Albany Distilling

What Albany Distilling does

Albany Distilling Company, Inc. (ADCo) is a privately held craft distillery founded in 2011 in downtown Albany, New York, and is the city's first distillery since Prohibition. The company produces a portfolio of four branded spirit lines using small-batch methods that combine modern and traditional distillation: Ironweed whiskeys (Straight Bourbon, Empire Rye, Straight Malt, and limited editions including Rum Bourbon, Cab Barrel Rye, Double Oak Rye, and Solera Rye), Awakened Spirit coffee-flavored vodka blended with cold-brewed Death Wish Coffee, Quackenbush rum in oak-aged and unaged expressions, and ALB On The Go vodka-based seltzer canned at 5% ABV. All whiskeys are mashed, fermented, distilled, aged in freshly charred oak barrels, and bottled on premises, using grain grown in New York State with no added colorings or flavorings.

The company operates a vertically integrated production and retail model centered on its 75 Livingston Avenue facility, which houses both the distillery and the ADCo Bar and Bottle Shop located adjacent to the Palace Theater. Distribution runs through three channels: direct-to-consumer sales at the on-site bar and bottle shop, regional retail distribution of branded spirits to liquor stores and on-premise accounts, and fee-for-service Contract Distilling, in which ADCo provides capacity, TTB regulatory navigation, label specification, and sourcing support to third-party brands bringing new spirits to market.

Customer segments are twofold. The primary segment is craft spirits enthusiasts and local consumers seeking locally produced artisanal whiskey, vodka, rum, and ready-to-drink cocktails. The secondary segment is hospitality venues (bars, restaurants, event operators) requiring distinctive craft spirits and branded on-premise experiences. GTM is primarily direct, anchored by the ADCo Bar experience, supplemented by regional wholesale and a partnership-driven model for the Death Wish Coffee collaboration. Revenue mechanics are conventional spirits sales plus B2B contract services, with publicly disclosed pricing not available; the business is bootstrapped, founder-owned, and shows no external investment, M&A, or subsidiaries beyond the wholly owned ADCo Bar operating unit.

Name

Albany Distilling

Legal name

Albany Distilling Company, Inc.

Website

https://albanydistilling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Albany Distilling is a privately held craft distillery in downtown Albany, NY producing Ironweed whiskeys, Awakened Spirit coffee vodka, Quackenbush rum, and ALB On The Go vodka seltzers via small-batch distillation, serving local consumers through its ADCo Bar, regional retail distribution, and contract distilling services for third-party brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distilled Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Alcoholic Beverage Production (Canned Cocktails, Hard Seltzer) (AFAFAAAE), Alcoholic Beverage Blending, Bottling & Private Label (Non-Distilling) (AFAFAAAH), Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ), Spirits Retail & Whiskey Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAD)

Keywords

• Craft distilling
• Whiskey production
• Spirits manufacturing
• Vodka seltzer
• Contract distilling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Albany

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Spirits Sales: Direct sales of branded spirits including Ironweed whiskeys (Straight Bourbon, Empire Rye, Straight Malt, and limited editions), Awakened Spirit coffee vodka, Quackenbush rum, and ALB On The Go vodka seltzers through their bar, bottle shop, and retail distribution.
2. ADCo Bar Operations: On-site bar and bottle shop at 75 Livingston Ave, Albany NY serving cocktails and providing a venue experience near the Palace Theater.
3. Contract Distilling Services: Offering distillery facilities and expertise to other brands seeking to bring spirits to market, including assistance with TTB regulations, label specifications, and sourcing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Albany Distilling Company is a craft distillery that produces small-batch spirits on-site in downtown Albany, NY, including Ironweed whiskeys (Straight Bourbon, Empire Rye, Straight Malt, and limited editions), Awakened Spirit coffee vodka blended with Death Wish Coffee, Quackenbush rum (Amber and Original), and ALB On The Go vodka seltzers. The company also operates the ADCo Bar and Bottle Shop at 75 Livingston Ave and offers contract distilling services to other brands seeking TTB-compliant production support.

