Corsair Distillery
Corsair Distillery is a privately held Nashville-based craft distillery producing award-winning whiskeys, gins, and specialty spirits, plus contract distillation services for other brands. Founded in 2008, it distributes across 30+ US states and internationally via The Whiskey Exchange, with a focus on innovative grain bills and smoke processes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersNashville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Corsair Distillery does
Corsair Distillery (legal entity: Corsair Artisan, LLC) is a privately held craft distillery headquartered at Marathon Village in Nashville, Tennessee, founded in 2008 in Bowling Green, KY by Darek Bell and Andrew Webber. The company produces an award-winning portfolio of craft whiskeys (Triple Smoke American Single Malt, Dark Rye, Tennessee Single Malt), gins (American Gin, Barreled Gin), and seasonal/experimental spirits, manufactured using proprietary processes including a triple-smoke malting method (cherrywood from Wisconsin, beechwood from Germany, peat from Scotland), vapor-basket gin distillation, and alternative-grain rye bills. Beyond branded spirits, Corsair operates large-scale contract distillation services at its Ashland City, Tennessee facility, equipped with a Vendome 24-inch column still and a Forsyths 42-inch expansion still, capable of producing Single Malt, Bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey, Rye Whiskey, and Neutral Spirit at 22,000 barrels/year today with expansion runway to 90,000 barrels/year.
The business is organized across four revenue streams: direct-to-consumer spirit sales at the Marathon Village taproom and via shop.corsairdistillery.com; wholesale distribution through authorized distributors across 30+ US states (including Tennessee, California, New York, Texas, Florida) and internationally through The Whiskey Exchange in the UK; a by-the-barrel program selling 15- and 30-gallon barrels to individuals, retailers, bars, and distributors; and contract distillation for other brand owners, complemented by tours and tastings ($10-$18 per person) and private event hosting. Distribution is anchored by regional Tennessee partners (Lipman Brothers, Knoxville Beverage, Athens Distributing) plus national brokers including Southern Glazer Wine and Spirits and Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC).
Customer segments are horizontal, spanning tourism and local consumers, retail liquor stores, bars and restaurants, wholesale distributors, and other brands seeking contract distillation capacity. The company is founder-owned (Darek Bell, Andrew Webber, Amy Lee Bell), bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding or institutional investors, and operates at a small headcount (11-50 employees) supported by a leadership team that includes a COO (Tyler Crowell), Head Distiller (TJ Carter), Consulting Distiller (Colton Weinstein, recently named Distiller of the Year by Artisan Spirit Magazine), and Regional Sales Manager. Recognition includes 800+ competition medals and accolades such as American Whiskey Distillery of the Year (Berlin, 2017), World Distiller of the Year (Wizards of Whiskey, 2017), and Fast Company's World's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Food (2015).
Corsair Distillery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Corsair Distillery
- Legal name
- Corsair Artisan, LLC
- Website
- https://corsairdistillery.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Corsair Distillery is a privately held Nashville-based craft distillery producing award-winning whiskeys, gins, and specialty spirits, plus contract distillation services for other brands. Founded in 2008, it distributes across 30+ US states and internationally via The Whiskey Exchange, with a focus on innovative grain bills and smoke processes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Corsair Distillery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Distilled Spirits
- NAICS
- Distilleries (31214)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)
Keywords
Where Corsair Distillery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nashville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Corsair Distillery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Spirit Sales: Sales of proprietary craft spirits (whiskeys, gins, rums) directly to consumers at taproom locations and through online ordering. Includes bottle shop sales at Marathon Village.
- Wholesale/Distribution: Sales to distributors and retailers across 30+ US states including Tennessee, California, New York, Texas, and internationally. Products sold through liquor stores, wine shops, and specialty retailers.
- Contract Distillation Services: Whiskey contract distilling for other brands using Corsair's facilities. Capable of producing Single Malt, Bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey, Rye Whiskey, and Neutral Spirit. Includes bottling line services (750k cases/year capacity).
- By-the-Barrel Program: Sales of aged spirits by the barrel (15 gallon or 30 gallon) to individuals, stores, bars, restaurants, and distributors. Barrels must be bottled upon receipt.
