New Columbia Distillers

What New Columbia Distillers does

New Columbia Distillers, doing business as Green Hat Distillery, is the producer of the Green Hat Gin brand — founded in 2012 in Washington, D.C. as the first legal gin produced in the district since Prohibition. The brand is built around a Prohibition-era narrative of "The Man in the Green Hat," a historical bootlegger who allegedly supplied 80% of Congress with illicit spirits from 1920 to 1930. The product portfolio comprises four distilled SKUs: Original Batch Gin (41.5% ABV, juniper-forward), Navy Strength Gin (57.1% ABV, high-proof), Citrus/Floral Gin (45% ABV, spring botanical), and Summer Cup Cordial (33% ABV, fruit and herb infusion), all produced via copper pot still distillation at MGP's facility in Atchison, Kansas under contract.

The company operates an asset-light model: production is outsourced to MGP (Midwest Grain Products), and the brand does not maintain its own e-commerce storefront. Direct-to-consumer purchases are routed through two online alcohol marketplaces — Caskers and Drizly — with additional offline availability via a zip-code-based retail store locator. Customer engagement is driven by content marketing (cocktail recipes, brand storytelling) and the "Black Book" email club, which mirrors the bootlegger's historical customer list. Primary customers are U.S. premium cocktail enthusiasts and Washington D.C. / political history enthusiasts seeking differentiated, story-rich craft spirits.

In 2017, Luxco, Inc. acquired the Green Hat Gin brand and subsequently expanded the product line. Green Hat Distillery now operates as a sub-brand within Luxco (which itself was later absorbed into MGP Ingredients). The company holds a registered "Green Hat" trademark and has accumulated multiple industry awards, including Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Gin of the Year at the Bartender Spirits Awards, and editorial recognition from GQ. No funding rounds, headcount data, or revenue disclosures are present in the source material.

Name

New Columbia Distillers

Legal name

Luxco, Inc.

Website

https://greenhatgin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New Columbia Distillers produces Green Hat Gin, a four-SKU super-premium gin brand distilled via copper pot stills at MGP's Atchison facility and sold in the U.S. through Caskers, Drizly, and retail pickup. The brand serves U.S. premium cocktail enthusiasts with a Prohibition-era D.C. bootlegger narrative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distilled Spirits (Gin)

NAICS

Distilleries (312140), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)

Keywords

• Craft gin spirits
• Distilled gin production
• Premium botanical gin
• Copper pot still distillation
• Flavored gin cordial

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Spirits Sales: Green Hat Gin generates revenue through the sale of distilled spirits products across multiple SKUs including Original Batch Gin, Navy Strength Gin, Citrus/Floral Gin, and Summer Cup Cordial, sold through online retailers and direct-to-consumer channels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

New Columbia Distillers produces and sells Green Hat Gin, a portfolio of four super-premium distilled gin products (Original Batch, Navy Strength, Citrus/Floral, and Summer Cup cordial). The gins are distilled in copper pot stills with proprietary botanical blends, drawing on the brand's Prohibition-era Washington D.C. heritage. Products are sold to consumers through online alcohol retailers (Caskers, Drizly) and a zip-code-based local retail pickup network, with the actual distillation contracted to MGP in Atchison, Kansas.

Product overview

New Columbia Distillers produces Green Hat Gin, a portfolio of super-premium gins inspired by the Prohibition-era bootlegger known as the Man in the Green Hat who supplied Congress during the 1920s. The product line consists of four distinct offerings: Original Batch Gin (41.5% Alc/Vol, juniper-forward with lemongrass, celery seed, fennel), Navy Strength Gin (57.1% Alc/Vol, high-proof with candied citrus and lavender), Citrus/Floral Gin (45% Alc/Vol, spring botanical blend with cherry blossom and rose petals), and Summer Cup (33% Alc/Vol, a fruit and herb cordial). All gins are distilled in copper pot stills with unique botanical blends. The products are available through online retailers and at various pickup locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Green Hat Gin Original Batch: Juniper-forward gin with citrus and herbs, 41.5% Alc/Vol.
• Green Hat Gin Navy Strength
• Green Hat Gin Citrus/Floral
• Green Hat Gin Summer Cup

