Fordham Lee Distillery

What Fordham Lee Distillery does

Fordham Lee Distillery, LLC is a privately held craft distillery headquartered at 13 S Church St in Middletown, Maryland. Founded by Bill and named in honor of his late son, Fordham Lee, the company produces premium small-batch spirits using grain-to-glass methods. Its core technology centers on traditional distillation followed by aging in charred new oak barrels for 2+ years without added flavors or colorings; cream liqueurs are produced by blending small-batch white whiskey with sweet cream and distinctive flavor profiles, while the Bad Billy moonshine line delivers fruit-forward, unaged expressions. The portfolio spans three bourbon whiskeys (Fordham Lee Bourbon, High Rye Bourbon, Zachary Edward), up to six cream liqueurs (Blueberry Swirl, Orange Dreamsicle, Peanut Butter, Snickerdoodle, Chocolate Love, Cherry Charm), and three moonshine variants (Apple, Peach, Orange Crush), with twelve or more SKUs commercially available.

The business model combines direct-to-consumer sales (physical distillery tasting room and online store at fordhamleedistillery.com) with wholesale distribution to retailers, bars, and restaurants across Maryland via a dedicated trade portal. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; customers are directed to a "Find a Vendor" locator for retail purchases. The target customer is the legal-drinking-age adult seeking distinctive, small-batch craft spirits for personal consumption and gifting, particularly those drawn to novel flavor profiles not found in mass-produced alternatives. Distribution is currently concentrated in Maryland, with newer SKUs such as Orange Crush Moonshine initially exclusive to in-state retailers and on-premise accounts.

The company is founder-owned with no disclosed institutional investment, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. Operations are supported by an 11–50 employee base (per firmographic data) and a small but registered trademark portfolio covering the corporate brand and each product line. Strategic activity through 2025 has focused on portfolio expansion and Maryland distribution densification rather than geographic diversification or external capital raises.

Name

Fordham Lee Distillery

Legal name

Fordham Lee Distillery, LLC

Website

https://fordhamleedistillery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fordham Lee Distillery is a Maryland craft distillery producing small-batch bourbon whiskeys, cream liqueurs, and moonshines. Founded by Bill to honor his late son, it sells directly via its Middletown distillery, online store, and wholesale to Maryland retailers and bars.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distilled Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (4453)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRADAIAC

Spirits Distilling & Brands

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/Alcoholic Beverages (Beer, Wine, Spirits) Manufacturing & Brands

SECONDARYTHAJAGAF

Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Food & Drink Experiences (Culinary Tours, Tastings, Cooking Classes)

Keywords

• Craft spirits production
• Small-batch bourbon whiskey
• Flavored cream liqueurs
• Traditional moonshine varieties
• Grain-to-glass distillery

Headquarters

HQ city

Middletown

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Spirits Sales: Revenue from selling bourbon whiskey, cream liqueurs, and moonshine directly to consumers through their physical location and online store
2. Wholesale to Retailers: Revenue from selling products wholesale to retailers, bars, and restaurants through their trade portal

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fordham Lee Distillery manufactures and sells small-batch, handcrafted premium spirits including bourbon whiskeys (High Rye, Fordham Lee, Zachary Edward) aged in charred new oak barrels for 2+ years, a line of flavored cream liqueurs (Blueberry Swirl, Orange Dreamsicle, Peanut Butter, Snickerdoodle, Chocolate Love, Cherry Charm), and a Bad Billy moonshine series (Apple, Peach, Orange Crush). Products are made in Middletown, Maryland and sold through the distillery, the company's online store, and wholesale partners in Maryland.

Product overview

Fordham Lee Distillery is a premium small-batch spirits producer offering a diverse portfolio of bourbon whiskeys and flavored cream liqueurs. The product lineup includes three bourbon offerings: High Rye Bourbon Whiskey, Fordham Lee Bourbon Whiskey, and Zachary Edward Bourbon Whiskey—all aged in charred new oak barrels. The cream liqueur collection features seven flavors: Blueberry Swirl, Orange Dreamsicle, Peanut Butter, Snickerdoodle, Chocolate Love, and Cherry Charm, all crafted from small-batch white whiskey blended with sweet cream and various flavor profiles. The Bad Billy moonshine line includes Apple, Peach, and Orange Crush variants, delivering bold fruit-forward flavors inspired by Southern traditions. The distillery operates from Middletown, Maryland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Zachary Edward: Bourbon whiskey brand featuring a balanced taste of cocoa, cinnamon, pepper, and citrus with smooth mouthfeel. Aged in charred, new oak barrels for 2+ years.
• Bad Billy
• Blueberry Swirl Cream Liqueur
• Orange Dreamsicle Cream Liqueur
• Peanut Butter Cream Liqueur
• Snickerdoodle Cream Liqueur
• Chocolate Love Cream Liqueur
• Cherry Charm Cream Liqueur

