Savage & Cooke Distillery
Savage & Cooke Distillery is a craft American whiskey producer founded in 2016 at Mare Island, Vallejo, California. Founded by Dave Phinney with Master Distiller Jordan Via, it produces bourbon, rye, and ultra-limited Guero releases distributed across all 50 U.S. states and via its on-site tasting room; the company was acquired by Redwood Empire Whiskey in January 2025.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersVallejo, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Savage & Cooke Distillery does
Savage & Cooke Distillery is a craft American whiskey producer founded in 2016 and located at 1097 Nimitz Avenue on Mare Island in Vallejo, California. The company produces bourbon, rye, and American whiskey, including Bottled In Bond expressions built around heirloom grain programs (Bloody Butcher and Howling Mob corn varieties) and ultra-limited releases under the Guero and Lil' Guero labels. Production is anchored by a 20-plate, 24-inch Vendome Copper & Brassworks column still, with grain sourced within 50 miles of the distillery and milled on-site; aging takes place across three on-site coastal zones with distinct temperature, humidity, sunlight, and airflow conditions, and selected expressions are finished in wine barrels sourced from founder Dave Phinney's vineyards (Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Zinfandel, and Cognac). Master Distiller Jordan Via oversees production, barrel selection, and blending.
The company sells through two primary channels: a national wholesale distributor network covering all 50 U.S. states via major and regional wholesalers, and direct-to-consumer sales at the Mare Island tasting room, which also operates tours, craft cocktails, and a food menu (Thursday through Sunday, 11am-7pm). Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The product portfolio is split between Bottled In Bond offerings, core whiskeys (Bourbon, Rye, American Whiskey), and limited-release expressions with run sizes as small as 31-44 barrels, positioning the brand at the ultra-premium and collector end of the craft whiskey market.
In January 2025, Savage & Cooke was acquired by Redwood Empire Whiskey, which now manages tours and experiences at the Mare Island facility while the Savage & Cooke brand continues to operate. The company remains privately held, with 1-10 employees, no disclosed funding rounds, and no parent-company financials released.
Savage & Cooke Distillery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Savage & Cooke Distillery
- Legal name
- Savage & Cooke Distillery
- Website
- https://savageandcooke.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Savage & Cooke Distillery is a craft American whiskey producer founded in 2016 at Mare Island, Vallejo, California. Founded by Dave Phinney with Master Distiller Jordan Via, it produces bourbon, rye, and ultra-limited Guero releases distributed across all 50 U.S. states and via its on-site tasting room; the company was acquired by Redwood Empire Whiskey in January 2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Savage & Cooke Distillery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vallejo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Savage & Cooke Distillery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
Revenue model
- Whiskey Sales: Savage & Cooke generates revenue through the production and sale of bottled whiskey products including Bourbon, Rye, and American Whiskey under the Savage & Cooke and Guero brands. Products are sold through distributors nationwide, at the distillery tasting room, and direct-to-consumer at the venue.
- Distillery Experiences: The distillery offers tours, experiences, and a full bar with craft cocktails, food menu, and bottles available for purchase. This creates additional revenue from visitors at the Mare Island location.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Savage & Cooke Distillery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
No verifiable source material with a resolvable source ID was provided to describe the company's core offerings.
Product overview
Savage & Cooke Distillery is an American whiskey and spirits producer acquired by Redwood Empire Whiskey in January 2025, located at Mare Island, California. The product portfolio consists of Bottled In Bond offerings (Bloody Butcher Bourbon, Howling Mob Bourbon, Bourbon Whiskey, American Whiskey, and Rye Whiskey) and Limited Release expressions under the Guero family (ranging from 6 to 17 years of age). The distillery emphasizes grain-to-glass production with local sourcing, coastal aging conditions, and cask finishing techniques using wine barrels from Dave Phinney's vineyards. The products are distributed nationally through various distributors across U.S. states.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Howling Mob: Only 31 barrels produced; 4 years old; 100 proof
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Savage & Cooke Distillery
Customer profileSegments2 records
Savage & Cooke Distillery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
Savage & Cooke Distillery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Redwood Empire WhiskeycoreSavage & Cooke Distillery was acquired by Redwood Empire Whiskey in January 2025. Redwood Empire now manages tours and experiences at the distillery, which remains open for visitors to experience the facility and purchase both Savage & Cooke and Redwood Empire products.
