merchants, Binny's Beverage Depot and Sherry-Lehmann. ReserveBar is listed as an emerging player. Others are Wine.com and Drizly. Total Wine & More is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Applejack have an API?
No public API is recorded for Applejack.
What industry is Applejack in?
Applejack's product category is Liquor Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRANAAAA, Liquor Stores (General Off-Premise), with a secondary code of CRANABAE, Fine Wine & Luxury Spirits Retail. Its NAICS code is 44532 and its SIC code is 5400.