- Tours and Events: Revenue from distillery tours ($10-18 per person), guided tastings, and private event bookings including rehearsal dinners, holiday parties, and corporate events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Distillery Tour with Spirits Tasting |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Distillery Tour without Tasting |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Children's Tours |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Corsair Distillery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Corsair Distillery is a Nashville-based craft distillery that manufactures and sells award-winning whiskeys, gins, and other spirits. Its product lineup includes Triple Smoke American Single Malt, Dark Rye, Tennessee Single Malt, American Gin, and Barrel Aged Gin. The company also operates a taproom and bottle shop in Marathon Village, offers distillery tours and tastings, runs a by-the-barrel program, and provides large-scale contract distillation services to other spirits brands using its Vendome and Forsyths stills.
Product overview
Corsair Distillery is an award-winning craft distillery producing innovative whiskeys, gins, and unusual spirits. The company's core product portfolio includes Triple Smoke American Single Malt Whiskey, Corsair American Gin, Barrel Aged Gin, Dark Rye, and Tennessee Single Malt Whiskey. Beyond consumer products, the company offers contract distilling services with significant production capacity, distillery tours and tastings at their Marathon Village taproom, and a by-the-barrel purchase program. Founded in 2008 in Bowling Green, KY, and expanded to Nashville in 2010, the distillery has won over 800 medals at national and international spirits competitions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Corsair Triple Smoke American Single Malt Whiskey American single malt whiskey crafted with three individually smoked malts — Wisconsin cherrywood, German beechwood, and Scottish peat — producing layered smoke, cherry notes, and slight brininess. Targeted at craft whiskey enthusiasts.
- Corsair American Gin Small-batch gin produced using a vapor basket distillation system for citrus-forward, mixable spirit with balanced citrus, juniper, cardamom, and cucumber. Targeted at gin enthusiasts and craft cocktail bars.
- Corsair Barrel Aged Gin Small-batch gin rested in used spiced rum barrels, imparting vanilla and fall spice notes with a classic gin forward nose evolving into cinnamon, clove, and coriander. Targeted at gin enthusiasts seeking barrel-aged complexity.
- Corsair Dark Rye Rye malt whiskey made with a proprietary grain bill of 61% malted rye, 4% malted chocolate rye, and 35% malted barley (no corn), featuring chocolate, coffee, and spice notes with a clean rye finish. Targeted at rye whiskey drinkers seeking smoother, sweeter flavor profiles.
- Corsair Tennessee Single Malt Whiskey American single malt whiskey made with regionally sourced barley varietals, featuring honey biscuit on the nose, sweet caramel toffee on the palate, and warm nutty medium body finish. Targeted at craft whiskey enthusiasts.
- Contract Distillation Services Whiskey and spirit contract distilling services with 22,000 barrels/year capacity (expandable to 90,000) using a 24-inch Vendome Column Still and a 42-inch Forsyths expansion still; capabilities include Single Malt, Bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey, Rye Whiskey, and Neutral Spirit production, plus a 750k cases/year bottling line. Targeted at spirits brand owners and other distilleries needing production capacity.
- Distillery Tours & Tastings Guided distillery tours with optional spirits tasting flights ($18 with tasting / $10 without / free for children under 12) at the Marathon Village location, including access to the tasting bar, bottle shop, and craft cocktails. Targeted at visitors and local consumers seeking an experiential craft spirits offering.
- By-The-Barrel Program Sales of aged Corsair spirits by the barrel in 15-gallon and 30-gallon options (plus used/furniture grade barrels) to individuals, stores, bars, restaurants, and distributors, with bottling required upon receipt. Targeted at whiskey enthusiasts and on-premise/retail buyers seeking exclusive barrel releases.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 800 medals at national and international spirits competitions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Corsair Distillery
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Corsair Distillery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Corsair Distillery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Lipman Brothers Inc.coreAuthorized distributor for Nashville and Chattanooga, Tennessee region. Handles distribution of Corsair spirits to retail outlets in the greater Nashville metropolitan area.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Corsair Distillery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bulleit Frontier Whiskey: Bulleit is a craft-style American whiskey brand owned by Diageo, focused on high-rye bourbon and frontier-inspired branding. Comparable to Corsair as a craft-rooted whiskey brand competing for the same on-premise and retail placements, with broader scale.
