Old Trestle Distillery

What Old Trestle Distillery does

Old Trestle Distillery is a craft distillery headquartered in Truckee, California (founded 2012; 11-50 employees), producing whiskey, gin, and vodka spirits that are sold through multi-state distributor networks and direct-to-consumer e-commerce. The company operates a grain-to-glass production process — milling through bottling in-house — using locally sourced Sierra Nevada water filtered through a granite aquifer and ingredients supplied via a partnership with Admiral Maltings. Whiskeys (Sierra Double Barreled Bourbon, Sierra Double Barreled Rye, and Trestle American Single Malt) are aged at 5,820-5,982 feet of elevation, leveraging the Truckee altitude to produce what the company markets as 'mountain born whiskey, hardened by the elements.' Sierra Bourbon employs a double-barreling technique, transferring aged spirit into a second new American Oak barrel for six to eight months to intensify oak character.

The product portfolio spans roughly twelve SKUs across three categories. Vodka is anchored by Sierra Vodka ($24.99), produced from California Yellow Corn, marketed as the only vodka made entirely in Lake Tahoe. The experimental Theory Gin series (five expressions at $34.99 and up) iterates on botanical profiles using foraged local ingredients such as California rose hips and Sierra Nevada honey, plus unconventional infusions like Chinese five-spice, hibiscus, and turmeric. Premium and limited whiskies occupy the upper price tier, including Trestle American Single Malt ($95) and the Spirit of Eclipse collaboration ($195) with 5050 Brewing Company. The go-to-market is a hybrid channel model: distributor partnerships reach on-premise hospitality and high-end liquor stores across four states (Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas), while the company's own e-commerce site supports direct-to-consumer sales restricted to California shipping with a three-bottle maximum per order, plus local pickup in Truckee.

The company is privately held, founder-led, and bootstrapped with no disclosed venture capital, private equity backing, or institutional investor; ownership appears to reside with the founding group of friends. Revenue mechanics are straightforward unit-pricing on individual bottle sales, augmented by 10% multi-bottle bundle discounts on sampler packs. The customer base spans end consumers (DTC and local pickup), hospitality venues (restaurants, bars), and retail liquor stores (off-premise). Operational pivots have been demonstrated (notably the April 2020 hand-sanitizer production during COVID-19), and the product launch cadence — five new SKUs in 2020, additional collaborations in 2021 — points to active, if moderate, portfolio expansion.

Name

Old Trestle Distillery

Legal name

Old Trestle Distillery

Website

https://oldtrestle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Old Trestle Distillery is a privately held craft distillery in Truckee, California producing whiskey, gin, and vodka via a grain-to-glass process with high-altitude aging and locally sourced Sierra Nevada water, sold across four Southwest US states through distributors and direct-to-consumer e-commerce, and reaching end consumers, hospitality venues, and retail liquor stores.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Distilleries (31214), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC), Spirits Retail & Whiskey Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAD), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)

Keywords

• Craft distillery spirits
• Whiskey bourbon production
• Craft gin distilling
• Vodka production
• High altitude aging

Headquarters

HQ city

Truckee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Spirit Sales: Direct sales of craft spirits (gin, whiskey, vodka) to consumers via e-commerce and to retailers/restaurants via distributor network. One-time purchase model per bottle with occasional bundle discounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Old Trestle Distillery manufactures and sells craft spirits — whiskey (Sierra Double Barreled Bourbon, Sierra Double Barreled Rye, Trestle American Single Malt), the Theory Gin experimental series (five expressions), and Sierra Vodka — using a grain-to-glass production process with locally sourced Sierra Nevada water. Whiskey is aged at 5,820-5,982 feet elevation in Truckee, California, with the bourbon finished in a second new American White Oak barrel. Products reach consumers through distributor partners across four states (AZ, CA, NV, TX) and direct-to-consumer e-commerce with California-only shipping.