- Breakthru BeveragecoreDistributor for Arizona and California markets.
- Southern Glazer's Wine & SpiritscoreDistributor for Nevada and Washington markets.
- RNDC (Republic National Distributing Company)coreDistributor for DC and Maryland markets.
- Johnson BrothersmajorMulti-state distributor covering Central Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
- HeidelbergmajorDistributor for Kentucky and Ohio markets.
- Seguin MoreaucoreLocal cooper that hand-crafts White American Oak Char #3 barrels used for aging Savage & Cooke's whiskeys.
- Natural State DistributingminorDistributor for Arkansas.
- Slocum & SonsminorDistributor for Connecticut.
- Progress Wine GroupminorDistributor for North and South Florida.
- Prime Wine & SpiritsminorDistributor for Georgia.
- International Wine & SpiritsminorDistributor for Louisiana.
- Classic Wine ImportsminorDistributor for Massachusetts.
- Great Lakes Wine & SpiritsminorDistributor for Michigan.
- VinTEGRITY Wines & SpiritsminorDistributor for Missouri and Kansas.
- Vine Street ImportsminorDistributor for New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
- Gallo Wine Sales of NJminorDistributor for New Jersey.
- Empire MerchantsminorDistributor for New York.
- Advintage DistributingminorDistributor for South Carolina.
- Tennessee CrownminorDistributor for Tennessee (Memphis).
- Best BrandsminorDistributor for Tennessee.
- Green Light DistributorsminorDistributor for Texas.
- Sagebrush Wine CompanyminorDistributor for Wyoming.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Savage & Cooke Distillery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stranahan's: Denver-based craft distillery producing American single malt whiskey with a strong founder/brand story and tasting-room experience — comparable craft whiskey peer.
- Redwood Empire Whiskey: Parent company and direct craft whiskey peer; produces bourbon, rye, and American whiskey in Northern California and now operates the Mare Island facility — directly comparable in product category, geography, and channel mix.
- Westland Distillery: American single malt and craft whiskey producer based in Seattle; directly comparable as a craft grain-to-glass distillery focused on provenance, terroir, and limited releases.
- Balcones Distilling: Texas-based craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and American whiskey with distinctive grain bills and limited releases — highly comparable in craft positioning and small-batch model.
- Koval Distillery: Chicago-based grain-to-grain craft distillery known for unique grains (millet, spelt) and small-batch whiskeys — directly comparable as a small craft producer emphasizing grain provenance.
- Corsair Distillery: Nashville-based craft distillery producing experimental bourbon, rye, and American whiskey with grain-forward mash bills — directly comparable in craft innovation and small-batch approach.
- Few Spirits: Evanston, Illinois craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and American whiskey with distinctive grain sourcing — comparable small-scale craft producer in premium bourbon/rye category.
- Smooth Ambler: West Virginia craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and American whiskey with small-batch and aged expressions — directly comparable craft competitor in mid-premium whiskey.
Broad incumbents
- WhistlePig Whiskey: Premium rye-focused craft distillery with national distribution and aged-stock programs; broader incumbent in the same craft whiskey space with overlapping finishing innovation.
- High West Distillery: Utah-based craft distillery (now Diageo-owned) producing bourbon, rye, and finished whiskeys with national distribution and a strong tasting-room/food experience — comparable in craft premium positioning and channel mix.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Savage & Cooke Distillery social profiles
Digital presenceSavage & Cooke Distillery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Savage & Cooke Distillery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Savage & Cooke Distillery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Savage & Cooke 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 Savage & Cooke Distillery
What does Savage & Cooke Distillery do?
No verifiable source material with a resolvable source ID was provided to describe the company's core offerings.
Is Savage & Cooke Distillery a public or private company?
Savage & Cooke Distillery is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Savage & Cooke Distillery founded?
Savage & Cooke Distillery was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Savage & Cooke Distillery based?
Savage & Cooke Distillery is headquartered in Vallejo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Savage & Cooke Distillery make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Whiskey Sales are the primary driver. The others are distillery Experiences.
Who are Savage & Cooke Distillery's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stranahan's, Redwood Empire Whiskey, Westland Distillery, Balcones Distilling, Koval Distillery, Corsair Distillery, Few Spirits and Smooth Ambler. Broad incumbents are WhistlePig Whiskey and High West Distillery.
Does Savage & Cooke Distillery have an API?
No public API is recorded for Savage & Cooke Distillery.