- Hudson Whiskey: Hudson Whiskey (Tuthilltown Spirits) is a craft American whiskey producer based in New York with a similar small-batch, locally-rooted brand identity. Comparable to Corsair in craft positioning, distributed presence, and tour/tasting experience model.
- Kings County Distillery: Kings County is a Brooklyn-based craft whiskey distillery producing bourbon, rye, and moonshine with a strong taproom presence. Comparable to Corsair as an independent, founder-led craft distillery combining on-site experience, contract production, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce.
- St. George Spirits: St. George is a California-based craft distillery producing whiskeys, gins, and unusual spirits with an innovation-led brand. Comparable to Corsair in product breadth across whiskey and gin, craft pedigree, and emphasis on unconventional botanicals and grains.
- High West Distillery: High West is a Utah-based craft whiskey distillery now owned by Constellation Brands. Comparable to Corsair as a craft-rooted whiskey brand with strong tourism and on-premise identity, and a similar diversified product portfolio.
- Balcones Distilling: Balcones is a Texas-based craft distillery known for innovative American whiskey, including single malt and blue corn bourbon. Comparable to Corsair in craft innovation, alternative-grain experimentation, and award-winning whiskey positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Woodford Reserve: Woodford Reserve is a Brown-Forman-owned premium Kentucky bourbon brand with national and international distribution. Comparable to Corsair as a craft-adjacent American whiskey competing for similar on-premise placements and consumer occasions, but at materially greater scale.
- Brown-Forman: Brown-Forman is a major American spirits conglomerate (Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve). Relevant as a broad incumbent competing across the same whiskey category with significantly larger distribution and marketing budgets.
Regional players
- Garrison Brothers Distillery: Garrison Brothers is a Texas-based craft bourbon distillery with a single-product focus and strong tourism identity. Comparable to Corsair in craft bourbon positioning, tour-driven D2C revenue, and regional-distribution-led growth.
- Treaty Oak Distilling: Treaty Oak is a Texas-based craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, and red river rum with a tasting room and contract services. Comparable to Corsair in product breadth across whiskey and gin, taproom/experience model, and contract distillation offering.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Corsair Distillery social profiles
Digital presenceCorsair Distillery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Corsair Distillery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Corsair Distillery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Corsair Distillery 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 Corsair Distillery
What does Corsair Distillery do?
Corsair Distillery is a Nashville-based craft distillery that manufactures and sells award-winning whiskeys, gins, and other spirits. Its product lineup includes Triple Smoke American Single Malt, Dark Rye, Tennessee Single Malt, American Gin, and Barrel Aged Gin. The company also operates a taproom and bottle shop in Marathon Village, offers distillery tours and tastings, runs a by-the-barrel program, and provides large-scale contract distillation services to other spirits brands using its Vendome and Forsyths stills.
Is Corsair Distillery a public or private company?
Corsair Distillery is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Corsair Distillery founded?
Corsair Distillery was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Corsair Distillery based?
Corsair Distillery is headquartered in Nashville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Corsair Distillery make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Direct Spirit Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale/Distribution, contract Distillation Services, by-the-Barrel Program and tours and Events.
Who are Corsair Distillery's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, Hudson Whiskey, Kings County Distillery, St. George Spirits, High West Distillery and Balcones Distilling. Broad incumbents are Woodford Reserve and Brown-Forman. Regional players are Garrison Brothers Distillery and Treaty Oak Distilling.
Does Corsair Distillery have an API?
No public API is recorded for Corsair Distillery.
What industry is Corsair Distillery in?
Corsair Distillery's product category is Craft Distilled Spirits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAAAC, Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling, with a secondary code of CRADAIAC, Spirits Distilling & Brands. Its NAICS code is 31214 and its SIC code is 2080.