Product overview

Old Trestle Distillery is a craft distillery based in Truckee, California producing gin, whiskey, bourbon, and vodka spirits. The product portfolio includes Sierra Vodka (the only vodka made entirely in Lake Tahoe from California Yellow Corn and Sierra Nevada water), Sierra Bourbon and Sierra Double Barreled Rye whiskeys, Trestle American Single Malt Whiskey, and the Theory Gin series (an experimental gin line with five distinct expressions including barrel-rested varieties with unique botanical infusions). Additional products include sampler packs, merchandise such as cocktail jiggers and apparel. The distillery, Truckee's first in over 100 years, ages whiskey at 5,820+ feet of elevation and offers online ordering with shipping limited to California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Theory Gin: A series of experimental gins focused on terroir and pushing the boundaries of flavors and botanicals. Each batch is infused with flora of the mountains and crafted with 5-10 expressions per year.

Products and services

• Sierra Vodka

Quantifiable outcome

• First distillery in Truckee in over 100 years
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core, important and notable.

• Distributor PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe company works with distribution partners across Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas to reach retail stores, restaurants, bars, and liquor stores. They emphasize that 'good distributor partners are the key to building a lasting business, community, and brand.'
• Admiral MaltingsimportantOthersPartnership with Admiral Maltings for sustainable, organic grain supply. Admiral Maltings produces grains specifically for craft distillers, supporting Old Trestle's grain-to-glass production approach.
• 5050 Brewing CompanynotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Spirit of Eclipse Whiskey - a 'whiskey from beer' spirit where 5050 Brewing's Eclipse barrel-aged imperial stout barrels were used to create a unique whiskey product. Vintage Eclipse styles were blended and then distilled by Old Trestle, aged, and finished in fresh Eclipse barrels.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Brown-Forman: Major spirits conglomerate producing Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve, and other whiskey brands. Comparable to Old Trestle as a wide-portfolio whiskey player with established wholesale relationships, though operating at vastly different scale.

Direct peers

• Westward Whiskey: Oregon-based American single malt whiskey distillery. Comparable to Old Trestle on American single malt category focus, craft regional identity, and premium price positioning.
• Corsair Distillery: Tennessee craft distillery known for experimental, small-batch whiskey and gin. Comparable to Old Trestle's multi-SKU craft portfolio and Theory Gin experimental release cadence.
• Wilderness Trail Distillery: Kentucky craft bourbon distillery producing small-batch whiskey with proprietary fermentation approaches. Comparable to Old Trestle on craft whiskey expertise, innovation, and multi-state wholesale distribution.
• Breckenridge Distillery: Colorado-based craft distillery producing bourbon, whiskey, and specialty spirits at high altitude. Closely comparable to Old Trestle on craft positioning, mountainous regional identity, and high-altitude aging narrative.
• Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey: Denver craft whiskey distillery focused on single malt whiskey aged in Colorado. Comparable to Old Trestle on mountain-region identity, single malt focus, and craft premium positioning.
• Balcones Distilling: Texas-based award-winning craft distillery producing distinctive whiskeys and rum. Comparable to Old Trestle on small-batch craft production, bold product positioning, and regional brand identity.
• Smooth Ambler Spirits: West Virginia craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, and gin in small batches. Comparable to Old Trestle on craft spirits portfolio breadth and multi-state wholesale distribution strategy.
• FEW Spirits: Chicago craft distillery producing gin, whiskey, and bourbon as one of the first legal distilleries in Evanston post-prohibition. Comparable to Old Trestle on small-scale craft spirits revival narrative and multi-category portfolio.
• Laws Whiskey House: Colorado grain-to-glass craft distillery focused on bourbon and rye made with locally sourced grains. Comparable to Old Trestle on grain-to-glass methodology, regional terroir emphasis, and premium price points.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/oldtrestle
• Instagraminstagram.com/oldtrestle
• Xx.com/oldtrestle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/old-trestle-distillery

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 Old Trestle Distillery