Product overview

Albany Distilling Company (ADCo) is a craft distillery founded in 2011 as Albany's first distillery since Prohibition. The company operates a portfolio of four distinct spirit brands: Ironweed Whiskey (offering Straight Bourbon, Empire Rye, Straight Malt, and limited editions), Awakened Spirit Coffee Vodka (blended with Death Wish Coffee), Quackenbush Rum (in aged and unaged expressions), and ALB On The Go Vodka Seltzer (in five flavors). The company also offers contract distilling services for third-party brands and operates its own bar and bottle shop in downtown Albany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ironweed: Whiskey brand featuring Straight Bourbon, Empire Rye, Straight Malt, and limited editions including Rum Bourbon, Cab Barrel Rye, Double Oak Rye, and Solera Rye. Made from New York State grains and aged in freshly charred oak.
• Awakened Spirit
• Quackenbush
• ALB On The Go

Products and services

• Ironweed Whiskey Craft whiskey brand featuring Straight Bourbon, Empire Rye, and Straight Malt expressions made from New York State grains and aged in freshly charred oak, plus limited editions including Rum Bourbon, Cab Barrel Rye, Double Oak Rye, and Solera Rye. Sold in 750 mL bottles at 40-50% ABV with no added colorings or flavorings.
• Awakened Spirit Coffee Flavored Vodka Vodka blended with cold-brewed Death Wish Coffee at 33.3% ABV in 750 mL bottles, with no added colorings, flavorings, or caffeine.
• Quackenbush Rum Caribbean-style rum available in Amber (oak barrel-aged) and Original (unaged) expressions at 40% ABV in 750 mL bottles, made from Caribbean fancy-grade molasses with no added colorings or flavorings.
• ALB On The Go Vodka Seltzer Pre-mixed vodka cocktail line canned at 5% ABV in 12 oz cans, made with vodka (rather than malt like most spiked seltzers), seltzer, and natural flavorings. Available flavors include Black Cherry, Blueberry Lemonade, Strawberry Smash, Raspberry Lime, and The Knickerbocker.
• Contract Distilling Services Partner services for third-party brands to bring new spirit products to market, including assistance with TTB regulations, label specifications, sourcing, distillation, and production. Leverages ADCo's craft distillery expertise and trial-and-error experience navigating complex alcohol industry requirements.
• ADCo Bar and Bottle Shop Company-owned bar and bottle shop at 75 Livingston Ave, Albany, NY 12207, offering house spirits, cocktails, and a retail selection of all ADCo branded products. Reachable by phone at (518) 949-2472.
• Private Events at ADCo Bar Hosted private events at the ADCo Bar location, offered as a venue and beverage experience service for groups, organizations, and branded occasions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Award-winning spirits recognized in the craft distilling industry

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Death Wish CoffeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeath Wish Coffee is used in the production of Awakened Spirit coffee-flavored vodka. The vodka is blended with cold-brewed Death Wish Coffee, creating a unique coffee vodka product. The collaboration combines Albany Distilling's spirits expertise with Death Wish Coffee's premium coffee.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hillrock Estate Distillery: Hudson Valley, NY estate distillery producing whiskeys from estate-grown grain. Highly comparable to ADCo's NY-state grain sourcing story, premium bourbon/rye portfolio, and tasting room DTC model.
• Coppersea Distilling: Hudson Valley, NY craft distillery focused on raw-spirit and aged whiskeys, rum, and gin. Directly comparable to ADCo's NY-based small-batch production and farm-to-bottle sourcing approach.
• Berkshire Mountain Distillers: Regional craft distillery in Massachusetts producing whiskeys, gin, vodka, and rum with a similar small-batch, award-winning positioning. Closely matches ADCo's scale, portfolio breadth, and New England craft identity.
• Kings County Distillery: Brooklyn, NY urban craft distillery producing bourbon, whiskey, and other spirits with an on-site tasting room and bottle shop. Closely comparable to ADCo's urban downtown Albany location and DTC bar strategy.
• St. George Spirits: California craft distillery with a broad portfolio (whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, absinthe). Comparable to ADCo in its willingness to span multiple spirit categories at craft scale, with established industry reputation.
• Few Spirits: Evanston, IL craft distillery producing bourbon, rye whiskey, gin, and vodka. Comparable to ADCo's whiskey-led multi-category craft portfolio and small-batch production model.
• Tuthilltown Spirits: Hudson Valley, NY craft distillery (founded 2003) producing whiskey, vodka, and gin in small batches with a similar farm-to-bottle positioning and DTC tasting room. One of the most direct regional analogs to Albany Distilling's craft model.
• Balcones Distilling: Waco, TX craft distillery producing award-winning whiskeys, rum, and other spirits with a strong craft reputation. Comparable to ADCo in small-batch craft production and industry recognition profile.
• Smooth Ambler: West Virginia craft distillery known for bourbon and rye whiskey with a growing portfolio. Similar to ADCo in its whiskey focus, mid-Atlantic craft positioning, and small-batch award-winning approach.
• Finger Lakes Distilling: New York State craft distillery producing a diverse multi-category portfolio (whiskey, vodka, gin, rum, grappa). Comparable to ADCo's broad spirit portfolio across categories and small-batch craft approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AlbDistCo
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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/albanydistillingco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Albany Distilling