Products and services

• Original Batch Gin A juniper-forward Washington Original gin made with a proprietary blend of botanicals including lemongrass, celery seed, and fennel. Features classic aromas of juniper, citrus, and herbs with anise notes and a crisp finish. Distilled at 41.5% Alc/Vol. Targeted at cocktail enthusiasts and gin drinkers seeking a classic super-premium craft gin.
• Navy Strength Gin A high-proof gin bottled at 114.2 proof (57.1% Alc/Vol) featuring bold notes of candied lemon and grapefruit blended with flowery lavender and clover. Delivers a refreshingly smooth finish despite its high alcohol content. Targeted at bartenders, cocktail enthusiasts, and consumers seeking a bold Navy Strength expression.
• Citrus/Floral Gin A spring botanical gin featuring aromas of lemon and sweet orange melding with hints of cherry blossom and rose petals. Lively and fresh with lemon peel and grapefruit, finishing with creamy orange and a touch of juniper. Distilled at 45% Alc/Vol. Targeted at cocktail enthusiasts seeking a bright, floral-forward expression.
• Summer Cup Cordial A complex cordial in the British Summer Cup tradition, made as an infusion of Navy gin with additional botanicals including citrus, rosehips, cucumber, black tea, verbena, lavender, herbs, fruits, and spices. Bottled at 33% Alc/Vol. Targeted at consumers seeking a lower-ABV, ready-to-serve-style summer cocktail base.

Quantifiable outcome

• Double Gold at San Francisco World Spirits Competition (Citrus/Floral)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MGP (Midwest Grain Products)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerGreen Hat Gin is distilled by MGP (Midwest Grain Products) in Atchison, Kansas. The brand leverages MGP's distillery infrastructure and production capabilities, with the finished product labeled 'Distilled by MGP, Atchison, KS'. MGP is a major U.S. spirits contract manufacturer.
• CaskerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCaskers is an online spirits retailer featured on the Green Hat Gin website as a 'Buy now' destination. Green Hat Gin is distributed through Caskers' e-commerce platform for direct consumer purchases.
• DrizlycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDrizly is an online alcohol marketplace featured on the Green Hat Gin website as a 'Buy now' destination. Green Hat Gin is distributed through Drizly's on-demand delivery marketplace.
• Luxco, Inc.coreOthersGreen Hat Distillery is an affiliate and part of Luxco, Inc. The Terms & Conditions state 'The terms we, us, our, or Green Hat refer to Luxco, Inc., of which Green Hat Distillery is a part, and their affiliates.' Luxco is the parent company.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey: Story-led American craft spirits brand built around a historical figure (Nathan 'Nearest' Green) with strong award recognition. Comparable to Green Hat in using verifiable American history as a brand moat and pursuing premium positioning.
• St. George Spirits: California-based craft distillery producing a portfolio of premium gins (Botanivore, Terroir, Dry Rye) alongside other spirits. Comparable as a multi-SKU American craft gin maker with award credentials and on-premise presence.
• Aviation American Gin: Super-premium American craft gin with a multi-SKU lineup (Original, Navy Strength, barrel-aged variants) sold through DTC and traditional distribution. Closely comparable to Green Hat in positioning, category, and consumer targeting.
• Sipsmith London Dry Gin: Premium copper-pot-still gin brand known for distinctive botanical recipes and a craft/provenance story. Comparable to Green Hat in production method, premium positioning, and cocktail enthusiast targeting.
• Catoctin Creek Distilling Company: Virginia-based craft distillery producing premium rye whiskey and gin with regional provenance. Comparable as an East Coast craft distillery operating in adjacent premium spirits with on-premise and retail presence.

Broad incumbents

• Bombay Sapphire: Global premium gin brand owned by Bacardi with vapor-infused botanical production and broad distribution. Comparable as a large, widely distributed premium gin whose scale and marketing set the bar Green Hat must beat for on-premise placements.
• Tanqueray: Mass-market premium gin owned by Diageo with multiple expressions (London Dry, No. Ten, Rangpur). Comparable as a multi-SKU gin brand spanning price tiers, setting the competitive backdrop Green Hat must differentiate against.
• Hendrick's Gin: Global super-premium gin brand owned by William Grant & Sons with a distinctive botanical recipe (rose and cucumber) and quirky brand narrative. Comparable as the established super-premium gin incumbent that Green Hat competes against on shelf and in cocktails.

Emerging players

• Few Spirits: Evanston, Illinois craft distillery producing gin and whiskey with strong provenance storytelling and limited geographic reach. Comparable as a smaller craft spirits brand competing for similar on-premise and retail accounts in the premium segment.

Others

• Drizly: Online alcohol marketplace and DTC delivery platform used by Green Hat as a core sales channel. Comparable as a key distribution partner whose economics, commission structure, and operating changes directly affect Green Hat's DTC economics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dcdistillers
• Facebookfacebook.com/greenhatgin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-columbia-distillers-llc

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 New Columbia Distillers