Products and services

• High Rye Bourbon Whiskey Small-batch bourbon whiskey with high rye content, aged in charred new oak barrels for 2+ years without added flavors or colorings, targeted at craft bourbon enthusiasts.
• Fordham Lee Bourbon Whiskey Small-batch bourbon with balanced caramel, citrus, and spice notes, aged to taste in charred new oak barrels for 2+ years without added flavors or colorings.
• Zachary Edward Bourbon Whiskey Bourbon whiskey with a balanced taste of cocoa, cinnamon, pepper, and citrus and a smooth mouthfeel, aged to taste in charred new oak barrels for 2+ years without added flavors or colorings, distributed via the wholesale trade portal.
• Blueberry Swirl Cream Liqueur Small-batch, handcrafted blueberry and vanilla sweet cream liqueur with a crisp finish, made from white whiskey and sweet cream.
• Orange Dreamsicle Cream Liqueur Handcrafted cream liqueur featuring orange and vanilla flavors inspired by the classic orange dreamsicle.
• Peanut Butter Cream Liqueur Small-batch, handcrafted peanut butter cream liqueur made with white whiskey, balancing cream and peanut butter flavor.
• Snickerdoodle Cream Liqueur Small-batch, handcrafted snickerdoodle cream liqueur made with white whiskey, balanced between cream and cinnamon to mirror the classic cookie flavor.
• Chocolate Love Cream Liqueur Chocolate-flavored cream liqueur in the Fordham Lee cream liqueur lineup.
• Cherry Charm Cream Liqueur Small-batch, handcrafted cherry cream liqueur blending white whiskey with sweet vanilla cream and a delicate cherry bite, reminiscent of a maraschino cherry.
• Bad Billy Apple Moonshine Traditional moonshine with bold apple flavors and a smooth, rich finish, marketed under the Bad Billy moonshine line.
• Bad Billy Peach Moonshine Traditional moonshine with fresh peach flavors and a crisp, clean finish, marketed under the Bad Billy moonshine line.
• Bad Billy Orange Crush Moonshine Citrus-flavored moonshine delivering the orange profile of an Orange Crush cocktail with fresh, juicy orange flavor balanced by sweetness and a mellow finish; Maryland-inspired.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

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.

• CF Napa Brand DesignminorOthers · 12 April 2021CF Napa Brand Design provided website design services for Fordham Lee Distillery, creating their company website launched in April 2021.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Heaven Hill Brands: Major U.S. spirits producer with extensive bourbon and flavored liqueur portfolio (e.g., Evan Williams, Hpnotiq). Overlapping product categories with Fordham Lee's bourbon and cream liqueur lineup as a broad incumbent.
• Ole Smoky Distillery: Nationally distributed moonshine and flavored spirits brand with a broad flavored portfolio including fruit moonshines. Comparable product category overlap with Fordham Lee's Bad Billy moonshine line, though at much greater scale.
• Wild Turkey / Campari Group: Established Kentucky bourbon producer with national and international distribution. Comparable on bourbon category specifically, serving as a benchmark for what scale-up looks like in American whiskey.

Direct peers

• McClintock Distilling Company: Small Maryland craft distillery producing bourbon, whiskey, and specialty spirits with farm-to-bottle sourcing. Comparable in scale, Maryland geography, and craft positioning.
• Sugarlands Distilling Company: Tennessee craft distillery specializing in flavored moonshines and cream liqueurs with broad national distribution. Comparable moonshine and cream liqueur product mix to Fordham Lee's Bad Billy and cream liqueur lines.
• Sagamore Spirit: Maryland-based craft rye whiskey distillery producing premium aged whiskey with on-site tasting and a DTC + wholesale GTM. Directly comparable to Fordham Lee as a Maryland craft distillery in the same price and quality tier.
• Twin Valley Distillers: Maryland craft distillery producing small-batch spirits including bourbon and moonshine-style products. Directly comparable regional competitor with similar product mix and Maryland distribution.
• Catoctin Creek Distillery: Mid-Atlantic craft distillery producing rye whiskey, bourbon, and brandy with strong regional distribution and tasting room. Comparable craft positioning, premium pricing, and small-batch production.

Emerging players

• Bird Dog Whiskey: Flavored whiskey brand with broad retail distribution in the U.S. Comparable on flavored-spirit product positioning (cream/moonshine-adjacent flavors), competing for similar consumer occasions.
• Country Hammer Moonshine / Dark Horse Distillery: Small-batch moonshine producer with regional distribution. Comparable emerging craft distiller with flavored moonshine SKUs competing for the same shelf space and consumer occasion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FordhamLee.Distillery
• Instagraminstagram.com/fordhamleedistillery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fordham-lee-distillery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Fordham Lee Distillery